The record-union., 1894-05-28
THEY RACED FOR $4,000.
The New Yorker 0utstripped the
Montana Deputies.
An Exciting Two-Hundred-Mile Dash
Across the Country Dnring
a Blizzard.

N4OUI.. 10 Al VIZ $500
1t was a chase after 4. A. Ammon, Secre-
tary of the Gilt Edge Mining Company,
and partner of the firm OF LIE Barber
d Ammon of 62 Park Row, this city.
Some years ago Ammon was a wall
street broker.
The race was described as hard one
between dozen Sheriffs and deputies TO
secure lot of bullion which Ammon
had with him upon attachments for debts
alleged to be DUE The distance between
the two towns is 200 miles, and the route
taken lies through rough country that
was rendered almost impossible by
blizzard of snow with the thermometer
registering 2O0 below zero.
Mr.. AInmon won the race and landed
his bullion in the Cascade Bank at Great
Falls, where it was exchanged for bills.
He returned to New York few days ago
and has related the details OF his expert
ence.
Maiden is a small mining camp in the
Judith Mountains, made famous by the
discovery of the Spotted Horse mine, one
of tue greatest gold producers in Mon
tana The property was sold by the dis
coyerer to Ex-Governor HaySer and A.
NJ. Hotter for $4,000. OF this S25O,0O0
was paid in cash and bond issued for
the balance.
Before the first payment of the bond
was due three months later the mine sud-
denly gave out, and the new owners de-
cided 10 throw it up. Three days after
ward the old owners made the richest
single strike in the history of the mine,
and nearly doubled the selling price. IL
is now a great payer" as they say out
In Montana.
The Gilt Edge was found within mile
of the Spotted Horse. Work was COM
lnenced in September, and since then it
has produced about $4,000. Extensive
arrangements to develop the mine rem
dered the supply of ready cash little
short when Mr.. Ammon went out there
in January. United States Senator Power,
who owns several stores in that section OF
the country, bought up the time checks
due to miners, for the reason, according
10 Mr.. Ammon. that he wanted to get
even for not being let in on the reorganiZa-
ton deal. The company had at that time
in its office bullion worth go, 900. Atll
o'clock at night Mr.. Anmon learned that
this product was to be attached the next
day by Power. Although he had been in
bed with the grippe several days, he got
out two teams and loaded the first sleigh
with two men, the bullion and shotguns.
He followed behind with light sleigh
and a faster team.
A heavy snow was falling and the
weather was very cold.
The first danger met was grizzly bear
that had crawled out of winter quarters.
Ammon yelled to the men to drive
around and leave the bear to him. They
did so, while Ammon made half circuit
of the grizzly, and then dropped lunch
which he had brought along.
This distracted the bears attention,
and Ammon drove on with all speed.
Lewiston was reached early that morn
ing. Senator Power and several friends
were in conference there when Ammon
arrived. He met them with bold fece,
alter secretly sending the bullion out of
town on wagon, the sleigh having
broken down.
A well-known character named Jack
Parr was placed in charge, and was told
that there was $1,000 in cash waiting for
him if he landed the cargo in Great
Falls.
Ammon boldly told Senator Power that
the bullion was on its way out of the
country. Power, knowing that the at
tachinent had just been issued, did not
believe him, and sent Sheriff Scott TO fol-
low the deputy to the mine while Am
mon talked for time, to give his men a
good start.
After an hours wait messenger came
and told the Senator that the bullion was
snatched up field glass. He saw Parr
and the team twelve miles away on the
range, but he was not sure that 1t was
not a decoy, so he summoned all the
deputies and rough characters in the
town, and sent them in all directions to
get that bullion before it got out of tie
county. They were on horseback, and
well armed with the fayorite Montana
weapon, the sawed-otf shotgun. Ammon
got out of town without attracting at
tention, and followed Parr. In the mean
time he had dropped into the County
Clerks office and had given bill of sale
of the bullion TO partner.
He reached Stamford and found Parr
and his exhausted team. The expected
relay of horses could not be found, so he
concealed the bullion in grain box,
placed the guards on top. and took u
short sleep, from which be was awak
ened by a Deputy Sheriff. The conver-
sation was business-Iike.
II want that stuff said the Sheriff.
''I can't do anything for YOU" said
Ammon. 81 don't carry any builion.'
Produce" said the Sheriff, .'or you
will think this is no country for tender
feet"
Then Mr.. Ammon made the bluff of
his life. He showed the bill of sale, and
informed the officer that the bullion had
been lett at Lewiston in custody. a
found, and finally the officer seemed con-
WINGED. He started on the back trail and
the jaded horses were ordered out in the
night.
Alter being dozed with whisky, they
started again for Geyser, which Is just be-
yond the county line. The trail was now
lost under the snow, but Ammon, antic-
ipgting this, had taken his bearings by
compass and had fixed star for guide.
The party honndered along through the
snow and after the hardest kind of u
Journey Geyser was reached. Here they
thought they were comparatively safe,
but when they reached the barroom Oh
the hotel they found a Deputy Sheriff
sitting with his feet against the stove and
q six-shooter III his hand.
.'WelI," said the officer, 81 kind of
thought you'd be along here"
Now am here. what are you going to
do about it?" asked Ammon.
Take your bullion" was the reply.
But Ammon quietly proved that he was
in Cascade County, and could not be ar
rested for attachments made in an adjoin-
ing county.
New horses were here secured and a
start made for Arlington, where Anmon
could get the tram for Great Falls. The
last encounter was with deputy, who
met the party on the road and showed Il
/. warrant for Ammon's arrest issued by a
Justice in Lewiston.
4 good-humored talk and few drinks
followed, Ammon leaving his own sleigh
to ride with the deputy. They agreed TO
90 to Arlington together, aud from there
start back to Lewiston. Ammon per-
suaded the officer to allow him TO deposit
the bullion in the store while he went to
Great Falls to secure bond for it.
The deputy went to bed content, but
found when ready to start back III the
morning that Ammon had returned with
the Hon. i. L. Collins. late Democratic
candidate for Governor. and plenty of
assistance, including bond. That night
the bullion was changed into crisp paper