The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-22
NORTHWEST NEWS.
Topics Of General Interest In the -Four
New States and Elsewhere.
MONTANA.

The contract for building a Catholic
church TO cost $1,000 has been let at Liv-
ingston. c. Z. Collins has the woodwork,
and Wright 4 Ennis the brickwork. 1t is
to he finished in 20 days.
The derrick Of the artesian well at Chi
nook is finished and machinery being put
In working order. Saturday night the
formal starting was made. Expert
Shroupe says the drill must reach n depth
Of 100 feet before a Month is passed.
The Great Falls d Canada track has
reached the Teton and the first train
crossed that river Thursday, says the
Great Falls Tribune. A temporary bridge
has been put in. The Marias will be
reached by the Fourth Of July.
The hardware stores of Mcintyre x
Mathews and William Franzman were en-
tered by burglars Friday night. The
former lost goods to the amount of Si2.J0.
The clothing store of II. Livingston was
also entered and robbed of $3.50 worth Of
stock.
The five Indians charged with the muir
der of Robert Ferguson were brought be-
fore Justice Brown and c. X. Middleton,
acting %cousel, at Miles City Friday, and
waived examination till the next term OF
court. The object was to place the case
before the grand jury.
Under Sheriff Crawford went down to
Big Sandy last evening and returned this
morning with five Great Northern en-
ployes under arrest. The men are charged
with having destroyed "A dam across Big
Sandy creek, belonging to Charles MUIR
ray, a settler who owned a water right
and was using the water to irrigate his
land. II is understood that Agent Brooks
and the section men were acting under
orders from headquarters i'm destroying
the DAM. Under section 2l9, 4th division,
criminal laws of Montana, the destroying
or injuring of a dam used for irrigating or
other useful purposes, is made n criminal
~offense, punishable by fine of not more
than 81 600, or Imprisonment in the state
prison not less han n nor more than
two years, or by both fine and imprison-
ment. The men were brought before
Justice Crane this afternoon and furn-
ished bail. II remains to be seen whether
a corporation can order its employees to
commit a criminal act and then save them
from punishmcnt.-Benton Press.
The Deer Lodge Nelo Northwest says
Thomas Lavatta came home 10 that city
the past week. He has been at or near
Pocatello, Idaho, for the last three years,
acting as government interpreter for the
Bannack and Shoshone Indians. He
came up To see to the renting Of his ranch
near Deer Lodge, and as soon as his bust
ness affairs are completed. he will return To
his work at Pocatello. Mr.. Lavatta was
born i'm New Mexico in 1884. and came 10
what is now Montana i'm 1s47. He was
then acting as interpreter and guide for
some trappers. He came through
this valley that year and went over To
the Jocko, and from thence back to Fort
Hall. He worked for the Hudson Bay
company from 1sl5 to 1855, except a shor,
period from June, 1si0 TO April, 1850. In
1si9 he, with three other men, came over
into the Bitter Root. and one night, while
camped. the Blackfeet Indians stole all
their horses-5s head. He hen went
back to the Flathcad Indians and pur.
chased some more horses, then joining
his wife, who had been left with some
friends, they proceeded across the main
Rocky Mountain range to the Yellowstone
river. where they joined the Bannack In
dams and engaged i'm hunting the buffalo
during the winter Of 40 and 80. In
the spring he returned to the service OF
the Hudson Bay company. After leaving
the service of the company In 1855, when
IT ceased trapping in this country, Mr.
Lavatta wandered a great deal through
out the Northwest territory, interpreting
for the Indians and trading with emf
grants for himself. In 1859 he built tn,
first house at Deer Lodge, on the farm
north Of town, now owned by MIR. Lara
bic. He says that Mrs. Hugh O'Neill wa
the first white woman that entered MOI
tana, she having passed through Dee
Lodge valley in 1858. Mr.. Lavatta's rem
iniscenses of early Montana are quite in
teresting and would FIJI a good-sized vol
ume. He is still hale and hearty, ant
looks as IL he had many years before
hin,