, 1890-05-15
A MAN OF MILLIONS.
Peculiarities of the Late
Judge A. J. Davis.
AS TOLD IN SPOKANE FALLS
An Appeal for Half Million
Dollars, and a Lonely
Ride.
Written for the REVIEW by PandaIl n.

Written for the REVIEW by Pandall n.
Kemp.
a party Of ex-Montanians, min
Ing men, new residents ofs3pokauo
Falls, were enjoying social rcuu-
lon In the rear Of the Wardner Ex-
change few days since, talking over
old times In that great mi neral pro-
ducing state.
Finally the conversation turned to
reminiscences ofthc late Judge "A. ,.
Davis, the well known mining milf
lonnirc, who died in the city Of
Butts about two months since, and
over whose wealth several carloads
OF relatives from tho Fast are now
mangling, giving employment to
the leading legal talent of Montana
and a number OF lawyers from tho
East.
Uncl3 John Downs, or ''Honest
John" Us he was known In Montana,
after telling OF several pecullnrities
and superstitions 10 which the dead
money king was addicted, rslat ed
/ Wv 'DtpWibk tTiitltS&ttttUs
at was on the evening Of tho I'd
OF July, 1881. The news of tho
panic in New York and the failure
Of tho banking Arm Of Donueli,
Lawson 4 Simpson, backers Of the
firm Of Clark 4 Laribee, OF Butte,
bad been received, and a run ON
their bank In Butte was Imminent
VI had just come down from the
bill when ] was approached by A.
j. Dayis, who was heavily inter-
ested In the First National bank,
Of Butte.
"Mr. Davis asked me what condI-
tion my buggy team was In. I told
him they were in first-class trim.
Then he said, i want you to go TO
Helena and tell Sam Ex-Governor
>. II. Hauser) To send me $500, 900 ut
once TO meet the demand that will
be made on the bank
Accordingly l made my prepara-
tions and started. took the route
through the Park and reached Hell.
enn, distance OF seventy-flve miles,
In less than seven hours, driving all
the way after dark.
III sent message to Mr.. Hauser
and he met me at the First National.
! delivered to him the letter sent by
MIR. Davis, which he took and read.
He then ridiculed the idea OF tiie
hank In Butte not having funds siif
iioent TO withstand any panic, and
remarked that III Davis wanted
take from the vault the 81 800, ,OOO In
currency and bonds that he hns
boarded there.
tfttnallts tIr Ia..so~ ....r IL I'LL
to transfer 800, 600 from Helena to
Butte anyway. 1t was arranged
that he would take $4,000 In yaper
and nn equal amount in gold coin.
San; got ready and started at once
via Deer Lodge. gave my team u
good rest and In the afternoon drove
around 10 the back door Of the bank
and the cashier handed me out a
hand satchel. II was not very largo
but quite heavy and had $50. 900
worth OF gold II 'all the same.
"Then started across the noun
tains for Deer Lodge. Stage-eoach
hold-ups aud other depredafions
wero Of frequent occurrence In those
days, 20 the transportation of NO
much wealth over the mountain
passes and through the lonely can
-
no very Pleasant task.
al overlook Sam at Deer Lodge.
He did not appear to be in any
hurry and only laughed at Judge
Davis imaginary fears I was de-
layed somewhat In Deer Lodge by
sick horse. SO Mr.. Hauser got the
start Of me.
"When / got to Butte It was late
in the evening. / aroused the cash-
Ter OF the bank and handed him the
satchel with its precious contents.
He was much surprised when I
gave II to him and said, why Mr..
Hauser deposited $50, 900 In currency
this afternoon, but never said word
about you coming with more
Neither had Sam told another
soul about me coming with the
money. But somehow the fact had
got out that | had gone to Helena
after half million dollars, and all
my friends were extremely anxious
for my welfare. The inquiries made
and messages sent asking II my
whereabouts were known were very
numerous.
"Judge Davis was very peculiar
man." continued Mr.. Downs. ~
am satisfied that his estate will foot
nearer slO,OQ0,0oo than half that
sum, us many suppose. He was 80
superst.tious that he never made q
will for fear that some of his rcia-
tiyes would kill him.
"His greatest pleasure In life was
the accumulation OF money, and II
was Amusing to watch him. He
always had money In both rockets,
and he would imagine that one
weighed few grains more than tho
Other, hence he was continually
shining coin In his pockets SO as 10
equallzs the weight