The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-27
THE HAUNTS OF HISTORY.
How tho Historical Society Has
Gathered the Landmarks Of
Montana's Story.
4 Growing Library and q Rare
and Interesting Collection
Of Relics.
8NW the Work Has Been Carried ON by
the Pioneers and Citizens
the State.

At the conclusion of his charming His
;ory of Civilization Guizot sums up the re-
suit of his years of faithful study in few
words and adds that the world to-day is
but in the dawn of civilization. It is diff
ficult matter for the ordinary individual to
grasp the meaning of this prophecy when
he stops for moment to think of the sur
rounding signs of progress. It is almost
beyond the reach of credulity to the Mon
tanian who within q few short years has
seen in his own state the swiftest strides of
history known to time. Within the
memory of young men the giant mountain
state has pushed itself from savagery to
civilization, and from haunts of beasts to
homes of men.
The march of events in Montana can best
be understood after delightful hour with
Colonel William F. Wheeler in the pleasant
rooms of the historical Society of Montana.
The student of history certainly could not
find better posted or more entertaining
instructor than the librarian whose efforts
have SO largely contributed to the splendid
foundation of the society's work. The his
tory of the society is interesting. It was
incorporated under legislative act in 1865
by Chief Justice Hez. L. Hosmer, Captain
G. P. Higgins of Missoula, Major John
Owen the builder of Fort Owen in the Bit
ter Root valley, Captain James Stewart, Col
w. F. Sanders, Malcolm Clark, F: M.
Vile Stuart, Col. ". ". DeLacy,
Judge Caleb Irwin and Charles
P. Bagg. Messrs. Higgins, Owen, Clark
Graham and Bagg have since died. The
first meeting of the society after the moor
poration was held in the Office of Dance
and Stuart in Virginia City. Among the
that store, the first in Virginia City. It is
an old-fashioned shutter painted white, on
which the following list of merchandise
was labeled in black letters: Coffee,
sugar, tea can, and pie, fruits, confection-
cry, spices and pistols. The prominence
given to the latter indicates the value of
fire arms in the community. The work Of
the society since that time in building the
history of Montana has been constantly
under way. To-day not one of the new
states approaches Montana in the extent or
value of its historical collections or data.
The library of the Historical Society is a
time it consists of several hundred volumes
of various kinds. A complete set of gov
eminent reports are on the shelves and
there is fairly complete list of exchanges
from other historical societies. But in
addition there are many rare works of
koCuAAoI AAVcI0bVs TUT 4u6UAuC0 mere ID an
old volume Of explorations written by Sir
Alexander Mckenzie, from whom the Nc
Kenzie river was named. Then there is
an account of North America printed
in London in 1765, with many amusing
illustrations OF natives as they were sup
valuable history of the fur trade from
1927 until 1876 when the business prac-
tically went out of existence. The art
Of assaying in 1883 is discussed
by an author Of that time. On the shelves
are many old volumes in time worn coveres
principally from European countries. These
books have been presented to the library by
friends Of the society. The most valuable
part of the library is the collection of man
uscripts and letters. Among these are the
daries, of eight men who crossed the
plains from Leavenworth, st. Joe and st.
Paul to Montana: The best of these is by
n. 81. Webster. Il is carefully and lezibly
written and is illustrated by many good
sketches. Among these is a picture Of an
overland mail station. Mr.. Webster's Jour.
ney kept him on the road from August ~ to
November 8, 1866, and the story of the trip
is Of striking interest. There is good col
Montana from 1927 mostly in the interest Of
the American Fur company. Colonel
Wheeler travelled two summers to secure
some thirty of these manuscripts. In the
collection are many contributions and letters
from old timers, none of which have been
published. One of the most interesting and
best written manuscripts in the library is
from the pen of Lieutenant Bradley, of the
Seventh infantry, who was killed at the
battle of the Big Horn. While stationed at
Fort Benton he occupied his spare time in
gathering historical legends, etc., from the
!ndiands. together with stories of their
nights and methods of warfare. These were
written out on many pages Of legal cap
paper. After the ieutenant's death the
manuscript was purchased from his widow
for $500. The diary of Major Owens from
1850 to 1870 continuously is rare and interS
esting relic. Possibly that part of the liz
brary which will be of the greatest value in
the preservation of the more minute details
of Montana history is the collection of
newspapers. From the first Montana news
paper to this issue of the INDEPENDENT Col
onel Wheeler has the everyday history of
the state as it appeared in the various Jour
nails. These have been bound in 100 volumes
and and there is now sufficient material on
throughout the state
send papers to the library ale
where they are carefully preserved. The
librarian will be very glad to receive those
papers that have thus far failed to place
the historical society on the exchange list.
= Inc museum OF the society carries the Wis
itor from the days of the aborigines through
the dark days of the vigilantes to the last
act of the constitutional convention, that
of signing the states instrument. In
glass case are few relics presented to the
society. An Indian skinning knife from
T.. b. Lyman tells of the crude methods of
savaoery. Neak by is Henry rifle with
the stock burned off. found on the Custer
battle field. Another battle ground relic is
b needle gun, found X. Beidler at the
Bear Paw battle field. There is candle
stick with piece of candle. found when
the excavations for the court house were
made. 1t doubtless was left from miners
cabin. A piece of pine from the famous
hangman's tree, in Dry gulch, tells mute
etory of the times when Montana had
hardly reached its stage of transition. The
march of progress is next recorded by the
6rst tie on the Northern Pacific railroad in
p Montana, and near BY is the end
IN 1883. The Montana of to-day
will be recalled years hence by the iron and
wood gavel used by President Clark in the
constitutional convention, and associated
with this is the pen used by the members of
Ene convention IN signing the constitution.
line pen used BY the senators in taking the
pain Will remind visitors of the late legis-
tatlve deadlock. There ia O gift from Gov.
|Ioole IN the shape of a volume containing
bls hrst message to the legislature. On
Inc ny leaf Is the telegram from Secretary
Blaine announeing Montana's admission to
Fhe sisterhood of states. Col. Wheeler
tightly esteems the collection of portraits
Pf great value. The visitor is first greeted
Py splendid oil portrait of Y. Beidier. the |
Head chief of the vigilantes. The face of
Fhe brave pioneer stands out in bold relief
Filth the expression SO familiar to his