The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-25
cHAs. BROWN, HERO
LIFE IN MONTANA'S EARLY DAYS
WILDLY RECALLED.
TRAGEDIES OF THE LONG AGO

Happenings in Which the Now
Dead Pioneer of Custer Coun-
ty Participated.
The remains Of Charles Brown, pio-
neer of Custer county and former resi-
dent of Miles City, were brought back to
his old home here yesterday for burial.
Mr.. Brown died in Fort Valdez. Alas
ka, about one year ago. Out of respect
to his memory Mayor Andrus of Miles
City, following resolution passed by
the city council, issued proclamation
requesting that all places of business be
in the afternoon.
Story by Mr.. Irwin.
Postmaster Irwin. of this city. in
commenting on the death of the old
timer, had the following story to tell.
Respecting the death of Charlie
Brown. l am reminded of the time.
think it was in August of 1868, when
Brown, John Avlin and Nat: Thomp-
son, with the Loftin boys, were the own
ers of the two last claims above Dis
covery, in Highland district, Alder
gulch.
MY first day in Alder was spent at
the Mechanical bakery. about the only
house in Virginia City, where / met
Brown, who asked me if / wanted en-
ployment.
ION giving an affirmative answer, I
was directed to the claims and went at
| it the next morning, terms, SIS pr day.
! everything furnished. or Sc per and en-
ploye to furnish pick and shovel.
II worked on the claims year, finally
with Hon. Sam Word buying out every
| one connected with the enterprise. In
/ those days / was the recipient of as
/ many yarns as any one at the hands of
Brown, one of the greatest story telers
/ Montana ever produced.
| Appearance of Brown.
! Brown came to Montana from Gen.
Connor's great battlefield at Battle
Creek, a tributary of the Bar river, Ida
4 no, on which occasion Connors exter-
| minated every hostile Snake Indian be-
longing to the tribe.
1T is said by many people shat the
slogan of the fighters was, Where there
are no nits there will be no lice In
consequence, women and children We're
exterminated with the braves.
I'm Gen. Connors' report the last sug-
gestion is not borne out, however.
Al this fight Brown, who was a non
commissioned officer, was the greatest
Of all the boomers.
Having Great Fun.
'"He was having more fun than any
| body, and he didn't speak about 'bullies.
| either Brown was one of the best chief
executive officers OF the vigilance COM
mittee and performed prodigious feats
| in the pursuit and execution Of The road
| agents. emitting him. with Colonel San
ders Hill, HOWE, Beidler and John
! Featherstone to an enduring state monu-
| nlent.
Zone of his many notable exploits
which occurs to me just now was his
services to the territory in the Port
neuf affair.
'In the fall of '66 or 81, A. S. Parker,
George McCausland and eight others,
going by stage coach to Atchison, Kan,
via Salt Lake, were held up by road
agents.
Being, as they believed fully pre-
pared at the first command every one
in the coach Joined in volley in the .di-
rection of the voice, all immediately de-
barking and forming skrmish line.
fighting for their very lives.
Advantage With Robbers.
1.-The robbers, of course, had the adj
vantage of cover and succeeded in STAY
ing all of the party with the exception
of one.
1.-THE life of the driver was also
spared. Their loot amounted to $50, OC0
in gold dust, then worth about two for
one.
1.-The vigilantes rightly concluded that
the man whose life was spared, as we'll
as the driver, were in with the game.
Brown was detailed on the case, and he
successfully accomplished his mission,
which resulted in the hanging of both.
THE stage driver was the last to be
apprehended, being taken into custody
at Cache la Pondre, Colo.
Had Few Equals.
LAS a frontiersman Brown had few
equals; as an executive officer of the
committee he ranked with the men I
have named; as an enterprising citizen
he was at the top.
"Magnanimous, but stern. as an
avenger of outraged law he will hold
high place in the history Of Montana.
Withal, at the appearance of any real
distress his sympa thies We're instantane-
ously enlisted.
I'm fact, this implacable foe of evil
was on occasion as tender hearted as
woman. Now that his earthly record
is closed, the whole population of the
state owe it to him to feel at least well
done, thou good and faithful servant