The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-03
IS STILL IN THE FLESH
Francis M. Thompson Denies
That He Is Dead.
AN OBIT is RETRACTED
A Visit to the Great Falls OF the Mis-
souri, in 1863-Precautions Taken
to Avoid Bands OF Hostile
Indians.

Great Falls, July among other Mon
tana papers which published a notice of
the death of Francis M, Thompson of
Springfield, Mass. an early visitor to this
part of the state, was the Leader of this
city. In retaliation of their obituary the
paper has received the following very
lively reply from the deceased:
Greenfield, Mass, June a. 1s99-Edtor
of the Leader-Dear Sir: As my friend.
Governor Langford of st. Paul, has writ
ten me that the Helena Herald has writ
ten my obituary, and some friend has
kindly sent me copy of your paper of
May Is containing a notice of my recent
appointment by Governor Wolcott
judge of the probate court for Franklin
county, Massachusetts, and that being in
poor health l had declined the commits
sion i have come to the conclusion that
it is time that / assured my old friends,
the pioneers of Montana, that l am still
in the flesh. in good health and in the
daily performance of my duties as judge,
and am very much interested in every
scrap of news relating to Montana. l have
an intense desire to visit your country,
now great and prosperous state of our
union-a country which when I first saw
Fort Benton did not contain SO white peo-
pie within it's borders. 1t would especially
give me great pleasure to visit your city,
the site of which l first saw June 5. 1868,
under somewhat interesting circum-
stances. / was at that time stopping with
my friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Vail, al the
government farm on Sun river, await
ing the arrival at Fort Benton of the st.
Louis steamer. Besides us at the farm
were Joseph Swift who had wintered
~ I
Plummer, Miss Electa Bryan, two Vail
children and a hunter herdsman. l quote
from my diary: June 5. 1S63.-About 8 p.
m, with Mr.. and Mrs. Vail, Miss Bryan
and the two children in the government
ambulance, and the remainder of the par
t. on horseback, we left the Stockade in
charge of the hunter and started for the
great falls" The Indians are very saucy
and are cleaning out all small parties of
whites whom they can intmidate and
steal from. We feel somewhat the risk
we run in taking the women and children
on the trip. Near shutdown we had a
scare. AS Plummer Wheeler and Swift in
advance climbed the top of knoll and
suddenly stopping made signs of seeing
Indians, but fortunately the moving fig
lures proved to be herd of antelopes. Ar
irving at the lower falls after dark, we
camped in a ravine, so that the light of
our campfire might not be discovered by
the Indians. The next forenoon was spent
in fishing and viewing the falls and build
ing large stone cairn, in which we de-
posted a paper claiming that the ladies
of our party were the first white women
to view the falls. In this l think We
were mistaken, as probably Mrs. La Barge
and friend visited the falls in the sum-
mer of 1862. After dinner we started upon
our return to the fort, and coming with
in sight of the farm, we found that the
bottom was covered with large humber
of Indian ponies grazing under the charge
of a guard.
Recognizing them as Spokanes, and
friendly. we found large war party Wis
iting the farm. Finding that only one
was in possession, and he having
locked the gates, they parleyed with him
at the front while some young bucks
scaled the walls in the rear and took pos
session of the premises, compelling the
hunter to cook from the stores of the sta
ton dinner for the whole crowd.
After a full discussion of the situation
b. the aid of little Chinook has pick
ed up and a vigorous exhibition of sign
language on our part, we finally per
suaded the chief that 1t was best for him
to "elatawaw," which he did, much to our
relief
ION the Goth of June. 1868, at Sun river,
Henry Plummer and Miss Electa Bryan
were married by Rev. Father Minatre of
the mission of st. Peter, Mr.. Swift acting
as best man, and for the only time. in my
life l acted bridesmaid. The happy
couple Immediately left the farm in the
government ambulance, to which were at
tached four green Indian ponies.
"A few months later Henry Plummer had
ended his career upon the gallows at Ban
mack. Truly yours,
FRANCIS NJ. THOMPSON"