The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-12
GOSSIP OF THE DAY.

GOSSIP OF THE DAY.
A popular travelling man who has beer
doing Helena in the interest Of his hous,
during the past week, concluded his labor
Monday, and after bidding his friends 0oo6
bye, left on the delayed Pacific express TO,
Butte. The express met the Montana Cen
trail local at Alhambra and stopped TO,
orders. The drummer saw friend in the
local train and hurried over to him 10 az
change greetings. He had barely shaker
hands when his train started up. Il wen,
off very suddenly and was going too lively
to make it safe to jump on, a. it was quite
dark. The drummer then concluded that
he did not want to go to Butte anyhow and
started tor the other train, which was Just
pulling out, and he barely caught it.
This little incident brought up list of
similar experiences among the passenger,
II was on Utah g. Northern train one
time" said one of the lady passenger land
there was also very sick woman going
somewhere for change of climate. Her
condition was precarious, and her husband,
who accompanied her, had = doctor with
them continually. At Pocatello the hus-
band and physician got of the train, pre-
sumably to see man. The train started
up and left them, and the poor sick woman,
after all their precaution, had to get OF at
some distant station and wait for them on
the next train"
~
Manager Wiley, Of The Helena. in talk.
ing about his experience with hotel suicides
the other evening, told good story on
John B. Drake, the proprietor Of the Grand
Pacific hotel in Chicago. One evening
traveller rushed up to the desk. fred his
grip down on the marble counter and
asked for room. Mr.. Wiley. who WAS on
watch gave the bell boy key and the gen.
tleman retired to his apartments. He had
hardly entered the room and turned the
key before shot vas heard. The clerks,
cashier and servants all rushed in and
found the man lying on the floor stone dead
with bullet hole in his head from which
the blood was oozing, The remains we're
removed to the morgue and in the morning
Mr.. Drake appeared in the Office.
who gave that man room?" he asked.
II die" said Mr.. Wiley.
well don't you know better than to give
room to man who intends to commit
suicide?" asked Mr.. Drake.
~.
The guests who visited The Helena yester-
day are curiously enough complaining of
weak eyes. When this report became gem
eral on the streets, an investigation was
commenced at once, but little difficulty was
experienced in finding the cause. When
the door was opened the louneer's eyes
were partially blinded by a stream of blaz-
ing light coming from the hotel desk. He
pulled his hat over his face, dropped down
in chair and sent for pair Of smoked
glasses. After these were adjusted the in
vestigation was resumed. Guided by the
blaze of fire he found his way to the hotel
desk and looked up quickly at the smiling
and hospitable countenance of the clerk
and then gazed at his expansive shirt front
Then once more his optics were stricken as
he discerned the source of illumination. It
was diamond of stupendous size and
matchless brilliancy. In truth the hotel
clerks diamond of the funny man paled
into insignifcance in comparison. The
gem weighs sixteen carats and is valued at
ST. 800. 1t has a curious history. Some
time ago Sir Roderick Dhu, of Great Marl-
borough street, London, E. c., was guest
at The Helena. He was travelling in dis
guise, but his identity was disclosed to q
few friends by Sir Hugh McQuaid, who
knew him abroad. Sir Roderick took q
great fancy to the chief clerk and after his
return forwarded the stone. It was once
the property of an eastern rajah, WHO stole
it from the head of an Indian idol, where il
was worshipped by the natives as gift
from the sun. There is tradition that il
will sometime return to its former place
there to remain. In the meantime The
Helena's clerk is keeping very close tabs or
it.
A little pine box suggestive of ''saG
affair." arrived at THE INDEPENDENT Office
yesterday from Jefferson county. After The
lid had been carefully removed there wal
found within the prettiest little coffin OF
the season. It was covered with heavy
broadcloth and decorated on either side
with picture of Thomas H. Carter. Be
meath was large Star, indicating the man
ufacturer, and above was a rosette of gay
ribbons. On the lid was the following
notice:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
This is to certify that the death of tn,
within was caused by want of the votes O
the people and not by any contagious dis
ease. Doctors Mckinley Bill, Silver Bill
and Precinct 81.
The coffin will be carefully preserved TO
futnre use.
~
The vernacular of certain classes in tn
wild and ~oolly west has been a rich them
for poetry and prose. Bret Harte ans
} Eugene Field found In it gold mine o
humor and pathos. Many people think i
, exaggerated until they learn by experience
, of its originality. For instance, two YER
we'll known Montana oattlemen we're il
town yesterday after profitable trip t
eastern markets. They met in front O
The INDEPENDENT Office in the afternoon
8 when they were Joined by Helenaite VIII
knew one of the men very we'll, but was no
, SO we'll acquainted with the other.
why, you know this man. don't you?
> inquired one of them of the other.
Know him! Why, I would know hi
Z hide hung on fence" was the answer.
ADJUSTMENTS.