The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-14
PIONEER Of PIONEERS,
The Great Work Which Col. Walter
W. de Lacy Did in the
Northwest.
Time and Again He Faced Death
While Mapping Out Routes
for Railroads.
A story OF an Active Life Filled With
Deeds That VIII Recoms y Part OF
tho History of the State.

The news of the death of Col. w. w. de
Lacy, though not unexpected, was heard
with a great deal of regret yesterday. For
many years he was a familiar figure all
over Montana, and probably no man in the
state was better known or more highly re-
spected. Though he lived in Montana in
the early days, and aided largely in shap-
ing the future of the state, it was not as
an active participant in the work of the
vigilantes, nor as a politician, but rather
in a scientific way. All the arrangements
for the funeral have not been made, though
it will Jake place Sunday afternoon and
will undoubtedly be largely attended. The
following sketch of Col. de Laoey's life, OBJ
tanned from him some time before his death.
will be read with interest not only by those
who knew him but by all those " citi-
xens of Montana who want to know
thing of the career of the men who made
Montana possible: g.
With The death Of Col. Walter w. de
Lacy terminates q most eventful career.
His was a life i'll which no element of ad-
venture. romance Or tragedy was lacking
which can appeal to the imagination or stir
the blood. Born in Petersburg, Va, in
1919, he removed at an early age to Norfolk.
shave 49, vaara az hia III we're spent.
-, .a-.-..-.a \. ~ .,aac
ouon g ~ :.
supplied we're MS. Later ne ehserea ~.
Mary's college, Maryland, completing his
course Of study by private instruction in
mathematics and civil engineering at the
United States military academy at West
Point. In 1889 he was employed in iii
nois and Missouri in surveys for the Illinois
rar+rol and lows Mountain railroads. a
49, latar IL recaiyed tha annointment Of
nrafassnr ~ lanonapes (Franch. Spanish
md Pnrtnonese9 and acting professor Of
n,atban,at;ca IN the TInitad States navy.
4 araatar nnrtion If The following i've years
snan+ a. CAD dnrinu which time he
served an the men-of-war Pennsylvania,
Marion ana Ohio. and visited various por-
tions Of TIA world. Upon the establish
nant ~ the Tinted States naval school al
A%nnano,ia Md ia was rendered 4 profess
snr,a chair Int deolined. and for a
sbort tima thereafter was engaged in
MAKING surveys for the government
a1ann f,ak a Snnerior- He was sent in 1916
~ a nnrtv Of CAPITALISTS to Texas in search
IL old Snanish silver mines that had been
%ohendonad Tha nonulation Of Texas was
81 mat lime small and his explorations
carr;ad him "a its furthest borders. into re-
IRONS where the red man held undisputed
SWAY He had "a an escort a small band Of
delaware Indians. who in intelligence and
couraoa we're nearly the EQUALS of white
man' Great danger attended the expedi-
ton. and several mines that had been
worked far lead were found. but none con-
taining either cold or silver. IN pursuit Of
h;s nhiect the marty crossed over into Old
Marico ana we're there when the United
Stataa declared war against that country.
Promnted 81 the influence of patriotism
tha colonel took part as a volunteer in sew
aral combats between the contending forces
Alter peace had been declared he Joined
a detachment Of Texas rangers under com.
mand Of Col. Jack Hays. which was start
mo IN an axnloration for the purpose OF
LOCATING a road from San Antonio to Chi
huahua. Mexico, There were seventy men
in the party. Striking boldly into the
Indian country, they soon reached a region
which few white mon had ever entered,
nh gnides became confused, lost their
wav and fnallv confessed Ignorance of the
ronte which brouoht the command to d
atandstill. To take the back track was tc
CONT ridicule, to such men an unbeatable
~nnnishment After a consultation it was
Sacidad to nress forward. The commissar-
it was nro7isioned for Twenty-Five days
but for eighty thew wandered over the
ira ckless nrairies for which that section is
ramarkable. mn men were put on shor1
rations. bnt soon the meapre supply of pro.
viaions oave ont and thew were compelleC
70 snbsist upon the flesh oil their horses anc
mules. Every night one of the animals
was killed and the meat equally divided
After cooking the men seasoned it witt
onnnowdar. a condimeut familiar to ole
camnainuers. Sometimes the mea;
vas ho,isd- and thu broth from il
which was n welcome change. passsC
undar the head OF s.mule tea.1 No game
was TO be found and the party were fire..
o,antly without water for two dava at 5
time When almost DISCOURAGED the com.
mand stumbled mon what was known a,
..tha old Comanche trail.' This tribe O.
indiana were a match for the feeble Mexi.
cans and continually rayaged their frontier
slowly Int surely crowdinp it back TOWARD
the south5 Rasides murderino the inhah5
tants. capturing many women and prea
hootv. thew sec11red large herds of horses
ona in trayalinu from thair own country 4
that Of the Mexicans had established
hrnaa wall beaten road soon after strik
;ro INC trail a hand ~ siv friendly Anacha
vara oyartakan who oave the y,ioneera IN
formation nv following which thew 500,
rsachad San Carlos the nearest Maxlca,
.attIamant On arrival thew ohtainaa nro
xis;ona and ware kindly treated Nv tho in
hahitants The rangers then retnrnea +
San Antonio INIT Coi IA I,acv who ha,
4mo ,,acL nonIeu Ioadad with n,aroha n3ige
daoidad II ramoin
Ona day m ADpcba chiaf rar,a into VI
.attIa,oan+ mith ahon, IA 1taaa hanan,. ao
nnsin4ed 4 mutnai f~riandshin was 600
aatahIiah.d hntweon the two and &c , VIC
ale tha nbiaf invitaa bI,, 10 y;eit hia cnnn
trv which was located in the Boison 4
n1a,T n,nn,+o;n. ~ ,r;laas+ "a la.e
h,a nun reniam -, a,a NJ "'to'st nru fon
If ronantic advantnrs the COLONEL accen,a
-. - tsI