The herald., 1894-12-25
BY F. E. f.

Few persons in Montana are better or
more favorably known than Colonel
Jefferson Thompson. or, as he is more
popularly known, Bsar-claw Thorn pson,
soldier. trapper, mining man and capi-
talist. He gained the sobriquet partly
from a thrilling experience which he
safely passed through and partly from
his habit Of wearing a grizzly bear's
talon attached to hia watch chain, which
he carries as memento of that expert
ence.
Born in Ohio 80 years ago, he entered
the Union army while yet very young,
and 30 distinguished himself that at
the ce saation of hostilities he WAS mus
tered out with the brevet rank OF
colonel. Coming to Montana with a
young vile in 1867 he established an
Indian trading post on Sun river, close
to Fort Shaw, where he amassed quite
fortune in few years.
The discovery of gold on Bald Butte
about that time, reports Of which
quickly spread, attracted daring spirits
from all parts of the territory, and
among the newcomers was Colonel
Thompson. When the colonel arrived
the district was the center of intense
mining interest and scenes of widest
speculation were daily visible. Men
risked their fortunes ON prospects"
that in reality were but mere holes in
the ground, in the expectation that
Fortune, as the blind goddess, would
make them millionaires. The result
waa few great successes and dozens
of sadder and complete failures.
Among the number who invested their
whole capital in a prospect wss Colonel
Thompson. He bought the Sky Rocket
mine, which, when fret opened, was
supposed to hold incalculable wealth.
Unfortunately for the colonel, the Sky
Rocket showed that it was appropriately
named, for it proved but pocket OF
limited extent, and was soon worked
out.
Nothing dsunted by his loss of fortune
the colonel shook the dust of Bald Butte
from his feet and went to Sapphire
Guloh, where he took up q placer claim.
He worked assiduously st this claim
with indifferent SUCCESS for the summer
months. but toward the end of August
be struck o vein OF auriferous gravel
which proved q veritable bonanza. He
hired en- extra number OF miners, built
several sluices. and in few months'
time he had amsesed another fortune.
Shortly before Christmas he paid
off the men and ceased mining opera
tions for the month. For months pre-
vious he had been planning to spend
Christmas with his wife and family in
Deer Lodge. neither of whom he had
seen for almost year. 1t was custom
ary fer him to make shipment OF ore
to the bank in Deer Lodge every Mon
day. but owing to the fact that he in.
tended spending Christmas at home he
had not made shipment in month,
which lett him with abont $40, 900 worth
of gold dust in his possession. This
gold he put in two chamois sacks which
he placed securely in the saddle bags.
He had 90 miles to travel, through
what at that time was q wild and
sparsely settled country. and over q
road, that for miles after leaving the
mine, was but mere trail. Not having
any dread of an attack from robbers,
and no. wishing to cumber himself un-
necessarily with weapons of defense, he
loa ned his winchester to a miner. TAX
ing with him only revolver.
He took his departure just az the sun
was appearing above the top of neigh-
boring butte the day before Christmas.
Although there was but little snow upon
the ground, the morning WAS intensely
cold, which msde him button his buffalo
coat more closely about him.
For tho first few miles the journey
was through q country that was almost
perfectly naked, but later on the trail
wound through a number OF high,
broken hills, on tho sides of which grew
some scattered pine and cedar trees,
while the low grounds were supplied
with willow, cottonwoods and mountain
ash. between which grew scrub fruit
trees, currsnts, goosebsrriss, etrswber-
ries. etc.
He was travelling ct rapid gait, when
just as he reached point where the
road made sharp turn around the Dsse
OF a hill, he was Mortified at seeing ap-
prosch q huge grizzly bear that appar-
emily was determined to attack MIN.
His horse started at sight of the bear
and turning suddenly almost threw the
colonel out of the saddle. After getting
his horse under control he tried to make
a detour around the hill and thus escape
the bear. but after making the attempt,
owing to the nature OF the ground, he
found that impossible.
He was gslloping back towards
cross.trail, which, while it would take
him several miles out of his way, would
enable him to escape danger. Just as
he Lad reached copse that skirted the
road he saw, sitting about 100 yards in
front of him, o young bear that began to
emit sharp cry. Fearing that the she
bear was in the neighborhood of the
cub, he dare not proceed, although he
had much trouble in bringing his horse
to standstill. To face bear with a
revolver he knew would be nothing
short of madness, and how to make his
escape puzzled him. For a moment he
was in despair, but his presence of mind
soon returned and he got out of the dan
ger in very ingenious manner. Know
ing the innate dread bears have of man,
he got down off his horse, and, plucking
some of the furs from his buffalo coat,
threw shem in the air to ascertain the
direction OF the wind. He then moved
to one side go as to cause the wind to
blow from himself towards the large
grizzly. who was advancing towards him
at cantering gate, his head swaying
from side to side. The bear, perceiving
the scent, stopped. sat up on his hind
legs, waversd, and finally fled, leaving
the colonel master of the field.
After thanking his stars for his for.
inmate escape, he mounted his horse
snd continued his journey. Although
an experienced hunter, he had made the
mistake OF believing that grizzly bears
hibernate much earlier than they actu.
allu dO which haliaf ocpnupfad for h in