The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-02

were the property of his partner, who
mad just died at o'clock that morning
of smallpox. Pointing to a newly made
grave about 20 yards distant, he said
that he had buried him there about
three hours ago, and that after pro-
ceeding on his way a few miles he de-
cided that he would return to burn the
clothes so that innocent parties might
not suffer. With that he left us.
We'll, you ought to have seen the
scattering of old clothes Boots were
flying in each direction old coats and
hats in another, and there was just
about as wide scattering of the party.
Nobody would go within 200 yards of
any of the unfortunates who had dom
ned any of the dead mans clothes.
My party hastily called a meeting
to consider the best plan of procedure,
and it was quickly decided that in order
to escape the dread disease, and in the
absence of medical advisers. as we We're
$50 miles from any, the most practical
thing to do was to make a bee line for
the nearest stage station and fill up
with sagebrush whisky as a sort of
antitoXin. so to speak.
The nearest point proved to be
Pleasant Valley. 10 miles away, which
we made that afternoon. We went into
camp about a quarter of a mile from
the station. After a short rest, we went
to the station and found the genial Lee
Mantle and at once commenced to load
up. If I do say it myself. we made
short work of all the whiskey on hand,
and all that Lee could make that night.
During the evening. and just about the
time the medicine was getting in its
best work. Mantle struck us on the
question Of choppng wood, He said
he wanted about 80 cords chopped to
last him all winter.
There is no one more conceited
about his trade than miner, and to be
taken for a wood chopper was almost
unendurab BILE But as there were five
of us. and he being alone, we decided
to take the humorous side of it. and he
sustained no bodily harm.
Now while I am certain that none
of us five ever cut cord of wood in
his life. all being miners from boyhood.
so powerful was the dose then aboard
that we actually felt that we could
chop wood or anything else. Added to
that was our natural desire to be Soc
liable, so we agreed to do the work.
But at o'clock next morning a reac-
ton had set in and we We're slow about
turning out. Just then one of the
teamsters gave the snap away and
Mantle grew excited.
He seized an old tin horn or cayuse
trumpet, used for calling the hands to
dinner, and called out to us who were
perhaps quarter of a mile away in
our camp: Boys, l don't want any
wood chopped. I have decided to do
my own woodchopping this winter; I
am very thankful TO you just the
same He requested us one and all to
leave the premises, and to emphasize
his demand he produced a sawed-off
shotgun, such as was used by meSsen-
gers on Gilmer and Salsburys stages.
OF course, that settled it, and I was
thereupon deprived of the only oppor-
tunity I ever had of becoming a wood
chopper.
I'VE all arrived in Butte safely.
and / never heard that any of my
companions ever took the smallpox. I
always felt sure that Nantes whiskey
saved my life.
Did l owe him for nights lodging
and board? No, sir. AS before stated.
we had our own commissary and car
ried along as much money as business
prudence would permit, owing to the
fact that the country was infested
with road agents at that time.
We may have been a little short
on the whiskey account, although Lees
reputation as a collector would preclude
even that possibility: but admitting
that We We're, he has gotten even with
me many times ince. How did he do
me many times since. How did he do
poker that's all