Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-03
An Incident I'm the Life of Ex-Governor
iauser, OF Montana.

NEw loEK, June 1.
An interesting visitor to New York at tho
present time is Ex-Governor samuel II.
hauser, OF Montana. Hauser has probably
had more to do with the development OF his
state than any other man. Hanser went to
Montana nom Kentucky by way Of Missouri.
He was a civil engineer with turn for
finance. Combining banking with railroad
building, no organized national hanks at
Helena, Butte, Benton and Mssoula; con
strueted branch railroads that have since
been absorbed by the Northern paeIle; in
vested In mining enterprises, and was sue
cessfui in oil. Impatient Of small undertake
ings, with quick grasp Of largo ones, no Is
ifreprossibly active, incapable OF fatigue,
Indifferent TO obstacles. out OF his many
ventures he has accumulated fortune
estimated at sg,OOO.OOO or s4OOO,oOO now,
and great deal more In prospect. All over
the mineral belt he has tho kecnnst OF pros
peetors at work searching ,or now mining
fields, When he finds one that he is satisfied
will nay no swoops down on the Northern
Pacific people to offer to build road to the
newly-discoTered mine IL it does not pay
twelve per cent or more on its cost the first
year II is operated they need not take II. II
1t docs pay he is to receive stipulated sum.
which ii is supposed is large enough to re-
imburso him for his enterprise aud give him
an ample profit besides. Without being
philosophical man in any philanthroplc
sense, he has In his way contributed more to
Montana's growth than any other single in
dividual in the state.
Hungnf fu v.,.t nf.h.ua :,
a good man TO tie to-" resolute. steadfast
and manly. An incident told ms recently by
one OF his friends confirms this view. II
happened long before he became banker
and capitalist. Some time in 1868 no went
with party OF ten or twelve men into the
Yellowstone country, prospecting for gold
and town sites. The region was swarnlne
with hostile Indians aud the party's expo
riences were terrible. Some wern killed.
others wounded. Their position was at one
time 30 desperate that a wounded man de-
liberatoly blew out his brains in order that
he might not be bindmnco to the rest OF
the party in their escape. Being again pur-
sued by tho Indians the party got to the
mountains, where there was dim old trs,il,
and prepared to make stand and Tight.
The trail ran along under u large rock. The
captain Of the band thought It would DO bot
ter to send one or two men on the dim trail
around behind the rock, but did not like to
order any one TO go, as they would have to
receive the whole FIRE OF tho Indians, who
were supposed TO 10 there from smoke col
umns that had been seen. Having prepared
for battle and started ahead, Hauser said to
the captain, addressing him familiarity Jim.
II we all 20 under those rocks this way they
will kill the last one Of us at first fire"
81 know II would DO better to sond two
men above and behind those rocks" said the
captain, "but 1t is like sending men to GER
tain death and don't like to do It, although
1t would improve the chances Of the others
getting through"
III you think it will Increase the chances
of more getting through, III 60" was Haus-
er's reply, who presently mounted his pony,
cooked his rifle and spurred or. One Of his
companions. whose left arm was already dis
nbled by an Indian arrow, spurred after him.
Fortunately the Indians had for some reason
retreated, and an hour later they were Joined
by their companions behind tho rocks I'M
harmed. Captain Stuart, however. never
forgot Hausers heroism, and It was told
years atterward by him. to become part OF
the frontier history Of Montana.