The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-29
s OF THE DAY.

past two or three days talking aoout sne
death Of Bill Fairweather. All unite in say
ing that Fairweathor ia dead, but on the
other hand men of standing in Montana
and of undonbted integrity say they saw
him recently in San Francisco. Tom
Bak er. who knows AZ much about Alder
Rulch life rs any man IN montana,
laughs at the story that Fairweather
ia still alive. II know he Is
dead" he said. II was in Virginia City
when he died, and l wrote his obituary
notice." The funeral WAS the first ever
held in the stone church at Virginia. After
ward we raised a fund to place a monumen
over his grave, but could not find the grave.
1t was II of eight or ten graves in one cor
ner of the old Virginia cemetery" A. II.
Scribner, an old-time resident OF Alder
aulch, who was standing near, corroborated
Mr.. Bakers story.
Rev. Joseph Monterey. s. j., died on
Monday at st. Ignatius' mission, on the
Jocko reservation. He was one of the plo-
nesr priests in the northwest, his missionary
labors in this field extending over a period
of forty-four years. He was one OF the best
known and most successful missionary
workers. The following sketch OF
his work and tribute to his worth
is from the pen of Father l.. b. Palladino,
s. j., of this city. who knew the dead priest
many wears, and who is best qualified to
judge his life: 7
Father Joseph Menetrey was born in the
canton of Freiburg. Switzerland, Nov. ~
1912. On the 10Th of September. 1886, he
entered the Society of Jesus, land some ten
years after his entrance into the society ne
offered himself for the Indian missions IN
the Rocky mountains. In company with
the late F. N. Blancbet, the first archbishop
of Oregon, two other Jesuit fathers, some
lay brothers apd a colony of Sisters
of Notre Dame, of Namm,
Belgium. he landed in Oregon on
August ID, 1s47. From old st. Paul, Ore
gon, he passed suocessively to other ms
sions established in what are now Idaho,
Washington and Montana.
He labored zealously and successfully
among the C%olville, Spokane, Occur d'Alene,
Pen d'Oreilles, Kootenay, kalispel. Black
feet and Flathead Indians. Though in every
Indian mission, where he worked, may be
seen to-day numerous and lasting monu-
ments of his zeal, industry, tolls and en-
durance Judgment day alone can reveal
to men all the hardships and worth of this
good fathers life amongst the Indians. lie
was the founder Of st. Ignatius' mission;
the first pastor of ~Frenchtown, and for sew
eral years ministered to the spiritual wants
of our Catholic people scattered all over,
what was then called, the Hellgate valley.
In the fall of 1874 he came to Helena and
was, for three years, one OF the resi-
dent fathers, attending this mis-
sion: and visited, as his special
missionary task the Boulder, Missouri,
Grow Creek and Gallatin valleys and other
outlying stations. The last years of his
missionary life were devoted to the good
people of Missoula, where he built up a
Furnishing congregation. His health here
some two years ago, he had to retire from
all active missionary duty. The good
father betook himself to st. Ignatius to
quietly prepare himself and wait for the
summons that should bid him ''enter into
the Joy of his Master" in whose vineyard
he had truly "borne the burden of the day
and the heat" for nearly half a century.
The summons came and the good and faith
full servant, as stated above, went to his
Master at l p. m.
His funeral will take place tomorrow at
st. Tgnatius and his remains will likely be
laid to rest in the large mission church that
was reared by him over thirty years ago.
Of their charity, may all who will hear of
the good father, offer up a prayer for the
repose of his SOU. r. l.. P.
~
Several young men have found great fun
in the past few days %"joshing'' n member
of their set over an amusing incident. The
victim of their joke is particularly fond
of a certain young lady whose first name is
Grace. The other Sunday evening Miss
Grace attended services at one of the east
side churches. Her friend thought he
would escort her to her home. He was
waiting at the church door for her appear
ance when the minister came out.
"What are you waiting for my young
friend?" asked the pastor.
81 am waiting for Grace" replied the
youth.
The good man did not catch the full
meaning of the answer. He therefore went
about among the leading member of the
congregation telling about the recent con-
version of the young man, who was now
only waiting for grace.
~
Thu first notes of the hand organ we're
gently waited by the soft zephyrs of spring
yesterday afternoon. By a curious chance,
explainable only by the talented musician,
Chinatown was first favored with his airs.
1t was u rather interesting view to the man
with the kodak. At a popular corner where
Chinese gossipers love to gather of a warm
afternoon, | found a swarthy son of Italy
with a wheezy little handorean mounted on
a stick. His face did not reflect the insplr-
alton of a Mozart or Neber, though his
execution was noticeable for regularity and
energy. Gathered about we're a dozen OF
more Cinnamon. The patriarch was, nc
body knows how old. He wore an iron gray
mustache that hung in thin ines almost to
his neck. He wore the customary blouse
without trimmings and enjoyed the music
between whiffs of smoke through the lone
stem of a curiously decorated pipe. The
other portion of the crowd was E