The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-03
NOVEL IN REAL LIFE.
Tale of Girl Who Was Reared in
Miners Camps

|
Miners Campo.
A story that would form a worthy plo
Tor one of Archibald Clavering Gunter's
novels was brought to light recently 10y q
visit of j. Ii. McAlvoy of Butte City
Mont, who come here to search for rcla
tives of his ward. Miss Celia +. Steiner
also of Butte City,
In 1873 there arrived at ono of the nu-
merous mining camps north of Butte City
young fellow about % years old. accom-.
panied by his wife and baby, the wife he.
ing frail woman, although very pretty
ana possessing that carriage and de-
meanor which invariably bespeaks cult
ure and refinement. The husband was a
tall, athletic fellow, and soon won the adj
miration and respect of his rougher com.
panions by his unselfishness, hard work
and attention TO his family. They took
| up their residence in little miners Law
to and never associated with people at
the camp. This eXclusiveness did not i'm
splre the ill-will of the community; on tho
contrary, the miners had learned to re-
gard the wife more in the nature of an
| angel than woman, for she had tenderly
nursed two of their number back to life
after they had been so badly injured in a
cavern that their recovery was considered
impossible.
No one ever learned n fact concerning
the history of the couple; in fact, their
surname has not been ascertained up
TO the present time, the husband hav-
ing been known as Trump Charley"
the wife as 1.-THE missus," and the
baby. whose name was Celia, as ''the
jewel"
The privations of camp life and tho
continual failures of her husband to make
lucky strike" proved too great n strain
on the young wifo's delicate health and
she died on Christmas eve, 1879. Tho
husband. nearly craZed with grief, as
sisted In carrying the rough collin to an
elevated spot, where, surrounded by a
crowd of miners with uncovered heads
and eyes bedimmed with tears, tho body
of his beloved wife was lowered to its last
resting place. The former associations
of that locality would not admit of his re-
naming there and, accompanied by the
two men whom his wife had nursed, j. Ii.
McAlvoy and c. l.. Steiner, and the baby,
he went to Arizona in search OF rest and
better fortune.
The three men started alone on a pros
pecting tour, hoping that dame fortune
would smile upon them with beneficent
expression, and at last settled in an iso-
lated valley where indications of rich
mineral deposits had been found. For
SIX months the trio were comparatively
successful, each having staked out extern
sive claims. On the morning of Aug. 20, |
1850, they we're told by friendly Indian |
that q band of hostile apaches we're in the |
neighborhood contemplating an attack |
upon the party. Arrangements were made |
for hasty departure and at 6 o'clock in |
he evening the start was made They
lad not proceeded more than 10 miles
when they discovered that tho redskins
we're in full pursuit. They quickened
heir speed, hoping to reach a large ranch
% miles up the valley before the hostiles
we're upon them. However, their cayuses
we're no match for those ridden by the ma
ives, and several shots warned them that
fight was imperative.
In passing through a narrow canyon
Trump Charley" told his companions TO
ave the baby and he would hold the pass
ntil they were a sufficient distance ahead
0 insure their safety. The last heard of
i'm was the bang of his Winchester and
be spiteful crack of his revolver.
The party reached the ranch in safety
nd the next morning Trump Charley's"
ody was found completely riddled with
ullets.
The question as TO which one of the men !
lould take charge of the baby was a DIFF ,
cult ono 10 decide, as both Steiner and ,
IcAlvoy were anxious to assume the re- :
of guardianship. 1t was ,
nally decided by the Tipping of the coin. ,
ld Steiner was the lucky man. :
Both men went back TO their claims ;
nd worked as two men never worked be- u
re. Trump Charley's" claim was also 4,
lrf.l 4 a l.
bic of the three. The baby grew into a !,
ny pretty girl and it became necessary q
send her TO an institution in Denver :
here she could receive better but not 5
ore attention than she did at the camp.
Both men continued successful in their
creations and soon amassed quite a for
ne. Miss Steiner, for she had assumed 3
c name of the guardian. was taken a
'ay from Denver aud sent to a semip- II
y in California to receive her education.
rAIyoy and Steiner had deve.opcd from
,gers TO mine owners and were quite
alihy. Steiner became interested i'm ! q
ne mining property in Central Aruor.c, \
d went down 10 Investigate IT'S coud.- l.
n. tie was rlcken down with yellow
-er and died IN l. hours. leaving ever
NJ 10 his ward, which. added 10 the -,
'ney made from her fathers claim. :,
ID her a wealthy girl.
asst year she ended her education and
urned to Ar. McAlvoy's home in Butte
s.. as he had become her guardian after ~,
death of Steiner. From a pretty girl n
had developed into a bclluIu. woman h
] according 10 Mr.. Mch.goy. "~ue's the n.
est. pre,tiest g.rl IN America" IT,
wo molihs ago she demanded OF her
.rdian 10 tell her the history Of her
her and mother, which hal heretofore re
IN kept a secret from her. When the Of
. was told she asked her friend 10 20 in