The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-06
CITY NEWS AND GOSSIP.
1 Bear Slayer Writes . Letter to
His Friend in
Chicago.
Some Thought Of snowshoeing
and Ice Skating Suggested
by Snow.

\ United states Marshal Of Montana Who
Had Little Respect for
Red Tape
The light fall of snow yesterday brings
mn visions of winter sports. A few years
ago great deal of enthusiasm was aroused
in this direction by the formation OF q
snowshoe club. The St. Paul winter ice
palace set the fashion for the northwest
both in the different styles OF shoes ana the
bright and picturesque blanket costumes
which were all the rage. good club was
started here early in the winter several
seasons ago but fortunately, or unfortuna-
tely, as one looks at the matter, 1t was an
open winter and there was not enough snow
to bring out the club. The jaunty and be-
coming suits were worn in the house, and
the shoes in many cases hung on the walls,
fastened together with a bit of bright rib
bon, and only served as ornaments. A good
ice skating rink within a reasonable dist
ance of the center of the city would no
doubt receive good patronage during the
winter. The grounds of the Helena Athletic
association with but little expense could be
flooded and magnificent sheet of ice be
maintained during cold weather. This is
one of the finest and most healthy out door
sports to be had in the winter months. Who
will start it2
very good story is told of the late Bob
Kelly. While that sturdy old democrat was
United States marshal OF Montana he made
up his expense account and forwarded it to
Washington. The red tape which prevails
in the department. of justice at the national
capital, is we'll known, and Kelly got some
yards of it in his. Attorney General Gar
land sent back the amount with several
items eliminated. Kelly was about as hot
as it was possible for man to eat having
his bill questioned. He wrote the attorney
general a letter in which there was very lit
tie diplomacy and no legal technlcalities
worth speaking of. 1t wound up with II
haven't got any time to sue you. but I'll find
time to fight you.'' The attorney general
paid no attention to the challenge
Kelly believed IN the maxim Ito the victors
belong the spoils," and when Garland re
tired with the rest of the Cleveland cabinet.
the marshal Of Montana promptly resigned.
copy of a letter was brought into the
city short time ago which is worth read
ing. The epistle was found in deserted
cabin in Elk Park and is dated June Is,
1880, addressed to Friend Hughey." Not
all Of the letter is printed here, but enough.
II says: II hope you will excuse me for not
writing to you sooner in answer to your let
ter. But the fact is, I have been laid up
and could not write. Twas out hunting and
had fight with a bear. killed. tho bear
but he came near wipin9 me out. He vas
one of the lnrgest erixslieS sser nrnund kere-
for long time; he weighed about 800
pounds. / had quite tussle with him be-
fore laid him out; if it had not been for
my hunting knife, as he broke my gun and
lost both Of my forty-fours in the tussle.
Ihave been offered $15 for the hide and
claws. but ! would not sell them for any
thing, as will keep them as momentoes of
the fercest fight ever had in my life. I
will show you the claws when I get back to
Chicago if the bears and the wild
cats will let me get back. The
Indians up here are rather quiet
at present. am mining up here and
have had to be armed all Of the time as I
don't know what time they may jump on
me. They killed three miners last week
about two miles from here but they are
quiet now on account of the recent addi-
ton Of 800 soldiers at the fort. heard
from scout to-day that the Indians had a
sun dance and that they were preparing to
wipe out the settlement. We have to have
a guard night and dav. Only the other day
they made raid on our stock and stam-
peded twenty-five horses and cattle, but my
brother and myself and three more men got
them back with the exception Of three
colts. We make our own whisky up here.
It is made by moonshiners. II is better
than any whisky ever drank in Chicago.
tits hard to get it if you don't know how,
AZ they won't sell it to everybody, You
can get q gallon for one ounce Of gold
dust. How is the weather in Chi
cago? II is rather cold up
here about zero, and it is showing.
There il blazing fire in the stove, but
am 80 cold can hardly write, 90 you must
excuse the bad writing. The only kind of
meat We have to eat is bear meat and ierked
buffalo, and buffalo is somewhat Of . lux
ury, as it is getting scarce. We appreciate
it about the same AZ the people in Chicago
appreciate quail.
This is a great country for gambling.
Last night our store clerk lost tomato can
full Of gold dust on aces up. While I was
in the saloon the dealer and one Of the
players had wrangle, and the player en-
deavored to shoot the dealer, but the dealer
got the drop on him and shot him dead.
He never moved, but lay back dead in his
chair with about twenty or thirty ounces Of
gold in front of him. Another man came
in about ten minutes later and wanted to
play. The only chair that he could have
was the one occupied by the dead man.
The stranger pulled the chair from under
him and played with the dead mans money.
He won about sixty ounces of gold dust
with it, too. They never picked up the
dead man until after the game was over,
and then they laid him outside. The man
that won the money said he would bury
him in the morning. don't know il he
did or not, as wasn't up to the saloon
since. / went fishing this morning for
about one hour and caught about thirty
pounds of trout, but they weren't biting
good to-day, and that was all could