The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-29
In THE DAYS OF OLD
Exciting Incidents Recalled by the
Death of Overland Bob"
A THREE-CORNERED FIGHT
Hot War Discussions on the koo-
tenai Frontier. During hich
Bullets Merrlly " histled-A
Dispute Hastily ettlsd.

Missoula. May 2s-The recent death OF
Overland Bob" Evans in Butte has re-
called to old timers some of the incidents
of his adventurous life when he was in
this section OF the state and in the Brit
ish Kootenai country. He was well known
by many Missoula men and all of them
speak of him as a reckless, daring fellow
who was liked by all who knew him and
for whom nothing had any terror. Among
those who knew him are Judge Woody
Game Warden Booth. Cain Mahony and
Pat Mahony. Evans was a more or less
conspicuous figure In the rush TO the
kootenai country in 1863 and 1864 and in
the events that made Bonner's Ferry ia
nous he played a prominent part. lie is
said to have had a bullet in his body
somewhere as a result OF a three-cornered
gun play that occurred at this time. He
was one of the combatants and he was
the only one that was not seriously in
jured.
The story of this fight. as recalled by
some of the old-timers and related by
them TO Standard reporter is about as
follows: At the time that the Kootenai
stampede occurred there was a great deal
of feeling on the frontier that grew out
of the great war that was then being
waged in the East, and this feeling at
times became so intense that there were
frequent little battles out here that
while they had no bearing on the settle
ment of the great struggle, were none
the less important to those who took part
In them.
There was hardly an evening when a
crowd OF men assembled that the issues
of the war were not discussed, and these
discussions not infrequently led to the
use of firearms by the disputants. The re-
suits varied. Sometimes the fight became
raj
somebody hurt If IL happened that there
were but two men involved there were
usually enough bystanders to prevent any
serious outcome.
1t was in Kootenai on the Fourth of
July, 1864. that the fight occurred that
came near to ending the life of over
land Bob" that was taken in Butte last
week. Just what started the play was
never known. Those who were present
say that there had been a lively political
discussion. in which state rights and
emancipation had played an important
part. All hands had taken a part in the
conversation at first. but as II warmed
up the debate became a thTee-cornered
one. with overland Bob" Evans, Yeast
powder Bill' Bummister and "Topsaw-
yer Tom" Watson as the debaters. The
discussion grew warmer and then got hot.
That there was trouble brewing was evil
dent, but IL came sooner than was ex-
pected, and II came so suddenly that no
one had an opportunity to interfere In
an instant there were three guns in play
and the bullets were whistlng merrily
There were two or three of the bystand-
ers shot before they could get out OF the
way, and "Yeastpowder Bill'' had two
of his fingers shot off. Overland Bob
had ball in his body somewhere and
when the fight was over the dead form of
"Topsawyer Tom" was stretched on the
floor of the saloon. Ii was decided that
"feastpowder Bill" had fired the fatal
shot and he was placed under arrest. A |
strong guard was placed over him, but in |
the night some of his friends spirited him !
away and he was seen no more in those /
parts. lie subsequently came TO this sec |
ton and he died in the Bitter Root val |
ley few years ago. well-known and |
respected citizen. overland Bob" re-
manned in the Kootenai country for sew |
eral years and then returned to Montana. |
where he remained till his death.
There was always reluctance on the |
part of all who witnessed this fight TO |
say much about IL. as there was a great /
deal OF feeling developed in the matter.
IL Is not even known. so far as can be |
learned here, what was the direct cause |
OF the shooting or which of the three /
men involved was alone against the other |
two. Bummister would not tell and Evans /
was not at all communicative and poor I
watson could not tell II he would 1t was 1
one of the scores of such combats that
were OF frequent occurrence here all the
while the war was I'm progress. especially
In the latter part of the conflict when
some of the stragglers of the armies
driften out into the West .