The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-11
ON Ii SIDE

q lsaliy Lynch, OF tbs popular Precinct y
cafe. told = good story tho other day abou
!. an experience with Grow Indians. No on
would ever know except from Mr.. Lyme
himself that he wore n class sye. Ono tim
he WAS down at the Grow agency when h
! met M old one-eycd chief. The missin
+ orb had beer plucked ont in one OF Oh,
! torture dances. When Biily calmly pickle,
! the glass optic ont Of his head and held !
! before the old mans gaze the chief nearl,
fell over on the ground In blank astonish
ment. After considerable persuasion th,
chief was induced to plant Il in his empt,
socket. He then went over whore the Other
Indians we're standing and showed them
tho change. They thought the messiah
must surely be around in the vicinity
Billy, who understands the Crow language
quite as we'll as that of his native land, Wal
somewhat surprised when the chief with d
b~landncss that would do credit to a conf.
dencs man, explained to ibis red brethren
that no could see ont Of the
new eye as we'll as tho other.
The crowd then stretched ont
in a circle and lifting their eyes TO the
heavens gave a yell Of thanks for the new
medicine that had been found. The chief
finally returned the eye to Mr.. Lynch with
the explanation that he would have his
benefit besides ornament. and then he
would send one to the white mar.
The average pilgrim ID disappointed when
he travels over the plains for " days with
out finding . herd Of buffalo. However his
ambition will be grati6ed by q visit to Mis-
souIa county where one herd of eighty buf-
faIo is kept for breeding purposes. They
are worth $500 each in Manitoba, where an
effort il being made to establish buffalo
farms. One buffalo is killed every year on
the Missoula ranch. The annual slaughter
occurred the other day and the result 10 a
fine buffalo head which can be procured for
the nominal sum Of fifty dollars. A fad for
buffalo head ornaments WAS started in the
east some time ago, but it fell through be-
cause the buffalo heads could not be pro-
cured.
Perhaps the next best thing is a set of
buffalo horns. People sometimes wonder
whether all Of these brought in by the In
dams and sold at reasonable prices are gen.
uine. They should be. for the plains now
CUuLblu tuDuehIlub vi JUL nCbPo ~ IollCS
of the disappearance. The horns are found
with little difficulty and are carefully pol
ished and mounted with bits Of flannel and
velvet ornaments. They are eagerly pur-
chased by travellers along the Indian reser-
vations. The other day fou commercial
men dropped into The Helena during the
afternoon, each carrying a SGT Of Eorns.
One of them. in speaking Of his purchase.
said that the set was offered to him by an
Indian for $3.50. He was about to make
the purchase, but thought for his own
amusement that he would ask for q lower
figure. When he explained that the price
was too high the Indian simply said ''one
six bits"
An old time hunter was talking the other
day about game when the subject Of elk
came up. In connection he said: within
a few weeks the antlers of the stag elk will
undergo q decided change. They will dis
appear and in their place will appear two
protuberances covered with a soft glossy
substance known as velvet. These new
horns grow rapidly as the supply of nour-
ishment increases and in ten weeks the
antlers will have reached their full growth.
The hard rings through which the antfefs
pass will gradually close and thus stop the
nourishment for the velvet which is rubbed
off when the antlers come in contact with
rocks or other substances. The age of the
elk is ascertained by the number of points
on the antiers. During this change the elk
becomes as docile and gentle as a spring
lamb but after the new antlers are fully
~~x,-n hN ..s. ~n~-a1, kh& ~.~se - ---t
session Of his weapons.
IN
Here is a curious story of local interest
from the Cherokee scout:
Eight years ago George Virgins, son of
W. b. Virgins, who is a prominent citizen
of Graham county. went from kobbinsville
to the west. For two years he wrote regu-
larry to his folks. In his last letter he
wrote that he was going to Montana. This
was the last they ever heard of him until
recently.
Not long ago X. l.. Davis, of Robbinsyille, |
went to Montana and settled there. He
now writes back that he believes be has
found the ionp-lost man. About the time
George Virgins wrote his last letter home
a young man arrived in Montana and went
~ WIN III d bdHlu1h. lib tUIptOycr re- |
member that he gave the name of Wigeins.
This was all that was learned concerning
him.
soon after he commenced work in the |
mill he was struck ON the side of the head
by a flying timber. which knocked him
senseless. For q long time his life was
despaired of. but he finally recovered.
Memory of all previous life was gone. II
lie had just been born into the world he |
conld no have been more of a child than
he was when ne recovered from that terri
Bile blow. All that he now knows he has |
had TO learn anew.
Who knows George Virgins or the saw
mill where he worked?
All old timers know John Iepley. Hel
came here in the early days and followed
mining for many years. He is now in the |
Judith Basin, where be owns a valuable |
ranch. Mr.. Iepley. who is now worth a
fortune, and consequently should enjoy life
to its fullest measure. has never lost the !
adyenturesorne spirit that brought him to |
Montana. In chatting with a party Of |
friends the other day he recalled an incl
dent in his life that may be often heard of
in the future. In 1866. he and his partner
whose name ] cannot recall, discovered the
Silver Creek grounds. The work paid very
ueiI far fhey were taktpu ~ <a ,r.- |