The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-18
State Of Montana.

There is nothing so very strange about
that after all.
On the banks of the Duwamish river.
which empties into the harbor of Seat
tie three miles above the city. live and
have lived for some time three men
who have eked out a commonplace ex-
istence by fishing for steelhead salmon
for this market. Two of the men are
yet plying their humble calling; the
third man is the whilom cowboy, who
has by this time arrived at a Texas
town to claim and possess the $4,000
legacy. 1t was he who performed the
chivalrous act that saved the life OF
the cattleman's wife and child years
ago. The mans name is James Buchan-
an, an American, 80 years old, now
married, and possesses one or two chill
dren. Strangely enough, he is not
widely known among the local fisher
men circles, who are mostly Italians
and Austrians, and while he is more or
less known along the water front, the
story of his fortune has not become
known except to but a few
Years ago. while Buchanan was a
young man. he was working on a range
for a cattleman in Texas. One day
while out with his herd near the banks
of a river, which was spanned by a
long bridge, he observed a buggy COM
ing along the road and saw Ii drive
out upon the bridge. Rains had short
ly before swollen the stream to great
proportions and one span had been car
ried altogether or partially away. The
herder, when he first espied the buggy.
recognized II as belonging to his en-
ployer and so concluded it must be his
employer driving.
Knowing the danger that might at
tend in driving too near the opening
he lefs his herd and trotted forward to
warn the driver of the danger on APP
preaching more closely to the buggy,
he saw that instead of being his en-
ployer, the parties were his employers
wife and child Recognizing even more
the importance of a warning in time.
the herder put his horse to the go and
started after the buggy to come up to
it quickly. The bridge, by the way.
was a long one. The river banks being
low the approaches extended far out,
making the bridge a half mile across.
The galloping of the approaching
herder behind the buggy put the horse
in harness all alright and it suddenly
became fractions and began to rear
and plunge. The woman driver, after
one glance behind, dropped the reins
and did nothing but grab the child in
her arms and sat squeezing 1t in her
fright. The herder, before the buggy
horse could estraighten out for the wild
~
taking with a certain plunge through
the open bridge, whipped loose his
lasso and with the correct whirl and
sure aim of the experienced cowboy,
put the rope about the animals legs
and brought it down, after which 1t
was the work of a moment to lift the
affrighted woman and child from the
buggy. Buchanan was rewarded for
his bravery at once by a present of
$50, and when he quit his employers
service the latter simply took his full
name and all characteristics of the
man-height, nativity. con plevion,
color of hair and eyes, etc.-aHd diE-
missed him.
This was the last of the matter until
about two weeks ago, the Duwamish
fishermen happening to be on the
streets of Seattle, met an acquaintance
who said to him that he had a copy OF
a Texas paper asking the whereabouts
of the herder. The copy of the paper
was procured and Buchanan recogniz-
ed the Importance of the card ii con-
tanned. He telegraphed at once to the
adde's given and the same day received
a reply from the administrator of the
estate of the cattleman, who Is now de-
ceased, stating that $4,000 in cash was
in the administrator hands awaiting
the order of the brave man who had
saved the life of the woman and child.
1t was not long after that before Blu
chanan was arranging to go to Texas
after his money. He dropped every
thing, put on his best clothes and came
down to the city and was seen away
on the Northern Pacific train a week
ago last Monday.
1t has been the ambition of the three
fishermen at the mouth OF the Duwam-
ish river to go to Alaska and try and
better their condition and prospects.
They will now do that. The two part
ners of Buchanan were told to get
everything ready and they would go
when he returns. He promised the two
men left behind. one Of whom is his
brother-in-law, $500 each as a gift. Ten
thousand dollars, he says. he is going
to put in the banks here for safe keep
ing and the 1900 he will have In addi-
ton will be used in supplying an Alas
kan outfit and in the business which
they will develop. The partners left
behind are now anxiously awaiting
word from their fortunate friend.