The Helena independent., 1893-07-31
Over $4,000 Profit Made On the
First Goods a. Alder
Guich.
Tho Stock Was Hauled From tho
Banks OF tho Missouri River
In Nebraska.
The Miners In such . Hurry That
They Could Not Wait for the
Store to Open.

Pioneer mining men occasionally tell OF
some of their experiences In tho early days
of mining excitement Of the west. A few
days ago SAILS Lake Tribune man mot
George w. Stanley in his Pionio store at
Boise C,ty, and as hs had only left British
Columbia short time before, the writer
drew from him something Of that country.
He went to Donnel's Ferry BY rail. thence
by boat and stages to the Kootenat country.
whore there has been much excitement
lately. In Arril there was too much snow
TO prospect in that cold country, 100 miles
mo- th OF Bonner's Fesry, but he saw rieh
ore. He does not deem 1t q good district
for poor man TO visit, but with plenty OF
capital and increased transportton facili-
ties tho county is going to pny we'll. Bus
to some Of his early experiences.
In 1862 he SHIPPED q stock Of goods. Ren.
eral mining supplies, from 81. Louis by
steamboat for Fort Benton. He took tho
overland route for Salt Lake City, thence
north to Montana. ReaohinR Dsnnack he
disposed Of what goods he had taken north
by team. and hsstened over to Alder Rulch,
and getting what teams be could he started
for the goods shipped by steamer. In tho
meantime hs hnd learned that the steam.
boat. along with Others had unloaded away
down the liver In the bad lands Of No.
tanks Of the Missouri subject to being oar
lied off or dest, Dyed by tho Indians Or suoh
white men a. might come upon them.
htanlsy's teams finally reached the goods
and hnd a long. tedious haul 10 Fsach
Alder eulch. Virginia CITY was juat build.
ing up with miners tents and cabins ana
when the teams reached . mile bslow the
town they were halted by q large
number Of men determined on getting sup
niles AZ once. Getting to place 10 pitch .
tent and open stoe. the prospectoss in-
sisted on getting picks and shovsis At once.
and they told Stanley to get out bis gold
scales TO weigh their dus6 and TO charge
what he please. bot they were going to
have the picks and shovels anyway. and at
once. The four dozen picks and the same
number OF shovels wore unloaded and dis
posed Of as fast ~ Stanley eould weigh ont
an ounce Of gold for each. These tools for
handling gravel were considered the most
essential articles in this stock Of goods,
hence were taken 1rst, and then there vas
n eouabble for the bacon. the sugar. the
-four and other nrtiolos to make a mine!
happy until the entire stock was disposed
Of without the fortunate owner being able
to Rst any OF tho goods INTO :,os the scn.: Th !:
was the first stock Of goods taken into
Xidor ouloh. ana when NJ. Stanley had
1ime to weigh up his gold dust and figure
up his profits he found himself over IS. OOo
ahead on the transaction. He Shen turned
his attention to mining and made some
money there.
shortly afterwards some men were killed
- and robbed. Stanley lived at Nevada. one
mile below Virginia City. Seve al killings
happened In shat locality and finally some
one found the body Of miner after hs had
been murdered and robbed. The hnde'
wagon to take il up to Virginia City. and
tho two neichbors OF tina mu dersd man
on being asked to assist refused, and added
HE ought to be dead" The man sue
ceeded in getting the body in the wagon
and on reaching Stanley's place. IN Nevada
the men about Nevada together. the msttel
was talked over. and it was resolved te
mete out vengeance st once upon the per
petrators Of this great cr.m". All accom-
panied the body to Virginia City. aud get
ting citizens together. it was then and ther'
that the "vigiIantes" began their work
which so soon and 90 sianally put stop 4
further robberies and murder There wer'
associated together In that band of vigil
antes many men who have In the past ans
some of whom to day are holding ht0l
positions In tho affairs Of Montans. ant
who look back on the days and scenes o
the early history OF Montana will
no regrets except that they wer
forced to do what they did for the self pres
ervation and TO- the general good Of th
country they have adopted for their abodsa
Men who sAt as judge or Jurors In the tria
OF desperadoss, or who acted as prosesut
ing attorney. for many years sftsRward
had to be on their guard lost some fIisn
of the despsradoes who wsre summaril
executed might seek revenge BY assassina
tion. But that time hns long passed. an
citizens who are told tho story OF the or
derly { ials Of these rcd handed men by
contt and procedure as honest % any con
stituted by laws OF the land and that In
wild country whore ths:c wete neither 10,
nor peace officers. cannot help honorin
tho men who became law unto thsmselve
merely for self reservation, and booaus
the bloody doeds Of the worst Of flends hat
driven them to it,