davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25

1t is remarkable that Chinook,
named for the velvety zephyr which
makes Montana habitable. should be
near the scene Of the occurrence of
one of the few funnel-shaped cyclones
of sufficient power to destroy, that
have ever visited northern Montana.
The path of this cyclone was a few
miles north of Chinook, and the visi-
tation occurred one hot lay last sum-
mer. 1t swept across the countryside
at express speed, caught several
homesteaders' shacks in it's whirling
vortex, and tossed them several miles
away, tore up county bridge, and
went on it's way, the most violently
breezy visitor that ever came to those
parts.
Middleton's Good Nerve.
Through the good nerve of A. G..
Middleton, county surveyor of Blaine
county, Photographic record Of this
powerful whirlwind was made, and is
reproduced herewith. Middleton, in
connection with his engineering du-
ties, was in the country just north of
Chinook, inspecting county roads In
the northern distance he noticed the
approach of the cyclone. 1t was Of
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25

against hostile Indians. The old
scout came out once more from ST.
Louis, where he was living, to con-
suit with the renowned general and
give him the benefit of his advice,
knowledge and experience.
How Bridger Looked.
In person Bridger was tall, erect,
spare and extremely active and ener-
getic. His hair was brow and he
wore it long, as was the custom of
frontiersmen of that day. His eyes
were gray and keen, his habitual ex-
preston mild and his manner kind
and he was respected and trusted,
both by white men and red. He held
the confidence of the Indian because
he always treated them with justice.
His wife was an Indian of the Sho-
shone tribe.
Bridger was naturally great
stOryteller, but when he described
the wonders of the Yellowstone,
which he visited as early as 1914, no
one believed him. His descriptions
are now proved to be accurate and
truthful. He felt keenly the suspi-
cions cast on his truth and honesty,
and disgusted and angered at the
talk about "old Jim Bridger's lies"
he retaliated, after the manner of the
men of the mountains, by stuffng
his tenderfoot listeners with the
most preposterous stories he could
imagine.
AS a matter of fact, when Bridger
did tell fantastic yarn, there was a
good deal of basis for it if his listen
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25
Jim Bridger Was the Daniel Boone
of the Rocky Mountain Territory

Many pioneers of Montana who
are living today knew Jim Bridger
one of the most extraordinary char
acters connected with the very ear
liest days of the white man in what
is now Montana, and who was in the
Rocky mountains as early as 1920.
One of the greatest losses TO su-
ture generations that can be con-
ceived is the lack Of knowledge that
exists concerning the details of Brid-
gers life and adventures on the from
tier, for all of the information that
is now, or ever will be, available is
extremely fragmentary. Scattered
through many books compiled from
the reports of early military explor
ers are references to Bridger and
anecdotes concerning him, but any
thing like a connected story of his
life cannot now be written. Jim
Bridger, who accompanied the cele-
brated Captain Bonneville on his ex-
pedition into the Rockies which
Washington Irving made immortal.
was the Daniel Boone of the Rocky
mountains. He appears as a central
figure in important historical events
running through a period of half
century. And yet we obtain only
glimpses of him here and there,
while majority of the eyentful
scenes Of his life are lost forever
Jim Bridger was curious charac-
ter. The most noted guide and lead
er of mountaineers in the Rockies
between 1920 and the COS, discoverer
of the great Salt Lake and one of
the first white men to visit Yellow
stone park, his fame was greatest as
the champion liar of the frontier.
Bridger's History.
Bridger was born in Richmond,
Va, in 1904, and he died in Wash
ington, Jackson county, Missouri, in
1881.
Concerning his boyhood and his
first western exploration, little is
known. Between 1920 and 1880 he
hunted and trapped in the Rockies
and was a recognized leader among
the mountain men. He was associ-
ated with Fitzpatrick as a partner in
the Rocky mountain Fur company.
Later he built Fort Bridger in the
beautiful valley of Blacks Fork of
Green river, Wyoming, and dwelt
there with his Indian wife for many
years
In 1853 Fort Bridger was des-
cribed as an adobe mud fort with
palisades on sweep of plain, an oa-
sis in the desert. The palisades of
the fort enclosed a space of 100 feet
square.
Bridger was wonderful guide
and born topographer. The whole
west and all the passes and labrynths
of the Rocky mountains We're
mapped out his mind. He had such
a sense of locality and direction that
he used to say he could "smell his
way where he could not see it,"
with a buffalo skin and piece
of charcoal says Captain Gunnison,
who hired Bridger as a guide. "he
will map out any portion of this i'm
mense region and delineate streams
and mountains and other circular
valleys called holes with wonderful
accuracy. Scores of prominent gov
eminent and private expeditions en-
ployed him as a guide and CHIEF
scout, running through period OF
SO years. AS late as 1868 General
Sheridan consulted Bridger about his
plan of making winter campaigns
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25

During his journey westward he
met Jim Bridger and other noted
trontiersmen, and he determined to
throw in his lot "ith them. He spent
some time at Fort Bridger, on Green
river, with the noted scout and In
dian trader, and then set out with
Bridger on trading expedition to
the Crows and Sioux, in the course OF
which they visited the region now
known as Yellowstone park. They
made a winter camp at the mouth of
the Big Horn, where they had a
big trade with the Crows and Sioux,
who, at this time, were friendly with
each other. The next spring they
returned to Fort Bridger with their
furs and robes.
gon, when another series of adven-
lures befell him that would have
been sufficient for any ordinary man,
without hte previous experiences of
his younger life. Upon reaching
Salt Lake, tired and worn out, he
began looking for some means Of
making money, and as the Mormons
under Brigham Young were doing a
large amount of construction work
of various kinds, he sought employ
ment from them. Brigham Young
offered him contract to build one
hundred thousand rods, or three
hundred and twelve and a half miles.
of ditch at 81 per rod. He devised a
machine that did the work quite rap
idly and cleaned up a considerable
of money from the contract.
He showed so much energy and
executive ability that, having joined
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25

When the first spring thaw lately
brought torrents of water down the
sloping streets of Helena, in Last
Chance gulch, the richest Placer
gulch of the state in historical times,
a small nugget of gold was found in
front OF the Placer hotel by a man
who was crossing the street. Later
some boys found a number of grains
Of gold in gutter on the street, and
then for several days there were
youthful gold seekers squatted all
along the Main street and Broadway,
one of the steep side streets, at the
curbs, looking for Placer gold.
This recalls that it will be 53 years
the coming July since gold was dis
covered in Last Chance gulch. The
finders were three Georgians, John
Cowan, Robert Stanley and Gabe
Johnson, and the discovery seemed
SO insignificant to them-though the
placers yielded millions afterward-
that they abandoned their find and
went prospecting for the rest of the
summer northward to Sun river.
Failing in their search for gold, in
the fall, there being nothing else in
sight. they returned to their discov-
Chance because it represented that
sibilities that year were concerned.
Two More Argonauts.
Their placer claim was located
where the Masonic Temple now
to make strenuous effort to make
1rtr <,fx y11p II io+n
ly followed, Judge Cornelius Hedges
in his "Historical Sketch of Lewis
and Clark County," published by the
Historical Society or Montana, says
that Captain George j. Woody and
Abraham Mast entered the Prickly
Pear valley that fall on hunting ex-
pedition from Virginia City, and
adds:
"1t so happened that Messrs. Wood
and Mast arrived about the time the
Georgians made their first successful
cleanup. The sight of that was
enough to decide them to move at
once to this locality, and the next
after the two cabins erected by John
Cowan and Robert Stanley were
those of Messrs. Wood and Mast.
Notwithstanding the assurance of
the discovery party that there was no
gold in the gulch above them, it was
found in promising quantities in
many localities. Through the per-
sonal solicitation of Mr. Wood, a por-
ton of Minnesota train, just then
arrived and camped in the valley of
TenMile, were induced to stop and
join in prospecting the Last Chance
mines.
Big Nugget Found.
During the months of October
and November following, the extent
and richness of the mines became
we'll established, and their fame be-
gan to draw miners from all other
camps
at was on the third of July, 1865,
that the big nugget was found on the
claim of Maxwell, Rollins e Co., No.
5, above discovery claim in Nelson
gulch. 1t was thrown out with a
sluice fork, and accidentally dsoov-
cred. 1t was entirely free from
quartz, and was worth $2,O73."
The Last Chance Placers were
mined to exhaustion within the years
that followed their discovery over
half a century ago, and yet, so elu-
sive is the gold that some of it still
remains in the earth, and yearly,
when the snow melts in the spring
and the water comes down Last
Chance gulch as it has done for
ages, it continues to throw up bits of
the golden metal, to excite, tantalize
and lure schoolboys, and stir visions
of the long departed past in the MEM
ory of the pioneer.
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25
BURKE GETS g CENTS
FOR 100000 WOOL CLIP

Representing the Union Wool COM
pany, of Boston, Ed Frazier Of Bill
ings has just closed deals for the
100000 pounds clip of j. II. Burke
of Hogan, at So cents; the highest
price for wool ever paid in Montana;
and also for the Sieben & Grimes
clip of Helena, estimated at 40,000
pounds, at SO cents.
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25
He Is.

The lad who stands around every
night and indignates about the
Thieving Corporations is the same
fellow who palms his nickel when he
is on street car if he sees a chance
of the conductor passing him by and
overlooking his fare.
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25
Bridgcr Was Trustworthy.

ers had sufficient wit and sense to
look for the meat.
Bridger Was Trustworthy.
The testimony of scores of prom
inent military commanders and civ
ilians can be produced to show that
James Bridger was always to be
trusted and believed as a guide,
scout, trader and all-round pioneer.
His idle tales were only told to idle
people in the idle hours. At heart
he was as truthful as he was skillful
and brave. He never betrayed any
man and was never untrue to any
trust, public or private.
Those who saw him near the end
of his frontier career in the early
SOS, say that as a rule he was a
silent, close-mouthed old fellow.
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25

THE WHIRLWIND
CHINOOK ENGINEER TAKES A
PICTURE OF RARE CYCLON-
IC VISITATION.

Believed to BE Only Funnel-Shaped
Cyclone of Power to Have Ever
Visited Northern Montana; Des-
troyed Several Bridges and Home
steaderS' ShackS.
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25
Career of Montana Pioneer
Is Riva) of Monte Chrjst0's s


James
of
The Ronan pioneer., 1917-05-25
PASSED UP GOLD
OF LAST CHANCE
DISCOVERIES OF HELENA SITE
THOUGHT LITTLE OF PLACER
GROUND AND LEFT 1T.

After Prospecting Sun River, How
ever, They Returned and Took
Wealth From Earth, Starting
Stampede to the Gulch; Nugget
Worth Two Thousand Dollars.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
FIRE ENGINES MUST
RESPECT SPEED LAWS

Anderson, Ind, Dec. a speed
limit on automobile fire fighting ap-
paratus in this city has been an
noUnced by Fire Chief Afford. Here
tofOre the limit has been the max
imum speed of the engines, but in
the future the limit is u miles an
hour and no moreno matter what
the distance TO the fire or the nature
of the alarm turned in, declares
Chief Afford
The new order was issued by the
chief after a decision in the circuit
court here granted a property dam
age because the porch Of a house had
been somewhat smashed by Chief
Affords machine. The automobile
hit the porch when attempting TO
avoid a collision with another We
hicle. The court held the state
speed laws applied to fire fighting
apparatus as well as TO individuals
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
MICHIGAN WILL LIMIT
FLOUR AND SUGAR SALES

LANSING, Mich. Dec. 11.-Defin-
lie instructions as TO the control Of
the price of sugar and flour and
their distribution went out Monday
to county food administrators from
the Office of State Food Admins
traitor George A Prescott Sugar
and -four are the only two com
modities upon which the govern
ment has attempted really to place
its stamp of supply and distribution
and the county dictators are given
explicit directions as 70 how far
they can go.
Owing 10 the fact that the rumor
has gone out that no sales of sugar
over two pounds vii be permitted.
the state administrator has been de-
luged by letters and kilograms from
hotel keepers. restaurant keepers.
operators of boarding houses. etc,
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
DRY CLEANING.

Il cleaned my white lace waist at
home the other day and I think it
looks just as we'll as though I had
sent it away 10 a professional dry
cleaners" remarked the housekeep-
or who likes to experiment with
household affairs.
81 should not have said the other
day, however. for the process re-
quired several days But even at
that, my blouse was ready to wear
much sooner than il would have
been had 7 sent il away 10 be clean
ed. No. l did not wash it: 7 dry
cleaned il. A woman whom I met
up in the country last summer told
me how 10 do it. and so I decided to
try her method on a delicate sha-
dow lace blouse. which is one Of my
favorites. I took some plain white
9our and some powdered borax.
equal parts OF each. and sprinkled
the blouse very thoroughly with the
borax and flour. which I first sifted
together well. I rolled the blouse.
thus sprinkled. very closely in a
clean white cloth and put il away
in a closet for three or four DAYS.
When I took il out and shook out
the borax and -four. found IL quite
clean once more. You can clean
lacos that way. also. and il is about
as simple a procedure as one could
ask. is it not?"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
CAN AL WAYS SAVE
MORE BARNARD
Food Administrator Declares
There is Still Opportunity
For Conservation.
- - - -

AeWs-I1mcs Special Service
TNDIANAPOLIS Dec. 11.-One
cannot be so saving Of food bat that
"a little more can also be saved IS
the theory of Or. H. +. Barnard. In
charge OF the food administration in
this state, according 90 the follow
ing statement issued By him here
Many women apparently fail TO
realize that their country IS at war
quote from "a letter written by a
VonSu who was asked 20 sign
food ptcdge card. Il don't want any
Ole 20 bring any card here TO my
Eos@= for me 90 sign. J. an, not and
never have been Wasteful, an id'er
or anything but a faithful earnest
end patriotic citizen. Why do you
add insult TO injury by asking Us
women 10 stop the waste when YOU
ore not ordering the men to stop
their waste In the use OF chewing
tobacco and iu drink the women
can save nC more than they are now
sa,f1g.
This statement evidently comes
from "A sincere woman and Il ex-
presse- the view of thousands who
tail 90 understand the real purpose
of the food conservation campaign.
re Is true that the women are being
asked 10 do the food saving for they
rule The kitchens and the dining
tables When women think they are
saving all they can they are mis-
taken. This statement may be chal-
lenged, but d. is easily proven.
England has been on short ra-
tions FOR three years and yet since
the eat less bread campaign was in
aueurated in March there has. been
"a very great decrease i'm wheat con
sumption Twenty percent less wheat
was eaten i'm England i'm July than
300 February. The saving is due large
iv 20 the intelligent cooperation of
women In their homes If these
women already on short rations
Fan save. surely the women of
America. most of whom never have
Snown what 10 was TO have an
empty larder. can find more than
1ne way to cut down the use of
such staple foods as wheat, beef,
md bacon"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
COAL FAMINE STARES
MICHIGAN IN FACE

News Times Special Service:
LANSING. Mich, Dec. 11.-With
many homes in the central and
western parts of the state approach
ing a condition of almost coal
famine and with the weather indica-
tions for continued and colder
weather, State Fuel Administrator
Prudden and his assistants worked
diligently yesterday trying TO get
the promised coal into Michigan.
mo doubt there is suffering. -
said Mr.. Prudden last night, but
we have good assurances that blum
nous coal in large quantities will be
started from the yards near Cincin-
natl tomorrow"
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
ICE FL0ES ACRE IN
SIZE ON OHIO RIVER

EVANSVILLE. Ind, Dec. II. -
Ice foes an acre in size and larger
are in the Ohio river here, menac-
ing river property. Six barges load
ed with railroad ties were unmoored
by en- ice jam Monday and wreck
ed on a rock bar below the city.
The formation Of gorges above may
allow the foes TO pass and give
the large packets as well as small
pleasure boats an opportunity of
getting into the harbor at Green
river
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
FIRE AT CAMP CUSTER
DRIVES MEN INTO COLD
News-Times Special Service:

News Times Special Service:
BATTLE CREEK Mich. Dec. IL.
Goals from an Overheated stove
which was being utilized to add
heat TO the steam plant of the
building. set fire 10 barracks No.
1144. occupied by Truck Co. No. 1
Of the 310th ammunition train at II
O'Clock Monday night, destroying
the structure and driving its 60 in
mates into the zero weather. many
Of them in their underclOthes
Everyone was asleep when the
alarm was given and in the hurry
to escape many left behind clothing
and personal belongings and escaped
in scant clothing with a rifle or
some unnecessary adjunct.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
USE OF GONG
FOR SCHOOL FIRE ALARM

SeWs-Times Special Se=vhe
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. 11.-Re-
ports have reached the state fire
narshals office that a few schools
are still using hand bells 10 an
7Ounce the fire drill. The use of this
sind OF an alarm should be discon-
inued at o1cc in every school where
uch "a signal is used TO announce
IRE drills. and a manual type of fire
,larm gong Installed. This signal
hou not be used 20 announce class
periods. and should be distinctive
Probably the worst fault that can
c found with the hand bell, says
he fire marshal, is the fact that it
tay become misplaced when nece.-
.ary 20 sound an alarm. The clan (
e INC FIRE alarm gonE cannot be
rlst1ren for anything other than
De- signal FOR the fire drill
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

asking that this order be rescinded
as far as they are concerned. In
the orders 10 the administrators it
is pointed out that judgment must
be used on the sugar distribution
and that where a two-opdun supply
would be VIGOROUSLY small, more
can be allowed.
The sugar regulations are as fol-
lows.
The retailer OF sugar should not
add TO exceed "a cent per pound to
his actual delivered cost, which on
the average is about $40 per 100
pounds in thosV places where whole
sale houses are located and on
other localities a slight increase on
this amount
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
HELP WIN THE WAR.

old Clothes are valuable VIII
buy old clothing. furniture and 9TH
er articles to sell for the benefit of
Red Cross and Y. W. c. A Call
Mrs. Ella Sholly. 33S y. Olive st.
Home 1926. Adv 277-tf
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
CHRISTMAS SUGGESTION

Make a present OF a nice radi-
ator and hood cover 10 your auto
mobile order nov. South Bend
Awning Co. l13 Lincoln Way East.
Adv. 20S-12
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11
GREENVILLE

GREENNILLE - Considerable
feeling was shown at a meeting of
the farmers and potato buyers here.
where the preent system of potato
grading was discussed. Farmers,
who are up in arms against it. have
gone so far as TO start a petition
asking the authorities for a one
grade system
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

NEWS FROM HERE AND
THERE IN MICHIGAN
Ncws-Timcs Special Service:
COOP y EATTT nor

Ncws-Timcs Special Service.
COOPERSNILLE. Dec. Ii
While threshing beans on farm
east Of here Carl Blue lost his hand
as he attempted to replace a belt
which had shifted from its position.
TRAVERSE CITY-After escap-
ing from the state hospital on
Thursday Edward Drew, an alleged
German spy, was unable 10 elude
the officers. being recaptured Fri
day.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

MUSKEGON-Cecil R. Heap, son
of William Heap. a wealthy manu-
fGcturer of .Muskegon and Grand
Haven. is now a member of the Uni
versity of Chicago Red Cross medi-
cal unit, which is already at the
front, according TO word received
here.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

MUSK EGON-Johu Armstrong.
tou Of NIr. mad Mrs. j. n. Armstrong
Of this city is now recovering from
a she'll injury 20 his hand, accord
ng Co q message sent 90 his par
uts here from the western front.
Armstrong is a member of the Ca
ladiau forces. having enlisted over
year ago.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

MUSkEGON-The campaign OF
local grocers TO cut down deliveries
and thereby reduce in a measure at
least the high cost of living has sue
ceeded remarkably, with almost all
tradesmen being able TO lower this
item of overhead expense.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

PETOSKEY-In order to reduce
expense jury Of six men is being
used in the case of Walker VS.. Hair
in circuit court here. The case grew
out Of unsettled accounts between
the two men over timber and store
deals
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

PETOSKEY-NIrs. Agnes JobaI-
inski. Cross Village store owner, was
convicted in circuit court here on
violation of the local option law and
was assessed a fine of $50 and costs
OF $40.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

Don't say you saw II in the
newspaper. Say News Times.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

HOLLAND-Shoo both barrels
Of his shotgun at once proved a
painful experiment for Albert
Pierce. The recOil almost severed
his nose from his face. y stitches
being required TO close the wound.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-11

GREENVILLE-T girls Of
Greenville high school have organ
lied 10 do Red Cross work and will
meet in groups each night after
school. Their first task will De TO fill
as many Christmas pockets as pos
sible.