The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
BILL FAIRW EATHER.

An Iatsrestlag "Reminiscences Ia the Life
OF the Old Timer.
Famous old Alder suleh After yielding up
its millions in gold 10 ssili rich In rsminis-
esnces which occasionally ara brought to
pubic notice In these later mining days by
some old timer. ORe Of the most interest,"
ing chapters Ia she life OF Bill Fairwsather.
who 10 tassparably copnscted With Alder
culch, 10 furnished 1nE INDEPENDENT BY .
former we'll known Montanian now living
in Sc. Louis at the good old age OF eighty.
II 10 q valuable contribution to Montana
history aud 10 nov printed for the flFst time
and best told In The words OF ths man who
s,yed tho life Of the discoversY OF Alder:
'.In July and August, 1862, made q trip 10
Deer Lodge Valley. One day
csmyed at johnnie Grants. MY old
friend Granville Stuart can toll Of
me and said. Captain, I'm naked and
starving pvs been robbed by road agents
Of every thing had.' got him light
meal telling him he would get mo after
!. ct. A. full meal would be dangerous IN
Ills starved condition. TO revive him !
ready. In a few hours no was awakened
md more food given him. and in . day he
Was able TO tell his story. At the time
did mot think he world live moro than a
couple OF days al the most. A wagon & ain
Ut ivsd soon after from Morgan county,
Illinois. whore l used to live. ! knew \
good mnny Of the PEOPLE In the train ami
vo re very glad 10 meet and had = Grand.
made they askea me il I had founl any
eoia. told them that had not and had
been up Flint Creek where ths. Indians had
informed Father De Smst. there was heap
Of White man's oold.' told them that tho
tunrt brothers had found gold few miles
l.. low near Tom DsmpseS's cabin. The
Ut anger then spoke up, aud giving his
name az Bill Fairwsather. said that II l
would give him clothes. Cub and
tools hs would show me the she
,.ns, s.,,t ss.GsS him ,sa n .s, h. aId
not keep it for himself. He repeatfd his
story Of being robbed and said, If you do
not lind IL az aSy you Can hang mo on the
nearest tYee.' One Of the Illinois men told
F,irwenthsr he would take him In his
wagon. then said oil right and told
Fairwesthsr would give him an ouths but
promised faithfully. With tears Of Rrssi-
tudo he bade mt goodbye and left wish
n uumbsr of the Illinois men. ! could not
go along as I had two teams loadsd with
goods for which there was no market at the
iime. snd rad to haul most Of them back
to the store at Fort Benton. whore had 4
Il never heard from him or of him until
happened TO 800 in The INDEPENDENT a
notice of the finding of his grave. Is it
known how be died. that ts. did he die a
natus sl death or wsa he murdered? Did be
lenve any money! would be glad to know
more of him, ~ thought he was an honest
man. think he was murdered. or he would
at least hays written his pressrvsr.
1T you use my letter wish you would
send a copy Of the paper to Mrs. p. r.
Woodmsn. No. 413 Copp street. San Fran-
cisco. She ID my daughter and the frat
white woman to see the great falls.
Tell Tom Cruss that my pilot. Joe
FAeso. II still alive. ! paid him $1,000 per
month. He and are all that's left or the
crews Of both boats, except Joseph La
Barge. / am 80. which will account for bad
writing. am known to quite number Of
your sarly citizens. Hoping TO hear from
you, remain. etc.,
JAMES HARNESS.
No. 18 North Compton ave., st. Louis. Mo.