Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-07-11
Times Of sos Recalled
In Article On Capt. Grant Marsh
miles City Frontier News" Tells of the Men Who Made the
Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers Famous; The Historic
Run of the Good Steamer Far West
~. Mues cityMontana.)

/; when you walk into ShOre-Newcom
Co's. Clothing Department you are
treading historic ground.
TOM M'NANNEY.
Another one of those real old
timers who has watched our city
grow from Cowtown to q dignified
Municipality Is Tom McNanney. The
Mcdaniel family came here during
the latter part Of 1873 and have beea
among US ever since.
For many years Tom with his dray
were very familiar figures upon the
streets of Miles City; it is even said
that once in a while Tom could be
seen in and around the local thirst
parlors, whether or not we do not
know.
Tom is a sick man now and has
been forced to retire from among
us to rest at his brothers. place
down TOMS Nemesis and we truly
sympathise with him.
EARLY DAYS.
Miles City in the early days was
the most picturesque Town In the
west. Where jim rerringt0n's brick
house now stands Zone block north
of the N. P. station on Park street)
"A. w. Church had a livery stable. 1t
was q log structure without a roof
and the hay and horses both were
exposed to the weather, except that
there we're rude sheds under which
the horses stood. The hay was piled
on top of these sheds.
Coming north the next place Of
Interest was Fred Schmalsle's saloon
and hall. This building was later
called the Grey Mule, and was just
recently burned down. 1t was here
that 0ne of the benefit dances was
given for Hank Norwood.
Trailer Jack Dance HALL.
Where the old opera house stands
was Trailer" Jacks dance hall
Here many evenings spent by
the cowboys and buffalo hunters.
The only orchestra was a fiddler and
the dance was the old reliable square
dance, balance your partners, swing
to the right and promenade" The
second promenade was promenade
to the bar" At this each man took
his partner. "promenaded" to the bar
and treated her to the drinks at Csc
per. These drinks came pretty ofte1.
so 1t is no wonder that about once
a week there. was a free-for.all scrap.
These scraps usually occurred when
the soldiers and loggers came to
town.
Diamond r Store.
Where the fire hall now stands
was the Diamond "R" store. Of
rather it stood nearer to where Miles
& Ulmer's warehouse now is. Be-
tween the Diamond 'tR" and Boucr-
ards store, towards Tongue river.
wat Chinnick's dance hall, the same
style as Trailer" Jacks.
Back Of the present location of the
Olive Hotel was another dance hall
owned by Bell Reece, who was killed
by Doctor Lebcher ove q woman.
Where Levi Simpsons house
stands was the old Mcqueen House.
Here were held many dances and
more fun could be had here than any
where else in town. An amusing in
cide2t occurred one day when the
men took an old drunk Irishmen and
painted him black. They didn't use
grease paint or burnt cork either;
they used carriage paint. Then they
white washed old niger Gus and
tied the two together. When they
awcke there was something doing
and the spectators certainly enjoyed
the discontinue oftheir victims.
chinnick's Theatre.
Where the Coggshall building now
stands was Chi2nick's theatre where
there were variety shows of good
quality. Scattered here and there
were saloons, dwellings and stores,
saloons predominating. It must have
been an interesting sight to see the
log buildings, horses tied to the
hitching posts and men dressed in
all styles, lounging arounu. Gam
bling was running wide open and
the old timers Of Miles,, City have
seea fortunes change hands in a
night.
Would Not Recognize.
II n of the me1 who died in the
early days could come back to Miles
City and e it as it is today. he
would not recognize it. From q
small village with only a few stores.
and log cabins it has grown into a
magnificent city with some of the
best and most up-to-date department
stores in Montana, with miles Of
electric lights and cement walks.
Would the returning shade recognize
the city, with such buildings as the
Masonic Temple, First National bank
and others. At any rate that shade
would rub his eyes some
(For the above information ON.
corning location of buildings. etc.
the writer is indebted to Jack Haw.
kias AID James M. sipes.)
What's become of the old steam.
boat that used to stand where The
shore!Newcom's Mems Store is now?
49, ata--=E -.Elw ".Ea-.H- . ,.E.