The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-11
DARING JOHN J. HEALY
The Adventures Of His Life Would Fill
Ten Books.
HE is AS BRAVE AS LION
In Early Days He Was One of the
Most Noted Men In the State of
Montana and Many a Time
He Faced Death.

GREAT FALLS, March 10.-Among old
timers the name of John j. Healy is a.
familiar as that of Y. Beidler and hos
of others who passed through many thrill
ing episodes in the early days in Montana
flfteen years ago Healy was about the
pest known man in Northern Montana
lie was for several years sheriff of Cho
teau county at a time when to fill tina,
ofilce meant that the sheriff must be
ready at almost any time to take des.
perate chances of getting out of pretty
tight place. Any old resident of Choteau
county will tell you that such a man was
John j. Healy. A nervier man never
crossed the plains. He faced death in a
dozen different ways, but like the heroes
In Alexander Dumas works he always
had a happy faculty of pulling through.
Inc history OF his life would fill book
that for exciting adventures would throw
the trials of such men as Bill Cody COM
a1etely in the shade. He made daring ar.
tests that, if described in these piping
times of peace, would be liable to be put
down as downright lies of the Beadle
order.
MIR. Healy has lived in Alaska for the
past 10 years, but at present is in tho
United States looking after the interests
OF the North American Trading company
OF which he is president. The New York
Herald of Feb. "A contained a two-column
account OF some of the stirring scenes in
Healy's career which will interest every
body living in these parts, especially
those who were in Montana at the time of
the occurrence of the experiences re-
ferred to. The article is too long for pub
LEGATION entire SO a synopsis of the most
interesting portions is given.
1t was Eealy who offered to deliver Sit
ting Bull alive at Washington for $4,000
at time when the Herald says: THE
war department was in state of trem-
bling anxiety over the doings of the old
Chief" The description of what Healy
went through as scout for the army dur
ing the Neg Perces' raid in Montana is
thrilling in the extreme. The story of
the terrible experiences of Healy and a
party who were returning from the Orc
Elmo stampede in 1868 is equally thrilling.
After escaping from the Nez Perces from
captivity on Salmon river, four of the
party, all that were left of % men who
had started out to find the dIggings-
Healy, jeff Perkins, Tim DriscolI and Eph
Bostwick-came near starving to death
while trying to reach civilization. OF this
hairbreadth escape from death by starya-
ton, the Herald says:
"Healy headed the little band of men
for Fort Lemhi, a Mormon post which he
had visited several years before and which
he believed to be within few days travel.
But they found themselves in a country
luXurant with the vegetation of the
plains and as deserted of habitation as a
field of ice. The game had been killed
off by the Nez Perces and the air was not
even disturbed by the flight of bird. The
coyote, who seeks lonely fields, was not TO
be found in the cursed region. The suf- !
ferings of these half-clothed, starving |
men became unspeakable.
"They had endured four days of this |
fearful torture when the sun broke ont |
one morning and showed the lines of the |
adobe built post of Fort Lemhi. Under |
this fresh encouragement they crawled |
onward until the place was reached. |
There the bitterest of all disappoint-
ments awaited them. When within call
Ing distance Healy raised his weak voice.
There was no answer, and when finally
they reached the post not a sign of habi-
lation was found save the empty adobe
houses on either side of n grass grown
road. The post had been deserted two
years before. A prairie dog would have
"At that point of their journey the men
gave out. They laid down in
he deserted roadway, too weak to move
'urther. Driscolls mind had become par
tally turned. Bostwick was raving mad.
tut too far gone to do violence, and Per-
Tins and Healy, though sane, we're too ex-
lausted to travel another foot. The last
lope seemed gone. Healy saw DriscolI
ook at Bostwick and then raise his re-
oliver for last shot.
HEALY PREVENTS CANNIBALIsM.
" What are you going to do?" as ked
Iealy.
"'Kill him and eat him." Driscoll an
wered in maniac's voice, pointing to
NO" said Healy. "we have got to
lie, but we will die like men," and he
cached over and wrenching the revolver
rom Driscoll. threw it so far that Driscoll
ould not crawl to it.
The men we're lying in a bunch. and
erkins had become unconscious, when
Iealy heard a shout and saw a half dozen
len ride into the post with Jack Menden-
all. now living at Bozeman, Mont, at the
cad. They were coming over the noun
lins with pack train and had reached :
he post barely in time to save the lives
healy, Driscoll and Bostwick. Perkins
led from sufferings of the nine days OF
aviation. Bostwick was killed after
ard by the Mountain Crows. and Driscou
as reported TO have been shot in a bar
'om row al Salt Lake. The tabled ledge
gold was never found, though diggincs
the Salmon river country were discoy-
ed and are now being worked"
More interesting still is the account of
e wonderful ride made by Healy from
1rt Walsh, y. ". T., to Helena CARRYING ,
spatches for the New York Herald, a =,
stance of about 30 miles. 1t was after n
G Custer massacre, when Sitting Bull o
th the remnant of his belliserent TO- C
wers had fed across the Canadian line.
sneral Terry went to Fort Walsh 10 try
induce Bull and his men to return TO
cir reservation. Jerome Tillision. cor y
spondent for the Herald now dad .H