Clearwater Republican., 1922-04-28

Pierce was early dilliCtcu Win
few of these birds who had NAL
ady known as "triggerf1ngerius.
One in 1851 was the notorious
Plummer and a few who we're AFTER
wards his henchmen, began their
operations in this locality and the
Clearwater country.
One day in the summer OF 1861.
four of these abandoned souls blew
into Pierce, each having a splendid
mount. They assumed an indiffer-
ent, debOnair pose, and attempted
to pass as mining spectators. They
were dressed in the best fashion OF
the time and began to fraternize
with the business element of the
town Pat Ford, who ran saloon,
sized them up as bad characters he
knew Of elsewhere; when they
came into his saloon and did the
honors of the time which was by
calling everyone up in the house to
drink with them, Pat. fully recog-
nized some of them. He told some
of his acquaintance that they were
bad lot from California.
He, without any apparent discre-
ton, followed them out on to the
street, and these are the words
Cowen, though not an eyewitness of
the affair, said Ford spoke to them
"You needn't come round here put
ting on any of your airs; l know
you" They quickly drew their
'irons' and filled him full Of bull
let holes, got their mounts and rode
away and were never mOlested nor
apprehended for this crime.
Later, in October of the same
year, HypOlite, who owned and op-
Grated a pack train into Pierce. was
| waylaid on the rtail, shot and rob-
bed of $4,000 in gold dust, pre-
sumably by some of these Knights
of the Road.
In September, 1861, Robert Up
creek was killed by a Frenchman.
Thus did three very good men die
with their boots on in one year.
Not too bad a showing for new
camp like Pierce.
Later in 1863 and 1864, Plum
mer and his gang got what was
coming to them in Western Mont.
from the hands of the vigilantes.
Plummer found the end of his rope
in December, 1863 and all of his
henchmen, 26 in all, got similar
dose. truly good riddance to bad
rubbish"
Lewiston made a clean up on
three of the gang as early as No
vember, 1862. In 1854 three of the
murderers Of Mcgruder paid just
retribution for their heinous villany
They made the setting of hanging
bee in Lewiston before a vast and
thoroughly appreciative audience
From this time on road agents gave
the mines and towns of Idaho a
wide berth or kept closely to cover
On November 18th, 1868. Wells
Fargo & Co. withdrew their. EXPIRE =
office from Pierce to Lewiston
Lewis Mullan had a contract fol-
carrying mail from Walla Walla tc
Pierce: but he failed to put on q
carrier from Lewiston to Pierce
The Lewiston postmaster hired Cow
en- to carry the mail between tht
two points. Cowen also carried ex
press. For this he generally re-
ceived commission when carryine
gold dust, or monthly remittance
from the business houses. He die
quite we'll. but insisted that the
government still owed him for car
rying mail.
He mostly travelled the Cole
Spring route to Lewiston and made
ShC Aouhu lIlP OA lOOI III live udyS .
Considering the deformity Of on,
foot this was very good time. Bu
COwen never stood back on account
of his deformity from walking OF
running as fast or as far as tn,
most of them in his time. He wa.
carrier until July. 1864.
In 1856 Cowen was elected sher
iff of Shoshone county and re-elect
ed in 1868. In 1870 he ran agar
but was defeated by Matt Fettis
who received S3 votes. Cowen re
ceived 66 votes.
This election displays some of tn,
very pronounced traits Judge Cow
en- had. Cowen was of Scotch de
scent and he didn't always get a
long with the Irish. 1t is told tha
Cowen didn't want the office bu
the Democrats had prevailed on
Matt Fettis to run for the same of
flee. Cowen. always a Republican
when he learned Fettis was run
ming made up his mind quickly. H.
announced no Irishman should hay,
the office: and when Fettis. al
Irishman, heard what Cowen said
he was resolved to have the office
Fettis made spectacular campaign
and beat Cowen by II votes a
shown above. Fettis could not b.
prevailed upon TO take the offic
after being elected so Cowen hell
over.
Judge Cowen made a trip to hi
old home in Wisconsin in 1872. o.
his return trip ne went into Texa
and Colorado and visited in Call
fornia.
In the early seventies after hi
return to Pierce he bought the onl
saloon there was in the town a
that time. He ran and owned |
but short period. Though it pal
him well he would not stay wit
1t.
Dan Dunwell and others tell m
the following: "One night when hi
place was well patronized by man
people. playing at the card table
and others indulging themselves |
drink at the bar. Cowen turned OF
the lights and asked every one
go, as he intended to close tt
place. Many protested at such
shabby deal In closing so early l