The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-22
CITY NEWS AND GOSSIP.
IA Illustration Of the Nerve and
Endurance Of EARLY Day
Montanians.
Per Leg Smith a. q Surgeon and
Also Maker Of Artificial
Limbs.
Judxe Keriey's Substitute-Helons Girl in
lsisseuri-Consumptlvs fans Escape
From Charley Jones.

The hardships undergone by State Lane
Commissions Hickman several weeks age
in the Flsthsad country. recalled to an old
4imer the othcr day some OF tina experience
Of the early days. Among the stories he
told illustrating the nerve Of the men OF
those days was one In which q man known
40 Peg Leg smith was the principal figure.
Smith and several friends wore out on q
trip and one night In camp there was &
sRst, in which Smith received a wound in
Tho log Just above che knee. His friends
did what they could for him, but in a few
days il became very evident that one Of
Two things would happen-sither Tho leg
must DO amputated OF Smith would die.
He asked his companions to cut the log OF
but they refused.
Bring me that butcher knife and . dle."
he called to the cook.
His request was obeyed, inc with the file
Smith made q saw ont Of the back Of the
knife. Then he %sharpened the other edge
until II was equal TO . razor. Without ask
ing any assistance he out through the flesh
above the wound; then he laid the flesh
back and, turning the knife over, he sawed
through the bone. This dons he put the
knife in the fire. turned the flesh down over
lhe stump. then taking the hot knife he
scared the wound. Calling for a rag, n
Of his companions supplied him and he
bound tho wound mp. 1t was several weeks
before Smith could move. and during that
time he cut out . wooden Log. fitting IL
nicely to the stump. He strapped il Oh and
Tor years after he stumped around the ter
sSknVv an Aha ~nnHAn Lao ~ haA ant 1.
eamp.
Every oldtimer in Montana knows Judge
]. @. Kerley. editor. publisher and propris-
tor Of the Townsend Messenger. The
judge has the reputation Of getting cut .
first. GLASS paper. He does almost all The
work on the paper himself. his only assist
ant being . girl composition. Tho Judge 10
. thoroughly equipped Newspaper man.
and what he says in the Messenger 10 re-
earded % gospel b. the Missouri valley
people. The Judge has educated his read
ers to the point whore they expect the orig
insl matter In the Messenger to BE- perfect
- TO dietion, and woe betids the
unlucky substitute who fails TO
keep il up to Its usual high
standard. Several weeks :eaRo the Judge
went to the Worlds fair. leaving hts paper
10 he issued by q friend. The friend got
The frat issue ont after the judges de-
parturs and congratulated himself that IL
was even . better paper than Mr.. Kerley
turned out. But the assistants congratu-
lations were short lived. Within twenty
four hours letters began to pour into the
Office calling attention 10 shortcomings. In
A. Ah~ HnA~xH SnA-H ~nLaA H. =
the substitute appeared the following:
I'VE desire to call the attention of Q
patient public to various criticisms and
remarks made concerning our last weeks
Issue. The paragraph calling for the trans.
fer Of Mr.. Cleveland to Europe, vas writ
ten by n Of the most ardent dem oesats
and Cleveland admirers in the city, aud
upon reading the same We naturally inferred
that the meaning was that Mr.. Cleveland
should appoint a commissioner-as We pub
lished it. instead Of going himself-as the
writer proposed. Had this paragraph en-
anated from . republican ve should have
understood it, but a. 1t came from a demo-
orat We naturally misunderstood 1t
and We crave tho qentleman's pardon.
In regard TO the much talked of topaz"
we will say that the word ''tspis'' was in.
tended, but as the "topaz" Is . precious
stone, very much used for ornamenis IL
was perhaps nearer the unsophistioated re-
porter's brain than the word
"tspis." As regards any other 80 called
erFors, We wish to state that We are now At
work composing a new spelling book which,
whom finished. will show the n%umbheads
who dared ~oriticise our spelling, tha. We
are right and they are wrong. Our worthy
editor is still east taking in the Worlds
fair, and this 10 on the ~quiet-lookinp for
some young female suited TO his age who
would be willing to become assistant edit-
rsss of the Townsend Messenger"
A young lady OF Helena recently visited
relatives in Missouri. and. needless 10 say,
previous to her trip had heard many Of the
stories told on Missouri and Missourians,
Hex Particular fear was that the state was
full OF mad dogs. Being In the country
she had occasion TO call on one of tho
neiRhbors. which was some distance away.
While strolling along the road lined with a
barb wire fence on one side and a stone
wall on the other. her attention was sud
denly attracted by a mad dog coming to-
ward her. She saw the canine
stop at q spring where she supposed
II was having q tit. She must
decide qnickiy on her aerobatic ability to
get over the wall or chance walking over
zattlesnekes through the high weeds to the
vie fence. She chose the latter and roach
Ing the fence rolled under the wire, taking
refuge in a clump OF small brush whore size
could command a view OF the road. She
waited In terrible suspense for the fero-
cious dog to pass her by. After being kept
In an uncomfortable position Tor nearly an
hour q pig weHded his way le~isurely along,
having got his satisfaction wallowinp in
the cool water of the spring.
An incident of the recent race between
She train robbers and their pursuers, which
resulted so disastrously to the former, was
told during the past week. Ono Of the
party who went out from Kalispell to Join
In ths chase was a young man who had been
in bad health. He was suffering from lung
trouble, and had had several hemmorhaees.
Thinking the open air would d. him GOOD
aud that II he happened to get shot by the
outlaws it would only hasten the inevitable
end. he started. On the day before the
fight he Thought he would take a walk up
the railroad track alone. The air was cool
and braeing and the outdoor life had slleadv
accomplished for him more than physio had
A-A. l1-A c.