Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-10-28
A DESERVED TRIBUTE.
John caplice, a Typical Pioneer, and
Was Loved by All.

Frank Trainor editor of the Phil.
ipsburg Call in this weeks issue of
his newspaper. pays the following
tribute to the late John Caplice:
"Of all the brave. energetic and
generous men who sought the Gold
en- Fleece In the wilds OF the Louis
lana purchase. California, the Stick
cen and Cariboo of British North
America. since the days OF 49 10 the
present. no one OF that vast host will
leave to his descendants. and to the
historical records of his adopted
state. more affectionate and valued re-
membranes Of a useful life than have
been. and will be supplied in the
death Of the veteran pioneer placer
miner and merchant, John Caplicc.
who passed away Saturday at an ad-
yanced age.
He filed page in the territorial
days of Montana that was replcte with
innumerablc incidents of bencficent
charity TO the poor and unfortunate.
His name was a household word and
his sterling qualities as business
man. coupled with advanced ideas in
the political and social economies OF
his state. made him a most valuable
factor In It's present magnificent de-
velopment.
But a few days ago a great. and
numerically small, Pioneer association
OF Montana. elected him to be its pre-
siding officer. Upon tnat occasion
there was no visible evidence that
his days were fast drawing 10 a close
The white-headed old men yet toll
ing in the wornOut placers of Cedar
Ureka. Blk. Pioneer. Henderson,
Bear and scores of other equally as
well known but abandoned camps.
whose names have almost passed
away from memory. let their thoughts
drift away back to the days when he
and they were young. There before
them was the stalwart form and kind
ly face of the merchant OF Olden time,
their banker. monitor and friend. The
ties that bound him and them were
welded in adversely and forged in
neccssitous times when danger. toll
and privation were the daily accom-
paniment OF their rough and rugged
lives, and they rejoiced because the
sunlight and the shadows of earth
ly existence made II possible for them
to meet again. They honored him
above all men as their presiding offi.
Ger. The lines about the rugged fea.
lures OF the survivors will be now but
drawn the closer when the sad news
will reach them OF the death OF their
comrade and friend, and down deep
In their hearts the memories OF a no
bic life will be- recalled, and a prayer
murmured for the repose of a soul
whose earthly frame they will never
see again.
THE story of John Caplices LIE
may not be told in a brief paragraph
Recall his name In any gulch. in any
land whore placer mining finds a
home. and ont OF the swirling waters
that leap over bedrock and through
ground sIuice will rise up men upon
whose lips his name will lovingly lin
ger Many a rarely good story. typi.
cal OF the poculiarities of speech and
philanthropic eccentricities of this
noblo-heartod Irish gentleman dwell
in the traditions OF Montana; but no.
where can they be found in such va.
riety and abundance as in the valley
of the Deer Lodge No man ever
held the respect and esteem of all
classes of frontiersmen to the extent
that he did and does to this day;
and during his life in the placer
camps OF Montana. his house never
turned deserving man away from
It's counters. who sought credit for a
prospector's outfit. More than a quar-.
ter Of a million dollars represents the
gift of his firm to the settlement OF
Montana and Idaho, for that amount
yet remains unsettled upon les books.
He was frontiersman in the best
sense OF the word. He had fought the
Sioux and Cheyenne with a Hawkins
rife and patched ball. Montana was
almost an unexplored wilderness when
he sought its rough and ready camps
In every feature of its progressive life