Fergus County argus., 1903-04-08
ADVENTURES
OF X. BEIDLER
Monument Commemorative Of the
Noted Pioneer Unveiled at Hell.
ena Last Week.
Pennsylvania DuTcHMAN
Sturdy Honesty and Intrepid Ways
Contributed Much to the His
tory of the Treasure State.
A Native OF Pennsylvania.

A Native OF Pennsylvania.
The story of the life OF John X.
Beidler is one that is closely inter.
woven with the history of Montana.
He was born near Harrisburg. Pa.
in 1882. He belonged to an excellent
family and had two brothers, who are
conspicuous men in the localities in
which they live. One of his brothers
is G. A. Beidler. now a resident of
Oklahoma City. o. T.. and another is
DIR. j. II. Beidler of Lincoln. Ill. Mrs.
Il. G. Capps. of Vandalia, ILL.,, is a sis
ter of the pioneer.
X Beidler left his home when yet
quite young and went to Elkhart, ILL.,,
in 1854, where he engaged In the
manufacture of brooms. This busi-
ness. however. proved too slow and
energy and shortly after the outbreak
OF the border warfare between Mis-
souri, and Kansas he left for that region
and cast his fortunes with the lead.
ers on the Kansas side OF the affair.
He was engaged In number OF skir.
mishes and was finally shot and left
for dead on the field near Ossawa-
tonne. However. he recovered and
went to Colorado in 1858. The
wounds which he received left him
partially crippled for life.
In Colorado Beidler bought some
pack animals and followed the busi-
ness of carrying supplies to the min
ers In the mountains. Early In the
spring of 1863 reports of rich gold
discoveries at Bannack, Mont. lthen
Idaho), having been received. Beid-
Ter, true to his adventurous spirit and
his brave desire to be in the front
rank of the brave men who blazed
the trails through the great west set
out for the new gold fields. He arriv.
ed at Bannack on the 10th of June.
1868, and shortly thereafter joined
the Law and Order Society or vigilan-
ties, organized for the purpose of ex-
terminating the road agents that
hung like vultures upon the trail of
those who travelled with wealth in
their possession. He came like Cen
eral Grant. In the words of an old
timer. to help save the country, and
his share in the stirring and danger
GUS times was limited only by his
physical and mental endurance. and
he was strong. active and alert on
all occasions requiring nerve and
bravery.
BeidIer's Closest Call.
The closest call Biedler ever had in
Montana was at Rattlesnake creek,
near Bannack, in 1864. He saddled
his mule at Bannack and started for
Alder gulch. The weather was very
cold. and II being nearly dark he
stopped for the night at the small
roadside house on Rattlesnake. He
had hardly taken up his quarters
when five road agents from Bannack
appeared with the intention OF kill
ing him, having followed him for the
express purpose of forever silencing
the man who was to them an avenger
and a very thorn In the flesh. These
men had been tried shortly before for
their crimes at Virginia City. but by
some means had escaped conviction.
The matter had gone so far. however,
that their graves had been dug and
they had expressed determination
to exterminate all those who had had
hand In their arrest.
One OF the men said 10 Beidler:
You are the man that helped to
dig my grave"
Yes" replied the pioneer without
the quiver OF an eyelash; "and. by the
way. you have never paid me for that
yet"
SO apt was the reply that all laugh
ed and one OF the robbers proposed
to set 'em up. Another insult was
offered in the hope Of provoking a re-
ply. but II was parried so cleverly
that drinks were again proposed.
ADout this time a committee OF twelve
Vigilantes arrived and the road agents
we're foiled in their plan to involve
Beidler in a quarrel that would lead
to his assassination.
Beidler was so full OF life and spirit
and so fond Of playing practical jokes
that he was often In punishment
made to stand guard at night. Dur.
ing an expedition to Snake river the
party camped on Sand creek. on the
opposite side from the road. The
campfire was kept going and during
the night a man came along the road
and called out that he wanted to come
over. Beldler said that was all right
there was a footlog a mile below.
The traveller moved down the stream
in search OF the footlog. but failed to
find II and came back TO report the
fact. He said he wanted 10 get to the
camp. but did not want to get wet.
Well" said Beidler. that's all right.
This is dry creek: come over"
Never shirked a Call.
No one was more earnest In his
determination and efforts to destroy
the power OF the road agents than
was Beidler. and he never shirked a
call from the committee till the last
member OF the Plummer gang was
hanged. After the gang had been
wiped out. and II had become possible
for the people 10 go abroad without
fear Of robbery and murder. Beidler
who had proved himself an able offi
Ger. was appointed deputy United
States marshal, and served in that
capacity under Neil Howie, Colone
w. p Wheeler, A. C. Botkin and Geo
w. Irwin II. While acting in the ca