The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-09-24
SENATOR GlARK'S STORY
OF HIS EARLY DAYS DON STATE
Continued From Feature Page

Judge Knowles was on his way to the
Top of Deep, just over the mountain
south of Reynolds City, where g
friend of his had some mining
claims.
These diggings were of much more
permanent character than those on
Elk creek, and after the mines in the
latter were exhausted the Top OF
Deep was very prosperous for num-
Der of years.
A few miles below this was situated
the town of Bear, in what was called
Bear gulch. This was also a lively
place, and quite prosperous for sew
eral years afterward. Mr.. Abasca1,
had established store there. James
A. Talbot, resident at that place.
Like most of the mining camps, it
was very lively, with all sorts of en-
terainments,. some of them of rather
"a questionable character. In one sa-
loon the violinist had posted a no
tice, Don't shoot the fiddler; he'll
do the best he can" 1t was here
also that / first met our esteemed
fellow pioneer, Colonel Morse.
The nearest properly organized
burial grounds at that time we're sit
uated near the town of Deer Lodge.
In thosedays, with limited transpor-
tation facilities, funeral involved a
matter of considerable expense, and
it was generally stated that a Bear
to Deer Lodge.
Mining Handicapped.
AS the summer months were pass
ing the waters became very low in
Elk creek and mining activities prac-
tically ceased. I therefore moved my
stock of goods that had left to Bear
Town, where I had established
place, of which my brother, Joseph
X. Clark, had charge, and where he
continued for some months, until we
finally closed out the business.
I then concluded to take a trip
had in mind for long time to Ore
gon and California. With two gem
ial companions, James Hornbuckle
and Charles Ducheneau, we started
out horseback, going by way of Wor-
denis Mill, which was then small
village where the beautiful city of |
Missoula now stands.
Worden and Higgins had a store |
there, and Jack Demers, Canadian
had also a small store
at Frenchtown, about 10 miles below.
The old Mullan road, as it was called, |
which was established by the United |
States government, and partially con-
structed under the direction of Lieu
tenant MulIan of the United States |
army, was laid out from Fort Ben |
- y,II yalI
ton of this road was begun in 1856, |
but was interrupted by trouble with |
the Indians.
In 1859 work was resumed on that |
part OF the road in western Montana
over the Occur d'Alene mountains, |
northwesterly from Missoula. The |
construction of this road from the
Missoula river up the st. Regis river |
to the summit of the range was very |
difficult as the river was very tor
tuous, and there were over 40 cross
Ings requiring bridges. The trail, as
we found it, was still more tortuous
and difficult by reason of the fallen
timber. Near the summit, on the
slope of the mountains, he trail pass
I'D by the winter camp Of Lieutenant
Mullan, where we saw the stamps
If the trees still standing about 80
feet high, indicating the depth OF
he snow at that time. This road
lad never served any practical pur-
pose and was finally abandoned en-
irely.
The route westward from the cross
ng of the Big Blackfoot river to the
western boundary of the state has
'ecently, by contributions from MEM
,ers of our society and others, beeni