The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-15
JONES Is A GENIUS.

A Montana Convict Surprises tho Worid,s
Fnlr People.
There have been nan patient and won.
derful carvers Ut wood in the worlu'a hia-
tory, but few have worked under more dis.
advantages or achieved greater artistic ro-
suits on a small scale than Chester M.
Jones. says the Chicago Inter Ocean. He
10 a prisoner in the psnitentiary of Mon
tana. Mr.. Jones has just completed a cur
ions and nrtistically designed cane which
10 destined to become historic, preserving
as II does ON Its highly polished surface.
excellent likenesses of thirty five members
OF the early directory OF the Worlds Col.
umbian exposition. These faces are, in
the main. not only good Licensees, but
become all the more deserving of praise
when learns that no other tool than an
ordinary pooket-knife was used in their pro-
duction. Judges BY this work Jones must
be pronounced nothing short Of a genius,
The wonderfu walking stick has been
forwarded to President Lyman j. Gage, OF
the First National bank of Chicago. with
hand. which explains itself:
Montana State Pe%nitentiary, Conley d
McIague, Contractors. Deer Lodge, Mont,
Feb. 8. 1S93-The Hon. Lyman j. Gage,
President First National bank, Chicago.
Dear sir: l take tho liberty Of forwarding
v ACi0Wltus Wy oApTobB, II Chuo WlJ0 DC
lures OF the members of the board of di-,
%rectois.E Worlds Columbian exposition,
carved thereon. and among which you wi4i
recognize your own. The pictures were
taken from cuts published in the Chicago
Graphic. and the work was done with no
other tool than a penknife, entailine a long
and tedious piece of work.
i nave been q prisoner here for nearly five
years; not under sentence for any dishonest
act. but for one committed against another
man under great ptovooation and in the
heat OF passion. My term will expire next
month. ! am utterly without means. and
therefore take the liberty of sending you
own generosity to forward me whatever
amount you may deem it worth.
Should you not care to retain the cane
yourself You would confer a favor on a
victim OF misfortune by handing it with
this note to any other member of tho board
who may care for it. Yours. respectful.
CHESTER M. JONES,
Care of state Prison.
The wood of the cane is what in some
regions is described as curly maple, and ia
about one inch in dlameter at the top. II
has been given a handsome bead of en-
bossed gold, with a smooth surfacs on the
top for any inscription that may hereafter
be desired.
Immediately below this gold head the
artist OF the penknife carved a scroll bear
ing this inscription: Board of Directors,
Columbian Exposition. 1885"
The faces arc on raised oval surfaces,
somewhat resembling bas- relief. while
scrolls under each bear the name OF the
person represented. Intertwined in grace
ful curves among the faces are vines with
leaves and blossoms that must have been
copien from nature.
The portraits appear in this order. start
ing from the top and running down oppo-
Site aiHaa Nf tho Nv1irArioaI okick. RarIa.
min Butterworth. Washington Porter, An
drew MoNally, Lyman J.. Gage. G. l..
hutchinson, Ferdinand W. Peck. J. J. p.
Odell. Q. H. Wacker, Il. p. Ripley, G.. 7.
Enalshard. g. II. Wheeler. !: B. Bryan,
~. 8: Pike, Arthur Dixon, 9. 7. Yerkes, r.
T. Baker. W. j. Chalmers, p. O.. Stems
land. +. :. Winston, George Schneider. G.
II. Chappell, M. w. Kirk, A. Nj. Roths-
child, Il. Walker, g. H. Schwab. Charles
Henrotin. A. Nathan, J. @. yelling. Z. G.
Keith, D. B.. Lawrence, A. H. Revell and
II. A. Waller.
II is apparent that the portraits from
which the man in prison made his carvings
were published early in the life of the
directory. This il shown by the order in
which they are given. Moreover, it accounts
for the absence from the interesting and
historic group of faces of that of Director
II. N. Higinbotham, who has since been
elevated to the presidency of the board.
While President Hieinbotham WAS a mem
Der of the original board of directors, it ia
a ~well-known fact that owing to mate
modesty he never consented to the publ
cation of his portrait until after his election
to.the presidency of the fair. Occupying this
doubly honorable and cons icuous position
he could no longer Withstand the appeals of
the Al fists and so his portrait became pub.
lie property, and it is now rs familiar to
readers OF the press IS that of any other ex-
position official.
Mr.. Gage is pleased with the stick and
remarkable skill and r~atienoe manifested
by the carver. After il has been exhibited
among those most likely to be interested.
namely. those whose portraits are car we'd ON
its surface, the cane will be ofle ed for sale
ut public auction. The receipts of the sale
wig be promptly forwarded to Chester NJ.
Jones. ca 9 of state prison, Montana. II is
believed that the genius of Jones will be
recognized in a substantial manner In
that case he can 20 forth from his confine-
mem with some degree of satisfaction for
his patient endeavor and stronger hopes for
the future. A man of Jones' talents ought
to become a useful member of society.