Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-04-07
e IN his CHAIR.
Joseph r. Anderson '.Skookum Joe" Passes
Away In Billings.

Away In Billings.
News was received last week Of the
death at Billings of Joseph r.. Ander-
son, Familiarity known as "SkoOkum
Joe the cause of his death being
heart failure. The Billings Gazette
of March nth contained the follow
ing in regard to his last movements
and death:
Joseph r. Anderson, commonly
known as "SkOokum joe" was
found dead i'm Il chair this morning
house. He had been in the city for
the past two months under treat
ment for valvular disease of the heart
and physicians informed him some
time ago that he had not long to
live. He had not been confined to
his bed, however, and this morning
arose as usual and built a fire in the
stove, after which he sat down in a
chair to read. He was evidently In
the act of putting on his shoes when
the fatal attack came, as he had one
shoe on and his hand ON the other
shoe beside him, ON the floor, when
found.
He was born near Paris, Ont,
leaving there when he was a boy, In
1868. since which time he has never
communicated with any OF his people.
| He was n of the best known char
acters in eastern Montana, coming
here over thirty years ago.. He was
a prOspectOr, hunter and trapper
and lived in the mountains, was a
kind-hearted and generous man.
straightforward and honest, and
commanded the respect of all his
acquaintance. He was the original
discOverer of the famous Spotted
Horse mine at Maiden, out of which
was frozen OUT only getting
Sc, 900 for his interest in that famous
property. He still owns a third in
terest i'm the War Eagle at Maiden.
which Is thought to be q very rich
mine"
This will be sad news to those In
this county who had the pleasure OF
a personal acquaintance with the
deceased. He was well known in
Maiden and Gilt Edge from his yearly
visit to the Judith range where he
still had mining interests at the time
of his death.
"Skookum joe" as his friends pre-
ferred to call him, was one of the
first prospectors to discover gold In
the Judith mountains. Together
with Dave Jones. his mining partner,
they discovered what is now the
famous Spotted Horse mine in the
year 1881. Having claims ove In
the Boulder district, Mr.. Anderson
spent part Of his time there, return
ing to maiden every spring to assist
his partner In doing assessment
work. This method continued until
the summer Of 1885 when they con.
cluded to erect n Mexican arrastre
for the treatment of the ores, as
sisted financially by p. w. Meadow,
whom it il generally supposed had
been grub-staking the owners fOl
several years previous. The arrastrs
scheme proved a financial failure
although the ores were extremely
rich-the gold being lost In the tail
ings. After mourning a debt of ten
or twelve thousand dollars, which
they were unable to liquidate, Mr.
Meadow took the plant and mine
off from their hands. with probably
IA money consideration besides. We
hardly think it IL just to term 1t q
freeze out, as the property was prac.
tically developed after MIR. Meadow
took charge, yet AZ to this there
may be a difference OF opinion, frou
n better knowledge Of the transac
ton between the parties interested
Dave Jones, 'SkOOkum's" partner
was also a character. A man u
integrity and good habits, he wa,
cast in q different mould than hi
partner. He was reticent. grum ane
suspicious-a veritable sphinx. H,
would sit in the company Of a Grove
of men for hours at q time and no,
say a word, or hardly answer a ques
ton. 1t il said OF him that he would
work with his partner, Mr.. Ander
son, in the same shaft or tunnel TO
days at "a time and not speak to him
though they worked and occupied
the same cabin together for months
at q time. After the transfer Of tn
property to Meadow Jones packed
his blankets n morning, put then
on his back and walked out of Mai
den to return. 1t is though
he is somewhere in the western par
of the state. Thus 1t Ia that me-
discover millions but realize little o
1t themselves. May 'SkoOkum Joe
get his reward the other side OF tn
great divide"