The Anaconda standard., 1896-01-31
ON THE FIRST PAGES
An Arrest Recorded at the Head o.
Montana's Criminal Calendar.
IN THE LITTLE BLACKFOOT
Interesting Chapter in the History
of the Early Days of the Sparse
ly Settled Territory A
Horse Thief Escapade.

shadow of legal authority, occurred in
December, 1861, according to an arti-
Gle published in the old Benton Record,
now on file in the Great Falls Office of
the Standard. The article was writ
ten for the Record-which ceased to
exist years ago-by a correspondent
who signs himself "A. A." and is as
follows:
In the winter of 1S61-62 / was a clerk
in the store of William j. Terry, sutler
to the celebrated "Warl Expedition
then cantoning near the mouth OF the
Big Blackfoot river in Missoula coun-
ty One day, about the middle of De-
cember, / was called upon by two
strangers who stated that they had
Just arrived from Colville and were en-
route to Salt Lake city. They gave
their names as Butler and Williams,
and requested two or three days ac-
commodation with board and lodging.
AS they threw some money in sight,
readily agreed to let them have
share in the use of the frying pan and
a layout upon the floor. In the course
of time their purses became exhausted
and / had a stationary whiskey bill
against them amounting to SLABS. Said
Williams to me one night: You are
a pretty good fellow and we don't
want to blk you. We have got two
horses and need but one to pack our
bedding. 1t is a hard matter to take
care of animals with the prevailing
depth of snow. We will make you a
present of one of them If you will call
the bill square" 1 readily agreed to
the proposition and a cayuse was duly
transferred to me and branded with
the mark of the firm 1 represented. On
the following morning my two travel
ers were missing as were also my horse
and several other things.
Investigation revealed the fact that
the strangers were two horse thieves
and had departed for Deer Lodge.
There was no sheriff on hand to send
in quest of the fellows, because West
ern Montana in those days was as yet
but an unorganized portion of Wash
ington territory. / applied to Lieuten-
ant Mullan for relief and that gentle
man authorized me to go after the or
tenders, arrest them and bring them
to him for punishment. Three of US
Louis Granmaison (since killed.,
William Rowland (since hung), and
myself destiny not accomplished)
started out to make the arrest. We
left the Big Blackfoot at the hour of
midnight and preceding Dec. Fl, 1861.
and our departure was thus made
within the shadows of night to insure
success to the enterprise. We deemed
it necessary to overtake and get ahead
of a party of traders (William Kip
linger and c. F. Eaton) that had start
ed out the previous day on a "whoop
up trip to supply the early settlers of
Deer Lodge valley with some en-
couragement" for the approaching
holidays. 1t wouldn't do to allow ru-
NOR to get ahead of our intentions.
The young dawn of Dec. % revealed
the presence of the traders at the foot
Of the big Grade" on the banks Of
the He'll Gate, and we slid down to
their camp for breakfast. OF course,
they Opened out" and we agreed to
travel in company. 1t was very cold
day, this 22nd one OF December and
we stopped frequently to warm up.
After we had crossed the Medicine
Hill' the wind commenced blowing
furiously and Bill Rowland and my
self concluded to light ahead and II
possible reach Dempseys on Flint
creek for the night. 1t being deemed
impossible for the whole crowd to ad-
vance that far we took our pack horse
along with us. CAT this point Ii may
be necessary to state that this sketch
would not be drawn out to its length
were IL not for the fact that most of
the characters concerned are old resi-
dents of Montana, and that the sketch
NAV be credited with some interest on
account of "old times.")
Bill Rowland was a desperate fellow
who had gained notoriety on the over
land route Whiskey and the cold ali
worked upon his temper, and when u
the Flint creek hills the pack became
loosened on the lead horse he dis
mounted. and. drawing a Bowie knife
ripped open the horses belly. The poo
animal staggered and fell down dead
and we hurried on, leaving the traps
to be taken care of by the other fellows
behind. II was almost a ride for lif'
that night 1t was intensely cold. ant
when finally. by mere accident, W.
reached the shelter of Dempsey's hay
stankS our horses drOnDed from Shee
exhaustion.
on Dec % we reached the residence
of Johnny Grant, on the Little Black
foot, and having stated our business q
him he readily replaced our caved-ii
animals with two fresh ones. One o
the horse thieves (Butler) was foun'
and arrested here and placed in charg
of Grandmaison who had caught ur
The other fellow, Williams, was sai'
TO be encamped with Bill Hambletol
on Cottonwood creek. and we were ais
Informed that Ii would be no easy mat
ter to take him because there were sew
eral desperadoes residing in that neigh
borhood. A Spaniard named Manuel
volunteered to accompany us. and W
arrived at wild Cat Bills" lodge abou
10 p. m. Bill having been made ac
quainted with our errand said 20
course take that fellow inside. Tn
id scoundrel sold me one of thos
stolen horses for a winters grub an
accommodation"
The night of the cath TO the 25th W
encamped at Johnny Grants with tn
two prisoners in custody. / was o
watch at midnight when the door sud
denly opened and Bill Hambleton ap
peared with a Bowie knife in one han
and a revolver in the other He said
Il shan't allow none Of Mullan's d
men TO take any white men out Of Dee
Lodge valley without the parties choos
to go voluntarily" II was all he saiC
for an evident necessity for rest jus
about that time caused him TO slid
down on the floor where We left hiI