The Anaconda standard., 1899-09-05
1898

b The war with Spain was the exciting
topic in 1898. The blowing up of the
Maine on February Is stirred Montana
profoundly and from that day on Mon
tana was in favor of war. The de-
parture of the regular United States
soldiers stationed in Montana took
place on April II. They We're given the
most enthusiastic of send-offs. On the
25th Montana was allotted one regi-
ment of infantry and one squadron of
cavalry as its quota of troops. and on
April 30 Governor Smith issued proc
lamation calling for volunteers. Ten
regiments of infantry and half a dozen
squadrons of cavalry could easily have
been organized. On the night of May 1
came the news of Dewey's victory in
Manila harbor. Butte and Anaconda
went wild that night. Early in the
month of May companies of infantry
began to assemble at Camp Smith on
the outskirts of Helena, and Montana
had the honor of reporting to the war
department at Washington the first
regiment of volunteer infantry organ
ized in the country. On the 18th ex-
cursions from several parts of the state
went to Camp Smith. and on the 25th
the regiment left by the Oregon Short
Line for San Francisco, whence it
sailed three weeks later for Manila.
The squadron Of cavalry left for Chic
amauga on May "a and became a part
of "Griggsbys rough riders" Great,
big, cheering crowds saw the boys off.
On January the new capitol COM
mission met in Helena and decided to
build a smaller state house. On the
sth at Butte occurred the death of
"Chance" Harris. On the 18th Banker
P. A. Largey was murdered in Butte
by Thomas j. Riley. On the 25th a
proposition to bond Deer Lodge coun-
ty for court house at Anaconda was
submitted to the voters and approved.
On the 2Sth the state was appalled, by
a revelation of the status of the bursted
First National Bank of Helena.
On Feb 21 the Hale house, In
Butte burned. Two men lost their lives
in the fire. On March an explosion
of dynamite on a Great Northern train
at Dry Fork killed three men. On May
13 Prince Albert of Belgium visited
Montana. He was entertained at Butte,
Anaconda and Great Falls. On the 18th
the B., A. & P. bought the Montana
Union spur between Anaconda and
Stuart.
On June 16 Mrs. Phoebe Hearst visit
ed Anaconda, and was rendered an en-
thusiastic reception. On the 2lst
Thomas Cruise of Helena bought the
capitol bonds. On the 27th ground was
broken for the new court house at An
aconda The Fourth of July was cele-
brated with great gusto. On the 9th of
July the state board of education met
to consider certain charges against
State Superintendent of Public In
struction Carleton. On the 31st Butte
people enjoyed a ride over the new
Gaylord & Ruby Valley railroad. On
August 5 DOC" Larkin died at Warm
Springs. On the 10Th the first batch of
letters were received from the Mon
tana volunteers, who went to Manila.
On September 21 three state conven-
tions met in Anaconda, the democratic,
silver republican and populist. A. J.
Campbell was nominated for congress
man by the democrats. Thomas Ho-
gan was nominated by the populsts,
and Charles r Hartman by the silver
republicans. Mr.. Hartman resigned In
Campbells favor. and the silver .e-
publicans subsequently endorsed the