The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-10
How Washoe Received tho First That
Had Been Seen in Three
Years.
"A Visit to the Emigrant From Pike
and q Three Thousand Dol
lar Purse.
Ono Of the Incidents in the EARLY Career
Of Senator W. M Stewart, Of
Nevada.

1Io0COo6 N inc CAP1tOA. AsCOS0So VAA0 W0AA
aboye the broad landing half way to the
house gallery. A party Of pioneers on the
wav to the gold diegings has reached the
crest of the Sierras. The promised land is
spread out below. At the highest point on
the crest two men are planting the flag.
Only the foremost in the caravan have
reached the top. They are standing and
gazing. Behind them their Companions
are scrambling and climbing over the
rough road to reach the high ground. In
the van, with his head barred. his rifle
clutched in his hands, youth, with an
earnest, thoughtful face, is poised upon
jutting rock. He 10 paying no attention to
the scramblinR crowd behind or to the ex-
cited guide in front. He is looking, AZ Il
he saw vision, upon the scenes
below him. The youths hair falls to the
collar Of his red shirt. His face ID
smooth. The figure, from the stout boots
to the we'll thatched head. is sturdy: The
youtn personifies the line above: WEST
ward the course Of empire takes its way
He left Yale college to join the Argonauts
OF -. He is now United States senator
William Morris Stewart, of Nevada.
Ia one respect the picture is inconsistent
wagon train complement of the weaker
sex. When Stewart, the student, went to
California the women were left at home.
The senator occasionally relapses into
"reminiscences. One Of the best stories he
tells is Of the arrival Of the drst woman in
with pan and rocker at Washoe for three
years without 90 much az glimpse Of a
sun-bonnet. Late Of an afternoon a mighty
shout was heard. The cry was taken mp
and repeated until il rang from end to end
Down went the picks and shovels. The
red-shirted miners swarmed up the hill
sides. An emigrant wagon, ''all the way
from Pike" was slowly moving along to
camping place. A lone pike sat on the
raised the shout told how he had seen q
live woman sitting beside man when the
wagon first hove in sight. But as soon as
he gave notice by the warning cry, she had
lodged back out Of sight beneath the cam
vas cover. Filled with questions by the less
fortunate, the miner described in glowing
detail how the woman was dressed and
what she looked like.
That evening, while the slices Of pork
were sizzling and the coffee-pots were bub-
bling, the miners discussed the great event.
The more they talked the more they felt
that they must see woman. Somebody
pro posed purse and visit to the emil
grants camp. One after another Clipped
IN. There was 3D. 600 in gold dust when the
last contribution was turned in. Then,
.O1MAHk ~ Ing anu AoohAuk very solemn,
just as they did when they marched in to
see 'The Luck of Roaring Camp these
miners started for the wagon Of the Mis-
sourian. By unanimous vote 'Bill'' Stew
art bad been selected. for spokesman. He
walked at the head Of the procession and
carried the bag of gold dust. As the COL
umn approached within sight of the little
camp the leader saw hutter of drapery
at the front of am improvised tent. Then
the Hap was hastily drawn, and as the
miners approached they saw only the man
OF the outfit, and he Razed rather appre-
hensively at the array.
A big ring was formed; Stewart advanced
to the center. He explained to the traveller
that the BOYS mean no harm to him or HIS
But it had been three years since some of
them had seen woman. In fact. until the
arrival that afternoon, the gulches of
Washoe had never been honored with the
presence of petticoats. The boys had
deemed the occasion worthy Of recognition.
They had made up. not exactly a Jackpot.
but Kurse, which he was commissioned to
present to the lady.
The Mlssourian listened. Az the little |
speech neared the climax he grinned. When |
Stewart held up the buckskin bag the emf |
grants eyes grew big. He turned and !
started with alacrity for the tent.
sally" he said. come out and show
yourself. The boys don't mean to hurt ye.
They've got somethin' fur ye."
nand, the Missourian returned to where
Stewart was standing. Stewart handed
over the buckskin bag with his most elab-
crate bow. The woman took it, made an
awkward acknowledgment and soooted for
the tent. As she disappeared there went
up shout which made the Welkin ring and
coyotes hunt their holes for miles around.