The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-03
Ger of . Printer Who Was .
Prince Of Good
Fellows.
de a Million in a Month
and Spent It Very
L Rapidly.
tied . Big Daily in q Mining Camp
and Ran the T0wn-Died
Penuiioss.

l. v EHANOS ShAsS 0OPVs $50 a 0t~S0~sse 49,
l,ondent of the st. Louis Globe-Demo-
i writes that paper: I'm the exciting
9 of 40 and 80 the town of Meadow
:e, Nevada county. CAL, was an enter
ing city of 1900 inhabitants. It was
ounded by some of the richest placer
,es in California, and there were those
y got the idea that the town was destined
,e the metropolis of the West. but the
les we're finally exhausted and the for
e-seekers drew away from the spot. the
chants closed their stores, the saloon
'rs were nailed up. and now the visitor
hat section witnesses the spectacle Of
ad streets fanked by empty buildings
l. are falling into ruins. Doors that have
"a torn from their hinges by the wind re-
the interior of saloons with bottles of
Tor standing on the shelves just as they
. left by their proprietors more than
rter of century ago. Not soul now
slls in the town. The streets are filled
b rank growth of weeds and the
,den sidewalks have fallen into dust.
n the Main street, about half way to
v southern extremity of the town, stands
so-storied building of unhewn stone.
Is building is in good condition, with
4 exception of the broken windows and
Ill portion of the roof which has been
shed in by slide Of snow from the side
The mountain that towers above it.. The
iding, in the days of ~, was the publ
ON office Of the Meadow Lake Daily
fald. seven-column, eight-page paper,
i was run to satisfy the within Of one Of
lluckiest and at the same time one of the
1t unfortunate men who were at all
spicuous during the California gold
re.
ames Gaean was the proprietor and ed
of the Daily Herald. He was q jolly
Ii printer, who claimed royal ancestry.
A when he had funds he threw his money
ind in reckless way that proved him
Ugh liver when circumstances permitted.
san had worked his way through the
Eifornia, and, getting the gold craze, he
indoned type setting for time and set
4 for Meadow Lake on foot. He had hard
over the mountains, and when, at the
. of four weeks, he walked into Meadow
Ike he was sorry looking sight, weather.
ten and ragged, but not at all down
rted, for he was typical tourist printer,
his spirit was always among the clouds.
.agan had money enough in his pocket
Enable him to buy mining outfit at
ond hand: friendless and alone, he set
/ for the diggings back of the town. In
|slnote canyon, through which ran small
eam Of water, GaRan staked out . claim
n set to work. He struck ''color" at the
I blow of the pick, and at the close Of
H day he had taken out s., 600 worth of
VA dust. The canyon had not been pros
ted before, and for month Gagan
pred alone, visiting the town only when
vas obliged to, to procure provisions.
She end of the fourth week he was an
lnensely wealthy man, his ''pannings''
| ing increased in value each day. With
ather belt full of shining gold, he re-
|1aed to Meadow Lake and made his rich
Y known. In the gold dust he had ample
lence that his story was true, and he
"a price that ran his wealth into the mill
|is.
The population of Meadow Lake had now
|pwn to 1900 inhabitants, and as yet the
Ia was open to newspaper enterprise.
gan was quick to see this after he was
Il of the mines, and he set about estab-
|ling the Herald. In those days there
not railroad within several hundred
es of the town, and the only access to
\ place was by rough trail over the
untains; but Gagan had money and a
pOhltIOu W eQeuu AtS 30 no iIuMeuAhtely
about building q rwo-storied stone
> few weeks the building was ready for
upanoy, and Gagan set out for the east
!, the purpose of purchasing newspaper
Int. It was nearly three months before
/ returned, but be brought with him a
E3t-class outfit, including q cylinder press
n a steam engine. In due time the
raid was issued, and it was a
fleet newspaper geographically. The
siness men of the town patronized it lib
lily, and every man in the town sub
,lbed for it. Single copies sold at four
IL, or SO cents, each, and the subscription
Ice for year was $100. The circulation
Il,ies daily, but Gagan was sinking money
the venture very rapidly. To get print
< to come to the town and work he was
I iged to pay them $40 day, and his
! er employees were paid oorrespondingly
IA wages. Paper laid down in the Her
y establishment at that carly day cost q
lat deal, as it was bought in the east,
spped around the Horn and carried to the
in on pack mules. Gagan was obliged
keep train of twenty-five mules, with
Il as many drivers, on the road between
u Francisco and Meadow Lake week in
q week ont. This cost great deal of
iney.
aagan was the leading man of the town.
5here was dispute to be settled Gagan
Is the man to settle it. The case was laid
tors him. He took it under advisement
/ reviewed the case and announced his
,ision through the editorial columns of
y Herald. II there was family in the
IN that needed financial aid, an appeal
70 made to Gagan and the assistance
led for was always granted. If there was
Elurder, and there were many Of them in
E5se wild days, Gagan was invariably
lied upon to preach the funeral sermon.
there was celebration Gagan was al
ys the orator Of the day. Gagan was a
sral liver, and when the mood came over
~, which was often, he would walk into a
Don, purchase the contents. and invite q
.wd in from the street to help themselves.
was tall, slightly-built agile man, and
dressed in most faultless style. His
+ir, as black as night. fell about his shout
q, and his waxed mustache and pointed
Eperial gave him the appearance of a
ack doctor of the present day. He was
Enerous to a fault. and at one time, when
smallpox epidemic struck the town,
gan bought a building and turned it in
a hospital. hired nurses, bought medi-