The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-11
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Plains. Nov. 10-The public schools
of Plains observed Pioneer day with
exercises appropriate to the occasion.
Many visitors We're present and some
took part in the program. A poem. en-
titled The Pioneers" was read by
Weldon Bswman and several interest
ing papers were given by pupils of
the 10th grade. Those by Lucille Gar
Der. Edythe Stephens and Willard Will
lis were especially interesting. These
were followed by a short talk by Mrs
II. J. Burieigh. wife of Attorney Bur
leigh. on her experiences Of early days
in Montana and her school teaching
near Salmon City, Idaho. The little
people were entertained by Indian sto-
ries related by Mrs. Joseph Boyer. who
has been i'm Plains for the last 80 years,
and can relate many interesting hap
penings of the early days. The story
written by Willard, son of Judge c. c.
willis. had local coloring and was
called Plains in the Early Days" 1t
follows:
"horss Plains"
Twenty years ago Horse Plains, as
il was then called. because of the vast
number of horses that roamed the hills
and valley, was not even on the map.
And I suppose If ii had not been that
the railroad was made through the
valley no one but the Indians woaId
have known there was such place.
The town consisted of small depot
and its surrounding buildings. two
small stores. a hotel. two or three sa
looms and a few cabins. in which the
inha bitants lived. The valley was II
large area of high bunchgrass. with
now and then a cabin and "A small
garden. Some of the people raised
grain. but very few until later years.
The foothills were unfenced and large
herds of horses grazed over them.
.The school house is still standing
about half a mile west of town. II is
little log structure. large enough for
about 20 scholars. although not more
than Is went to school. In very bad
weather the teacher and one or two
children were the only ones present.
This school house was used until
about IL years ago. when the one now
used was built. The inhabitants were
the land I'm the valley was taken up i'm
homesteads and some of the bench
land was fenced for pasture.
Early Troubles.
'On one or two occasions the In
dams made trouble. but they We're al
ways subdued. At Weeksville five road
agents, or thugs. as they We're called.
met their fate. They had been murder
ing people for some time, and i'm some
cases would even kill a man for his
watch or for fun, just to he doing
something: but at last they were
caught and brought up before a court
composed of the settlers and found
guilty Then Judge Sanders the man
for whom our county was later named.
sentenced them To be hanged Three
We're strung up to large fir tree.
which is still standing, just across
Weeksville creek bridge. Two more
We're shot while trying to get away
and the sixth was crowded So closely
by the men that he jumped into the
river: he was fired upon and when
almost across the stream he went
down. Some thought. he was shot
while others thought he was seized
with cramps and drowned. He was
not seen after that, until about 10
years later, when some of the old
settlers recognized II man who was
brought up for stealing horses as the
same fellow. This time he didn't get
away 50 easily. He was sent to the
penitentiary for term of one year
Crooked as he was. he must have had