The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-04-04

SAM Wildly.
The Career Of Sam Wildly and his Silver
Tongued Partner.

i
| Tongued Partner.
Sam Wildly, the tall, handsome, Texan
who went crazy at Billings, by the
whiskey route, who was sent to the
Warm Springs, released after time and
with $500 in his pocket given him by
DR.. Mussigbrcd, went to Spokane Falls
and there tried to dispose of forged
draft on his kind benefactor, has left for
psrts unknown and Montana will know
him no more. Wildly was an Indifferent t
kind Of lawyer; but was man of fine
presence and when he made his appear.
snce in Montana was not addicted to
drink. He came first to Junction City,
very close to the terminus of tire North.
ern Pacific Railroad. About the time of
his arrival, Burns Smith, since dead,
one Of the old citizens of the North
west, who in the early days of his life
had killed negro at point on the
Missouri river, near where Bismarck now
stands, added another death to his list,
under more justiiable circumstances,
Burns kept a FALCON at Junction and
was leader of faction arrayed against
another saloon man with an equally
large following. One morning he be-
came involved in quarrel with G stage
driver belonging to the other side. The
drunken driver at once declared war
and fortifying his courage with copious
supply of the villianous concoction called
whiskey sold principally to the Indians
on the adjacent reservation, he took his
gun, rifle, and taking up his position
across The street at a distance of about
fifty feet, under the shadow of Paul
McCormick's store. opened fire at Burns,
who was close to the open door Of his
saloon. Several harmless shots were
fired, Burns all the while standing i'm
movable. But no sooner had the assail-
ant stopped his firing when Burns
reaching for his gun near by, took aim
and as the man turned to leave, shot
him in the back, killing him almost in
stantly. The affair caused the widest
excitement and for while it looked as if
shooting would become general and the
town depopulated but fortunately the
danger was averted by the sober and
cooler citizens. 1t was at Burns Smiths
trial before a Justice of the peace that
Sam Wildly first practiced law in Mon-
tana. In the case he was assisted by
person claiming to be a lawyer, by the
name of Farwell and together they secur-
ed the aequittal, against big odds, of
Burns Smith. Wildly soon after went
to the new town of Coulson and as soon
as Billings was established became q
resident thereon. While he was not a
well-grounded lawyer, he was pleasant
speaker and was withal, one of the most
popular men of the lower Yellowstone.
During the past two years he gave way
to his desire for drink and that soon ac-
complished his downfall. Notwithstand.
ing his loose habits however, he was
elected to the important position of coun-
ty attorney Two years ago, and had Wildly
been able to Withstand the temptations
that stood in his way he could have been
a recipient of the. highest honors the
people Of his section could bestow.
In this connection it is not inappro-
pirate to speak Of Farwell, mentioned
above. This erractic genius commanded
n aavy nf oraanh and
needed, that was remarkable. In person.
al appearance he was slouchy and pos.
sessed q coutenance that was almost
lideous. In his habits he was also dia-
me,rically opposite to Wildly. as he
would not even taste liquor and denounc-
ed a man who did with the st, ongest
condemnation his wonderful vocabulary
contained, Farwell carried his law library
under his arm and relied entirely on his
use of language to win his cases, and
was generally successful as their were
few jurys or judges in these new camps
that could Withstand his eloquence no
matter how hard the lawless portion of
the community, endeavored to compel
them to do otherwise. Farwell claimed
to be relative of tho rich Chicagoan of
that name and had at one time owned a
large farm in Nebraska, upon
which he raised corn. The price
of corn went down and Farwell
having family troubles coupled with this
disaster LETT all behind him and struck
out without money for the New North
west. In his younger days he had been
a street "fakir" and from this experience
he was indebted not doubt, for his won.
derful powers of speech.
While fighting the lawlass in the courts
at the new town of Coulson, Dutch
Charley" who has never been appre-
hended, killed boy without the slight
est pretext or provocation. There being
no minister at hand Farwell was selected
by those who wished to give the boy,
who had been waiter and a general
favorite good send off," to make few
remarks OF the grave. Those who heard
Farrell on that memorial afternoon when
a crowd followed the dead body, borne
in a lumber wagon 10 the Indian burial
ground on the hill, will always have oc-
casion to remember it. There, under
the clear sky of that region, Farrell held
his hearers spell bound with his gifted
oratory. He drew mental picture Of
the dead boy, of the william who had kill
ed him and ended with one of the most
touching temperance lectures that his
listeners had ever heard. 1t was great
effort and its effect destroyed effectually
the rancour that had embittered many
and arrayed them against the speaker
When the town of Billings was started
Farwell picked up his books and went
thither. He soon, by judicious invest
ments, made considerable amount o
money and went away, no one know
| upharn