Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-31
MIR. CLARK DEFENDS THE TERRI
TORY.
The following is from the "New Mort
west" of August 10, 1877:

The following Is from the New North
west" Of August 10, 1877:
THE CALI o HELP-HoNoR TO WHO'D
N is DUE.
Two days before Hon. w. A. Clark, ESQ.
had come from Butte and reported fol
duty:
"a call for service from the Governor
| will bring every man into the field who
can be armed. 1t will suspend all bust
ness, but Butte can fight, and 1 will beal
the message"
This was no idle proffer. He knew all it
involved to the industries Of the camp, and
he knew the men of Butte. The following
shows how he kept his word and how the
men of Butte rallied for the fray.
When Governor Potts proclamation
reached Deer Lodge On Saturday Mr.. W.
A. Clark, the banker OF Deer Lodge, imme.
diaJely jumped into the saddle and headed
his blooded horse for Butte, forty-four
miles distant, to carry the news and raise
the Lo Lo trail. 1t was IL o'clock in the
forenoon when he left Deer Lodge, and the
hour hand had net yet reached 2 O'Clock
when he pulled up his foaming steed in the
city OF Butte. He Immediately began Or
ganizing a company. and fully succeeded,
for there are willing and brave
hearts in the Silver City, and started the
same night with his company for Deer
Lodge City. The settlers along the Deer
Lodge, aroused by the steady hoof-beats
upon the hard roads, opened their win.
dows, and gazed with awe and alarm at
the midnight calvacade galloping swiftly
down the valley. The forms of the riders
and horses disappeared SO rapidly in
in the midnight gloom and shadows
thrown far out from the noun.
tains, that the watchers almost
thought them a. band of phantom horse.
men. Arriving at Deer Lodge City they
were Immediately armed and equipped,
and by z o'clock the same morning the
Butte volunteers, ninety-six in number,
with Captain w. A. Clark at their head,
were galloping down the valley OF the Deer
Lodge to assist their friends in Missoula
II VuIONVCLCU1 uUt1H uIU 1u0T6
is not much nonsense about west-siders.
As o O as the intelligence of the
fight in the Big Hole, Aug
ust 9, reached Butte, August II, a relief
company was organized. with MIR. Clark
for its captain. Early the next morning
The volunteers left for the scene of the |
On the following day they over
:ook a company of Deer Lodge volun-
jeers under Captain Stuart, and know
dg that the Indians, who were retreat
ng, were near at hand, a pursuit was
lgreed upon. They overlook General
Howard and his command, at the cross
ng Of Horse Prairie creek and appraised
lin of their plans. Howard, however,
to allow them to proceed, and
'rdered them to attach themselves
o his command or else return home. As
towards movements were too slow, and
t was apparent that he would never
vertake the hostiles, an opinion
fterward confirmed by the escape of the
Captains Clark and Stuart
oncluded to return and abandon the
base. This course was decided upon !
ecause the volunteers were compelled to
epend upon Howard for rations while J,
1 the pursuit, and Of course were in {
uty bound to obey his orders. Had the G
Olunteers been supplied with rations of G
leir own the Ncz Perces wal would 6
rObably have terminated differently, as J
le men under Captains Clark and Stu
It were no tenderfeet, and anxious to
!, on. '