The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-02-06
THE WINTER OF 1879
STORY OF A TEMPERATE TENDER
FOOTs TRIALS IN MONTANA.
Tell Into the Hands OF jolly Crowd
of CattIenen t1 the Mike
GOIdbyis Place.

'The coolest night 1 ever expert
eHced, said Charlie HlggenbothaJn.
Was on December %, 1879, when drove
a stage for Gilmore & Salisbury over the
Birdtail divide on Fort Benton to Helena
route. The thermometer stood at 81
degrees below zero at Fort Shaw about
10 o'clock, and 1t got colder"
Mr.. Higgenbotham is one of the few
men who held the ribbons in early days
who are still in the business as at the
present time he is driving for ]. p.
Dunlevy near Anaconda, and he him
self told the story to a Standard re-
porter. Mr.. Higgenbotham is an old
timer but not of the sort so often pic
tured by the eastern story teller He
has a rough exterior, true; but IN con-
versation he neither butchers his Eng
lish nor talks slangy, nor does he swear
habitually, though no doubt he can do
so when business requires emphasis.
Neither has he an inordinate thirst for
whisky with which the stage drivers
are accredited, though that is not say
ing that Charlie does not know good
liquor when the bottle is passed his
way.
'I can never forget that night, though
1 passed through it safely" said he,
but the difficulty my partner and l
had in keeping our passenger from freez-
ing to death has indelibly impressed the
events of the night upon my mind. The
passengers name do not know because
did not inquire. He was a piano tuner,
that 1 remember, and was anxious to
reach Helena in time to get his mail
before Christmas.
1.-THE commander at the fort urged him
to remain there, and told him he would
surely freeze.
1.-The driver is going through, isn't
he? asked the stranger. And if he can
stand it 1 guess I cam
:" But you don't know those stage drlv
ers,' said the captain with a laugh.
They're so soaked in whisky they can't
freeze
ut was no use to show him how well
we were protected from the weather
and how hardened we were to cold
nor to mention his own light clothes.
" Why, said I, "a man could stick you
with a cambria needle an you couldn't
touch me with a butcher knife through
these clothes.
II guess I can stand It," he would
reply and so we bundled him into the
coach, and one of the stage men who
was going to Helena got in beside
him. 1 climbed up on the box and
wrapped buffalo robe around my legs,
EIeven-Year-OId WhisI<ey.
81 had a bottle of 11-year-old whisky
in the front boot, but for company sake
got it out and laid it in the buffalo
robe under the leather blanket.
1.-The horses were good and had six
Of them. The passenger had not a
word to say, but from time to time
tried to sink deeper into the blankets
until we were about eight miles from
Dearborn, where he asked:
How far is it to the next station?"
81 told him and Their he asked: How
long before we get there's?
About an hour and a half 1 an
swered
1.-THE effort to speak had set his teeth
a-gOing and they chartered and clicked
like dice in a box. He tried to keep
them steady and in about Is minutes he
asked me again: How far to Dearborn?
told him then II miles.
How long before we get there? he
| queried weakly.
"'About two hours said l. Every
time he asked would add to the dis
tance and the time just to keep up his
nerve and he was game to the last, de-
claring, I guess 1 can stand it.
| $50 he did, till we helped him, stiff
and cold. out of the coach and up tc
the bar in Mike Goldby's place at Dear.
| born.
ut was dingy saloon of one bis
room, a box stove In the center and g
| bar counter in one corner 1t was early
morning, but the room was half full OF
| cattlemen who were more or less DRUM
and happy, getting ready for the Christ
| mas.
81 took my usual drink at the bar and
so did my partner, but the piano tunel
| started for the stove.
Hold on there, what be you COINS
to drink?' roared Mike from behind tn,
bar.
Nothing at all; just want to warm,
said the passenger.
7" 'Ho! boys shouted Mike, here is
L pilgrim most froze to death and HI
says he won't drink.
1.-THE gang got around and turned
loose on the stranger. He was neaCl!
dead, and they slapped him and boxet
him in a way that was shameful, hat
there been anything but the friendl!
object in view of reviving him. H
wanted to fight, but that only amused
the crowd and they kept him going lively
while Mike mixed hot toddy.
i big Pete McAndrews seized the shot
gun that hung behind the bar and threw
it down on the trembling piano tuner
Ike, you show the gentleman how to tax
his medicine and suiting the action t