The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-11-19
HOW SMITH WON.

(H. I. Cleveland in Chicago Times-Her-
ADD
Up in the Bear Greek country of
western Montana there was intense eX-
element over the presidential election
and much speculation over its outcome.
This was in 1884, when Cleveland Op-
posed Blaine, and Montana had no
more voice in the electoral college than
coyote possessed in the proceedings
of an army mule. But the territory
was aroused over the contest just the
came, and if it could have voted would
have given its majority TO the man
from Buffalo. But here and there in
the mining communities and where the
cattle grazed might be found q Blaine
advOcate-usuG0y a clever man with
his gun, strong in enforcing his ar
gumentS, convincing when his finger
reached the trigger first. As a rule
these Blaine men of the territory were
movers" from New England and the
Ohio country, who had crowded them
selves in alongside Of the original set
tiers from Missouri and held their own.
OF course, the One-time MiSSOurianS
were all Democrats. To have insinU-
ated otherwise would have provoked
riot.
The Northern Pacific railroad had
just been completed, and Montana was
experiencing its first contacts with the
ing in harmony with the pioneers in
the rapid development of the great
wealth of the state. and Bear Creek,
somewhat off of the line of the main
road and then seventy-five miles from
a telegraph station. felt the new i'm
pulses and plunged into the mental ex-
element of the presidential campaign
with great heat There was at least
$25 900 in gold scattered about in
the mines of the creek, there was water
part of the year for placer work, and
there were hopes that cloud might
burst or something happen that water
would be plentiful all the year round.
A straight poll Of The town (camp
would be better than town. in August
revealed eighty-seven votes for CIeve-
land, two for Blaine. In reality there
were three votes for Blaine, but why
that was not made plain in August
will appear later
9, 4. 8
The leader of the minority Blaine
forces was a man from Connecticut by
the name of Smith-'BOny'' Smith he
was called, owing to his extreme length
and lack of flesh. He had been some
thing or other in his native state. but
in Bear Creek ne was an insinuating
aTgumentatiVe. betting Individual ey-
tremely quick on the shoot and force
full in supporting any proposition he adj
vOcated. He was respected. if not
IikEu- 1L learning OF the ONcTW nGlTfl-
ing majority for Cleveland in the
camp he promptly proceeded to wager
all he possessed or could lay hands
on that Blaine would be elected The
Cleveland forces were prompt in ac-
cepting his tenders, for he had some
property, such as horses, guns. small
bags of gold dust and cash. By cleo
ton day everything movable that Bear
Creek possessed was wageTed one way
or the other on the outcome of the bal
lot. If Smith won Bear Creek was i'm
poverished. If the Clevelandits were
victorious Smith and his one Blaine as
SOctate would have to move on for thew
would be stripped of all they owned
1t was not known then nor until some
time later that the second man who
supported Blaine had come from the
same part Of Connecticut as Smith.
The Cleveland men were iubilant
over their prospective winnings. The
few newspapers which reached the
camp were of Democratic tone and left
no doubt as to Cleveland's success. Still
Smith kept cheerful. He was even so
considerate as to suggest on election
morning that a courier be sent from
Bear Creek to the nearest telegraph
station, seyenty-five miles over the
range and plain, to bring back news of
the result.
Otherwise said he. It'll be a week
before we know. and who wants TO
wait a week?''
8 d. (.
After some parleying Smith added:
To make it square, you Democrats
choose man and I'll choose one. and
they'll ride together to the station. get
the news and bring it back right. Then
Wen settle up and get down to work
I'm tired Of politics"
This proposition was so eminentIv
tair that the Cleveland men chose
Buck Scofield as their courier, and
Smith, without hesitation. selected
Jim Cole. As Cole was one of the
strongest Cleveland men in the camp,
this selection suited everybody. The
TWO men promptly saddled up and rode
away together as if they had only an
hours gallOp before them. The crowd
that cheered them as they left agreed
that as they started at in the morn
ing, they ought to be back some time