The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-30

that camp and was the first emigrant
to drive an OK team up the gulch. He
and his partner. Tom Savers, who
lives on the Madison, prospected in JEFF
ferson county where Basin now stands
While bidding the Standard reporter
goodbye John became reminiscent and
told of several incidents of his early life
in Montana that probably Will be of
interest to the public. especially to the
members of the Pioneers association.
In '63 Roe Dessert was running a cor
raj for miners horses and mules in the
gulch and one night mule was stolen
by man named Kelly. Dessert and
John Smith got on the track and fol-
lowed Kelly to Basin, when he was
captured. The first night out on their
return trip to Virginia City the party
camped and during the dark hours
Kelly murdered his captors, skipped
out and made good his escape to the
East. He was followed by Desserts
brother, but never captured. Shortly
after the murder was committed Mr.
Wilhart and his partner were travelling
over the same trail and found kellys
pistol and the tree of a saddle. This eX-
cited their suspicious, which were made
known, a searching party was organ
lied and the bodies of the two men dis
covered in the brush. Everyone knew
the pistol belonged to Kelly, as it had
been seen in his possession. 1t was ru-
mored that Kelly took the pistol from a
man in Kansas that he had killed. Inc
story goes that it was presentation
from a New York friend to the muir
dered man and had the following in
scription on the plate: This gun to
be used only in the freedom of bleeding
Kansas" Shortly after this Mr.. Will
hart and his partner moved camp just
below Twin Bridges on the old Arm
strong ranch. The boys had five oxen
Go. ont .
them, a short distance from camp, but
found that a stranger had them in his
possession and told Savers to go to
Hades. Savers went back to camp,
secured his rifle and returned with Mr..
Wilhart. The stranger refused to give
up the cattle and he and Savers began
firing at the same time. At the first re-
port both men fell: Savers was hit IN
the mouth and the thief in the groin.
Wilhart rushed in after the cattle and
would have been killed, only the strang-
er's gun missed fire several times. Saw
ers' wound was slight and the other
fellow was taken to Virginia CITY ana
placed in care of DR.. Steele tnow or
Helenal, who, on examination, said:
"He may pull through but what did
you bring him here for? Why in the
hi didn't you hang him?" The boys
replied they were after the cattle and
not the mans life.
After prospecting for several years
Mr. Wilhart took notion to rancn ana
settled on a piece of land short dis
lance from town. Here he and his fam
ily. have resided for many years on one
of the most beautiful places in the val
lev. The family desiring a change of
climate, the property was sold few
months ago to William Ripple.
Private Jackson of Company d re-
turned on Saturdays train from San
Iuba he hppn
sick list since July 80 He is the first
Twin Bridge soldier hoy to return and
of course he was nearly worn out with
answering questions. Mr.. jackson was
on the firing line from Feb l untt
June and came back without scratch,
He brings good reports OF every mem
her in Company D and speaks highly
of its officers He is of the opinion that
the Montana and Kansas regiments
killed more ''niggers' than any other
two regiments on the Islands. Accord
ing to his belief the war was uncalled
for, and if General Otis had UNDER
stood making the proper announce
ments so that the Filtpinos could under
stand them, this government would not
be at war with that people Mr.. jack
son saws the provisions furnished the
boys in camp were good and he had no
kick coming, but at work the fare was
not so good
It is doubtful If Twin Bridges will
have a corporal's guard left when the
list Montana arrives at Butte. Nearly
every one anticipates going over on
that occasion to assist in receiving the
gallant soldiers.
Dug ellis and Tim Hannahn en-
gagged in a half mile footrace Sunday
for a large purse. The former won
easily, as Hannafin gave out before the
wire was reached.