The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-25
In OLD BEAR GULCH
Interesting "reminiscences Of Early
Days in Deer Lodge County.
TOLD BY DOC HARDENBROOK
How He Arrested the Terror Of the
Camp-Tom Lloyd's Recog-
milton Sign-Tried His
Nerve.


in Deer Lodge county ever since the
years that are ancient history in Mon
tana. He is still hale and hearty, but
there is silver in his hair and his step
is less certain than in those days gone
by. He was here long before the gov
eminent was organized and when that
came as an onward stride in history he
was one of the leaders in putting the
wheels in motion. A few incidents OF
those stirring times were narrated py
him within earshot of reporter re-
Gently.
IT never belonged to the Vigilantes,
but / gave them my sympathy anu
support In their deeds as all good men
at that time did. but l was one OF tne
Lodge county. My associates We're
Yves Roberts and Nick Connolly, ana
we had no easy time then even in those
good old democratic days. The Deer
Lodge county then reached from Silver
Bow creek to the British possessions
and was bigger than several states
down east. But we had no jail, no
court house nor any place we could
call our own until by our efforts a Dill
was passed which authorized us 10
build a court house. We bonded the
county then and built a frame building,
part of 1t is a portion of the court
house yet The frame building cost us
10000, Yves Roberts superintended Its
construction and it was built as cheap
ly as possible. but at that time we paid
carpenters SO per day and lumber cost
800 per thousand.
There were 1,500 or more men in
Gable, Bearmouth was a busy placer
camp and Deer Lodge was one of the
chief cities of the state.
II said wasn't a vigilante, but did
arrest a man once and he was one OF
the toughest men who ever lived in the
state as well as one of the bravest, but
he had some good points-he was a
democrat. His name was Tom Smith,
most all the boys know him, he was
prizefghter and a dead shot with
revolver generally. Long about cleo
ton time there was a meeting in Love-
joys saloon at Bearmouth. A crowd
was drinking and talking politics In
the place. and Smith he argued with
Lovejoy and before the matter was set
tied Smith pulled gun, Lovejoy threw
up his hand and he caught the bullet
in his arm. Friends all around sepa-
rated them and Lovejoy's friends sent
for the sheriff. A man named Boyd
was acting in that capacity then and
he didn't care about going after Smith,
and said so openly / happened to be
in Deer Lodge at that time and said
I'd go for Smith Il nobody else would.
SO they came around an hour or so
afterward with a warrant for his ar
rest and deputized me to serve It, Well
/ wasn't afraid OF Tom Smith, 1 knew
him and most of his friends, but II a
fellow didn't use Tom on the square
his hide wouldn't hold water.
Il got into Bearmouth Just as the
boys were coming up from the dig
gings and rode up to the hotel and sent
my horse TO the stable.
when the boys came in Tow was
with them and we all had a drink to-
gether in social fashion. After a while
1 called Tom to one side. confidential
like, and says:
Il want you to go to Deer Lodge
with me in the morning.
You dor" he exclaimed
Yes; l have warrant for you for
shooting Lovejoy.'
Tom looked at me In establishment,
and then he said. with a laugh, All
right, Doc, I'm your man; my horse Is
on the range. but IN go Tomorrow
morning. sure
He broke the news to the boys and
then set EN- up to the house as a pref
ty good joke on him
I'VE came over as we planned the
next morning and you oughter seen
the boys in Deer Lodge stare when we
rode into town that evening together
real sociable.
Tom put up $500 bail, I think, ana
that was the last ever heard OF the
case. Next knew of Tom was when
he led the riots against the Chinese on
tHr Dear river On the Union racine.
The last heard Of him. he was killed
by Texas bandits at Abilene. Kan.
while he was. as a United States mar
shal. attempting to arrest them
While j was in Bear gulch that
night I saw the strangest recognition
sign that / ever heard OF. Everybody
then knew Tom Lloyd, and / guess all
the old-timers will remember him as
one of the best shots with a revolver
that carried a gun in Montana.
Il was not the only traveller in camp
that night. A young fellow. about Is
years old, / should say. slender and
slight in build, came in on the stage
and began asking right and left as
soon as he alighted for Tom Lloyd.
He found him in one OF those cabin
saloons in the midst of a noisy crowd.
Tom. don't you know mer asked
the boy.
Guess you got the best of me.
stranger said Tom, as he sized up the
young fellow carefully.
You don't know me; I'm your
brother Jim. and I've just come all the
way from Minnesota
"'You my brother? Why, I hain't
seen ye since We was a babe; how was
! TO knew We?
Toms brother was at once taken &c
the hearts of the crowd. and at the
same time taken to the bar where he
proved equal to the occasion, and threw
down his measure OF red liquor. Still
Tom himself seemed Backward; he
could not evidently understand that he
had been away from home 10 years OF
more. and that this boy had grown in
his absence. He was disposed to ques.
ton the lads Identity. and the boy was
very much troubled because he could
not prove himself. though he knew and
told all about the family. Tom, how.
ever, had heard but vaguely from then
and this was no proof 20 him, though
everyone else was satisfied. In the
midst OF the discussion Tom exclaimed
"I'I soon settle II.
Here. kid, Is a matchbox" HI
picked IL from the bar; IF We be 3
brother O. mine ye Amt afeared to LEI
me shoot IL outen yer hand. Stand
there, and hold II twixt yer thumb and
finger"
ssTt was a crucial moment. The boy