The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-09-23
EMAT0R w. A. GLARK'S STORY OF HIS EARLY EXPERIENCES
lN MONTANA WHEN HE WAS LAYING FORTUNES FOUNDATION

ers through the western section Of
the country.
Isthmus butter was manufactured
at Goshen in New York state, made
up in rolls wrapped in cotton or lin
en- cloth. and packed in brine in kegs
that would weigh 40 to SO pounds
each, and in this manner was shipped
\ via the Isthmus to California. Hence
the name, "Isthmus" butter. Chill
| beans came from Chilli, South Amer
lea. "Self-rising" flour, containing
the necessary ingredients manufac-
tured Herewith, was almost exclu-
stvely used in all the western mining
camps.
We struck up a bargain with the
owner of the train and purchased his
entire cargo of merchandise. We then
hoisted our sign, California Store"
and begun business, and our success
was at once assured. We then pur-.
chased and shipped from Helena
whatever we lacked to make up the
necessary variety required to supply
the needs of the residents of the
camp. Other pack trains arrived
and we continued to buy cargoes
from time to time, supplying all de-
ficencies from the Helena market,
and thus maintained the integrity of
the title we had adopted for our
store.
Hunting CameIs.
During the summer months there
came from Los Angeles, Cal, by way
of Salt Lake, an enterprising indi-
.vidual with a string of camels loaded
with a variety of products of that ter
restrial paradise, comprising lemons,
walnuts, olives and other articles,
which we purchased, and which we
disposed of very quickly. The owner
after a little rest put his animals into
the service of packing goods from
Helena to the camp. One of these
animals having strayed into the tim
Der was seen by a p~rospector, who
Immediately shot him, supposing it
to be a strange species of wild ami
NAL, which act resulted in consider
able trouble, and the departure of
the camels to more congenial chimes.
The population of the camp conf
sisted of the usual followers of new
d~iggings, mostly from the western
camps, as above stated. Saloons were
were numerous, and gambling houses !
and notorious resorts were open day
and night, which was usual in all
mining camps in those days.
Law Is Scarce.
The laws enacted by the recent
and first legislative assembly of Mon
tana had scarcely become operative.
There was no organized police and
yet the commission of serious crimes
was very rare. The character of the
business men in those days in the
camps was of the highest or
der, and lawsuits were of rare oc-
Amongst the residents of
the place during the season of 1865
we're Judge Bill, c.. G. Birdseye, DR..
w. Higgins, ]. R. Quigley, Joseph
Clark, S. e. Darabie, Washing
on Mccormick, Ira Myers, DR.. Click,
Samuel Scott and N. j. Bielenberg,
hen we'll known and prominent citi-
ems of whom your highly honored
elbow townsman, Ira Myers, N. j.
3ielenberg and myself are the sole
urvivors so far as I know.
During this period there was not
much activity in placer mining, aside
rom the Ophir and adjacent gulches :
the west side of the mountains. {
Silver Bow and Butte placers,
discovered in 1864, were very shall
DIV and had seen their best days. e
Generally two or three seasons mark t
d the limit of their activity. Ophir {
nd neighboring gulches were not ex- |
options to these conditions. 1 had S
oncluded to watch for a favorable
pportunity to dispose of my hold a
1gs. My associate was also anxious y
return to his family in Missouri. a