The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-19

ION VerSed the streets OF Butte
Fat Jack handled the ribbons.
~ Everybody knows how Fat
Jack looked on Bryan's day last Au-
gust To him was given the honor of
driving the team behind which rode
William J. Bryan and the leading mem
bers of the party. Fat Jack was in his
glory that day, and Butte was proud of
Fat Jack.
For the Bryan reception Jack had
gotten himself up regardless. He wore
a long dun-colored coachman's coat
with conspicuous buttons, brand new.
tail man, the finest that ever came to
Butte, tan-colored gloves and an $S-
whip. From side pocket of Jacks
great coat peeped in negligent sort
of a way an elegant red silk handker-
chief. OF course, Jack didn't know that
the end of that gorgeous handkerchief
was peeping out of the pocket. oh. no!
1T first happened that way, and II did
its part toward making Fat Jack the
most conspicuous figure in the Bryan
procession.
There was some contrast between
Fat Jack as he appeared on Bryan day
seated on an $500 hack, and as he APP
peared back in 1881, just before the
Cour d'Alene excitement when he start
led the population of Butte by driving
through its streets the first hack ever
seen here But before telling about
that it ought to be explained that out
of probably 10000 people ia Butte who
know Fat Jack, not 50O know that be-
fore he became Eat Jack his name was
John Jones. No one would know him
to-day by the name of John Jones' but
everybody in Butte knows Fat Jack lie
received the new name al the hands
of Billy Wilson back in Deer Lodge in
the year 1867. Jack isn't exactly fat.
Frsvaf 4 ~
appearance would indicate IL is six
feet tall and weighs $50 pounds. Yet
his sunEen, cadaNerous-looking checks
and his height give him the appearance
of leanness, although his weight is far
above the average and ne Is Us muscu-
lar as an OK.
Fat Jack had considerable Of a his
tory when he was merely John Jones.
lie was born back in 1913, IN Sl1owhe-
gan, Me, and the first thing he ever did
after he grew up was 10 enlist Tor the
war. lie joined the regiment of which
Neal Dow was colonel and spent five
years in the army, after which he won't
TO Washington and entered the quar-
1ermaster-2eneralS office. He came 10
Montana in the spring Of 1S6f along
with Green Clay Smith, who had been
appointed governor Of The territory.
Secretary Tufts and Colonel George
Mclean. Governor smith was n friend
OF Jacks father, and that is how he be-
came attached 10 the party. The party
came to Fort Benton aad proceeded
thence 70 Helena. From there tie rast
went TO Virginia Ctty. while Jac5
struck ont for himself and landed in
Deer Lodge. Il was there that he
ceased Ter all time to be john Jones
The history uf John Jones ceased and
The history of Fat Jack began. Jack
wouldn't change back his name for all
the world. There ere lots Of John
Joneses in the world, but there is only
one Fat Jack on the fae of The earth
| Left 10 his own resources in Mon
| tana, Jack concluded 10 FIJI Il long-fclt
| want by starting q barber shop lie
| started up circuit. something ike the
| old circuit riders round which included
| Deer Lodge. Silver Bow, Rocker and
/ Butte, of which the least MT that time
| was Butte. Jack would travel from
/ one camp to the other. shave the in
| habitants, blow in the proceeds ON faro
/ at times and move to the next town.
| He tried to reach each of his four
| charges once n week, carrying his kit
| with him, and often Travelled with tba
| minister. The FIRST man Jack shaved
| was Judge Dixon in Deer Lodge. The
| judge survived the operation, but he
| gave Jack some pointers about shay
/ ing which made it something less than
/ surgical operation, and in time Judge
| Dixon consented To let him try again,
i and soon became one Of Jacks Tegu-
| lar customers.
In those days Jack charged and re
/ ceivsd 80 cents for shave, 81 for =
/ haircut, 81 for q shampoo ana $50 for
| a bath. But then, ~ that time. Kew
! York illustrated newspaper cost s.. 50 a
| copy, and the W5llS-FdT9o company
/ charged 81 for letter. Jack made his
! home in old Silver Bow. which was
/ much larger then than Butte
Jack remained On his barber circuit,
/ coming TO Butte about aue- week,
| until the Cedar creek excitement in
/ 1869. Butte seemed 10 ha9e PLAYED out,
| he packed III his kit and was ,ue ot
the first 10 get 10 Cedar Creek. which
/ was over in Missoula county. Cedar