The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-03-28
SOCIETY OF PIONEERS
SOME INFORMATION CON-
CERNING THEM.
Tales Of the Early Settlers-I the Good
Old Days When Flour Was Worth T. 80 a
a"Chaw.'

Z. D. Curtis of Helena, vice presi-
dent for Lewis and Clarke county of
the Society of Montana Pioneers, has
written letter on early days in Mon
tana that will be read with interest
alike by the trail-blazers and new
comers. The letter was written to
Great Falls man in response to an in
Qulry about the society, and is as fol-
lows:
The Society of Montana Pioneers
was organized atHelena, Sept. 10, 1884.
Hon. James Furgus was elected presi-
dent, Gov. S. I. Hauser treasurer. and
Judge Theo. Muf1ly secretary About
26O old-timers, who had come from all
parts of the territory to attend the
meeting, signed the constitution. 1t
was a notable gathering of intrepid
men and women, many of whom whack-
ed bulls across the plains, fought Indi-
ans, swan rivers, walked over burning
sands and waded through drifting
snow: who subsisted on wormy sow-bel-
ly, sour dough bread, flap jacks and
camas roots; who boiled their alkali-
water coffee, and bean soup over fra
grant (?) buffalo chip fires; who blazed
the trails, mined the bars, and pros
pected the creeks in search of the vel
low gold, whose powers to-day is being
used to ruin and crush them: whose
valor, endurance and intelligence have
planted a civilization and common
wealth in the grand mountains and
beautiful valleys of magnificent Mon
, tana that stands the peersct the most er-
ightened, progressive and patriotic in
the sisterhood of states, the unwar-
ranted statement of President Cleve-
land to the contrary Notwithstanding.
In the mad rush for gold, religion
and education were not forgotten.
School houses and churches arose
like magic in almost every camp and
settlement Narrow-minded bigotry
and uncharita bleness had no place in
the hearts Of the brave pioneers of
lang syne. Catholic, Protestant and
Jew subscribed literally of their means
to assist each other in building temples
to the living God. Behold What
lesson OF brotherly love and divine
charity.
in the natural order of things. the
'old-timer5' will pass over the Big
x Ant hn of l11
will live and prosper under the foster
Ing care OF their sons and daughters,
who will perpetuate in song and story
the glorious achievements of tn cir
honOred sires-whose exploits and sac
riiices will form the most interesting
pages in the history of Montana. At
our annual reunions personal remin-
iscences OF early days are related.
Some tragical, some dramatic. and
many ludicrOus. Amusing yarns are
told of the peculiarities of some Of the
local characters of each camp-such as
Swapping Andy, Cotfeepot Tom, Slip
perry Dick, Sailor Jack, the American
Pie-Biter, Soap. Slap-Jack Johnny,
Wild Goose Bill, Liver Eating Johnson.
Bummer Dan, Big Drink jim. Yeast
Powder Bill, Dirty Ike, Tin Cup ice,
Bamboo Chief, Coyote George, He'll
Roaring Jack, Jimmy From Cork, Hur-
dy Gurdy Sam, Moon-Ey Mike, Mush
Head Bill, Sugar-Foot George, The Yaw
Yaw Ditch Boys, Suffering Johnny,
Seven-up Pete, Sour Dough Tom, Ca
lamity Jane, Fiddler Dan, Sage Hen,
Whiskey Bill, Brass-Mounted Liz, Red
Wagon Jim, Feather Legs, and many
others, whose names cannot now re-
call.
''Stories are told about the fate of the
first boiled shirs, stovepipe hat and um-
brella attempted to be worn in Helena;
Jere Sullivan's first experience at boil
ing rice; Parrott, Sanders and Curtis at
the Methodist mourner's bench; San
ders' midnight ride to Rattlesnake
ranch, to head of the notorious des-
perado, Jack Gallagher; Anton Holter's
narrow escape from being robbed aud
murdered by come Of the Plummer
gang; Pete Ronans jokes; Kealey's
joshes and Hugh AcQuaid's pleasant
riea. Tim GUrlav "a a1vootu.oa hv Aoo1