The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-27

A bit of Montana history is recalled to
mind by the death of Hugh O'Neil at Mis-
soula last week. No doubt many old
timers will remember the incide mt,
though, strange TO say, it escaped tho
pen of Professor Dinsmore, who wrote a
history of the Montana Vigilantes," and
was also overlooked by n. Z. Langford in
his book on ''VIgilante Days and Ways"
There are many memories in the minds
Of the pioneers of Montana that are yet
unwritten which will some day be part
of Montana's history.
Hugh o Neil was the hero of this story
and as brave a man as ever faced death.
he lived through thousand perils in
these turbulent times, and succumbed at
last in peaceful bed a. St. Mary's hos
pital. The incident as related here hap
pened at Bannack, and was told the
STANDARD reporter yesterday by w. L.
Mckinney of Anaconda.
ut was in 1868, the year in which l
came to Montana, that / met Hugh O'Neil
at Bannack," said Mr.. Mckinney.
"There were a few more than a handful
of men there then, strung along in e rass-
hopper guich, from which gold was being
taken IN paying quantities. We had had
no trouble with Indians up to this time
and none was expected, as during the
previous winter the Bannocks, to the
number of 200 or more, had been ca mped
but half mile above town and were very
peacefully inclined. They had vir tua lily
kept the camp alive by liberal supplies
from their own stores during the winter
and none but the frlendliest relations ex-
listed.
"A couple of Frenchmen, however, who
came to the diggingS in the spring, stirred
up trouble. What their object could have
been never understood, but they would
tell the miners that the Indians were rob-
bling them and then carry tales to the In
dian camp that the white men were going
to drive them out of the country.
"a few of the calmer minded mon
finally fearing trouble, induced the In
dams to move their camp two miles be-
low town, thinking that getting them
further away all trouble might be averted.
But the troublesome spirits kept at their
work and SO far succeeded that band of
men went out to the Indian camp one
day fully expecting to drive them out of
the country entirely. To their surprise
they found the Indians fully armed and
ready for battle, and being deserted by
their leaders, the white men gave up the
job they had tackled and came back to
town, having decided to let the Indians
alone.
down the creek from where l was work.
ing; 80 or 100 shots were fired. This
caused great excitement all along the
gulch and men came running from all d-
rectlons to see what the matter was. We
found only two dead Indians. One was
Chief SnaG. A half dozen men were
around them, but none of them knew who
started the shooting or why it was begun.
Everyone imagined that the Bannocks
We're on the warpath. We went down to
the place where they had been camped,
but II was deserted.
"This caused Consideration in tho IittIa
town, which was divided in opinion. Who
Killed Chief Snag was mystery; where
the tribe had gone no one knew.
Chief Snag was popular old fellow
with most of the boys; he had befriended
many of them and had learned to talk
English fairly well. He had a crooked
leg, which made him trouble in walking,
and he had decided to have it amputated,
but he was killed before the operation was
performed.
'Hugh O'Neil denounced his death as a
murder and was out-spoken in calling it
cowardly, dastardly act. Buck Stinson,
who was afterward killed by the Vigil
lantes, took Hugh's talk very much to
himself and at last said he was insulted
by il. He loaded a doubie-barreled shot
gun with buckgnot one night and started
out to kill O'Neil. Friends of his and of
Hugh took the gun away from Buck and
he quieted down, though he nursed his
wrath and plotted vengeance.
"The possibility that the Indians had
gone on the war path was still present
and worried us all until finally we decided
to send a relief party out to meet the
freighting Quilt which was coming In
from Salt Lake bringing up supplies. All
the horses in the vicinity, without regard
to ownership, were brought together in a
corral. The men who were willing TO go
on the expedition selected horses from
the bunch In the corral | came late my
self and my own horse, which was a good
one, had been taken and had to select a
cayuse from those remaining after the
others had chosen, so got very poor
horse.
I'VE elected Hugh O'Neill captain of
the party when we started, and afterward
being joined by many more who swelled
our ranks to As men, we had to have a
lieutenant. 81 Skinner was chosen TO
this Office; he afterwards died suddenly
under the vigilante government. Buck
Stinson and Abe Lyons, with dozen or
more of their kind of fellows who were
later on known as road agents, Joined us
as we went along. The party being gen.
orally better mounted than was, it was
my fate TO be left behing during the day,
though | beat that poor horse unmerci-
fully trying to make him keep up, for
didn't want to be left alone in a country
that was supposed TO be full of hostile
Indians. BY dint of much beating /
managed to reach camp a few hours after
the rest of them at night.
I'VE Travelled for two days and then
turned back without having seen a sign of
an Indian anywhere. On the return trip.
as before, was in the rear, and dis
gusted with my horse. was leading him
by the bride.
"About the middle of the day | came
upon the entire party, which had halted TO
observe the movements of a party of In.
dams suddenly discovered in front of u.s.
There was a lot of them at first, but when
we came up only three remained. They
were Pete and Jim, two good Indians who
had been driving express for Gamble, the
freighter. and another one.
"a council was held as to what should
be done with the prisoners. Buck Stun
son and his friends wanted them executed
at once, bus few were for sparing them.
They had been Gisarmed ami their guns
handed to me TO hold. Well. Iddn't want
TO see those fellows killed and decided If |
q. u. - L.