The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-09
First Speech In Virginia City as
Governor Of Territory.
cOMPLIMENTED STONEwALL JACKSON
Sad Death of the Patriot in the
Waters Of the Missouri.

In the early COS w. B. Napton was a
pioneer arrival at Virginia City, New
He had brought with him, by way of
the Missouri river, the material for a
quartz mill, which was operated for
time on Montana mining property.
Mr.. Napton is brother of District
Judge Napton OF Deer Lodge county,
Montana. He is a resident OF Marshall,
Mo. His valuable chapter contributed
to the Anaconda (Mont) Standards
stories of carly Montana days, is
sketch of General Thomas Francis
Meagtcr. with whom Mr.. Napton was
we'll acquainted.
One OF the most accomplished and
interesting men I ever met was Briga-
dier-General Thomas Francis Meagher,
who gained distinction in the Civil War
as commander Of the Irish brigade, TAX
ing an active as we'll as conspicuous
part in nearly every one Of the great
battles fought by the Army OF the Poto-
mac. -------., --,..--.. ,....-4. ....
I first met General Mcagher while he
was governor Of Montana, in 1865. He
was not only affablc and distinguished
as soldier, but lie was also greatly
gifted as an orator and writer. He was
man OF superb physique, erect figure,
stately carriage, and, witlal, one of the
most scholarly, forciblc, pleasant and
agreeable public speakers l ever lis
tened to. His career is we'll known to
all who are familiar with the events of
the Civil War, and he is remembered
by all the old soldiers as the gallant
commander Of the Irish brigade which
suffered sucl, fearful loss at the battle
OF Fredericksburg, on the Rappahan-
mock. Bearing "tfe white mans bur-
den" in that bloody engagement was a
very serious, trying and disastrous load,
as shown by the official reports. Gen.
era! Meagher's ofic;a! reports show
that the brigade went into action with
1,2oo men, and that on the following day
only go reported under arms ready to
renew the battle, so that more than 900
had been slain or wounded.
The first time I ever met the general
he was delivering an address to the
people Of Virginia City, Mont, one
evening in August, 1866, just after
nightfall, he having reached the city
that day to assume the duties OF gover-
nor of the territory. Virginia City was
then the most populous and thriving
place in the territory, and Alder Gulch,
on which it was situated, was producing
placer gold in fabulous quantities. The
entire gulch was being turned over by
pick and shovel and hydraulic nozzle
for ten miles or more in length and
from 100 to 500 feet in width. The
ground was carefully worked over from
rimrock to rimrock, from surface to
bedrock, the latter frequently 40 feet
below the surface. The claims were 200
feet up and down the gulch, but their
owners in some instances worked them
jointly, including several claims in one
One company employed
100 men or more, paying them from $6
to SIS day, those who understood
running blind drift" receiving the
highest wages. This company was said
to have cleared $4,000 in the summer
of 1864. To run blind drift through
water, sand and gravel needed the skill
of the most expert miner, the timbers
having to be driven ahead of the ex-
cavation and so braced as to prevent
caving as the work progressed.
The city contained 5000 or 10000 in
|1abitants, the most bustling, energetic,
restless mass of people imaginable. Up
and down the gulcf for ten miles was
a continuous row of miners cabins, one
or more on each claim. Above the line
Of cabins on the mountain side a we'll
graded toll road had been made the en-
tire length Of the gulch. Over this road
passed every day train of burros
packed with mail, express matter and
the like and conveying supplies of vari-
Gus kinds to the miners. Sunday was
the business day OF the city-the miners
would quit work for business and reere-
alton.
1t being announced that the governor
would arrive on certain day on the
overland coach from Salt Lake, = COM
mittee appointed went down the stage