The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-03-05
FIRST SCHOOL I'M MONTANA TAUGHT BY
LUCY DARLING AMID WILD SURRO UMDIMGS

attractive, for we had been hearing
for weeks with increasing emphasis
of the almost fabulous mines in and
around the town.
Winding down the long hill, we
encamped upon Yankee flat near the
banks of the streams and the oxen
were released from the labors of
their long journey. Here we found
out what we had apprehended would
be the case, namely that it would be
impossible for us to go by way 81
Hellgate to Lewiston, the capital of
the territory of Idaho, as we had
contemplated, as we were told that
the Mullan road was filled with fall
len trees, and there was snow upon
the mountain divides. We, there
fore, determined to remain in Ban
mack for the winter, and we moved
into house formerly used as store
which stood on the banks of the
Grasshopper, in which five rooms
were partitioned off, and when the
walls had been covered with muslin,
pictures hung, carpets put down, it
seemed very homelike and comfort
able. When one has been moving
for a few months, he is not inclined
to be fastidious as to the style of the
house he occupies. During our sec
ond year there was long continued
rain, which melted heavy snow,
soaked through our mud roof and
caused it to rain inside the house
long after it had become fair outside.
Tribute to Brave Women
There are unwritten chapters in |
the history of every new settlement |
which 10 pen will ever write but |
could they be written they would |
tell of many heroines as we'll as he
roes, women as brave and deserving
of credit as those who landed from
the Mayflower. They had much to
do in winning the west, and a higher
civilization has always followed
the footsteps of the women
pioneers. 1t is the pioneer home
maker and the pioneer school tea
cher who have paved the way for the
permanent church and Sunday school
and have often exerted a more last
he time Bannack was tumultuous
md rough, the headquarters of a
BAND of highwaymen and lawlessness
ind misrule seemed to be the prevail
ng spirit of the place. But into this
little town had drifted many worthy ]
people who unbendingly held firmly |
o their principles of right. There |
we're few families there and the par !
'nts were anxious to have their chill !
Iren in school and it never was !
inown when there came a cry from
he children that some schoolma am :
id not rise up in response. u
| was requested to take charge of f
UGH an institution and the question
# finding room in which to teach a
vas matter of some difficulty. We [
earned of a man in town who owned | /
ONE houses which it was thought l
night answer the purpose and Chief
ustice Sidney Edgerton, who was
ly uncle, went with me to interview E
i'm. With some difficulty we found Y
is humble residence and raped Y
)udly at the door. For some time c
o one responded but finally a mans t,
dice called Come in" Pushing V
pen the door we saw in the dim Z
ght man lying on buffalo robes Il
n the floor. He did not rise to meet P
S, for he had not fully recovered
OIu Tie cllSCbo VI IluUlDluB LOO lTGe- w
of the favorite beverage then so it
Ientiful. My uncle stated our err S
ind. Eyes, glad of it," he said t.
Damned shame; children running d
'ound the streets; ought to be in it
hool. I will do anything I can to d.
clip her; she can have this room D,
TT cheap-$50 month" c.
Started in October, 1868 p,
1t was some time in October, 1863, b'
at the school was opened in room st
our own house on the banks of bt
e Grasshopper creek near where
q ford and foot-bridge were loca- I'll
d. 1t was a somewhat strange ga sc
ering of school books, for they pl
me from Maine to Missouri, and ds
any other states. The exciting I'll,
ne when the vigilance committee 70
rid the territory of the ne
nd of highwaymen occurred during pc
is period and the gailows tree up an