The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-09-29
BY t. j. BOWMAN

IL is probably not uCScoo"iJ ~
mention that circumstances OF the
present make true - not imaginary
fiction-stories of the future.
: So with the passing of events the
/ history of an old and almost forgot
ten cabin, comes to my mind. 1t was
built in the early eos on the east
slope of the Tobacco Root range,
: about four and one-half miles a little
north of east, from Virginia City,
Montana, and peculiar circumstances
are attached to this old neglected
relic, its having been established by
la man who saw the chance of reap1Hg
a golden harvest, or else the story
of the "OId Toll House" would never
have been written.
Herbert Albert Slade arrived in the
territory in the early part of 1868,
when the hey-day mining boom was
on, and having not been accustomed
to hard labor, digging for placer
gold did not appeal to Slade. The
shining yellow metal looked attract
i've, indeed, but he took observations
of the travelling public, and came to
the conclusion that little farm on
the east side of the range was a bet
ter investment, so he squatted on
piece of land about IA " miles east
of the then busy city of Virginia,
and near the present site of the thriv-
ing town of Ennis.
A short time here satisfied Slade
and his beautiful wife, that he saw
the better opportunity toll-gate
in the canyon on the old Bozeman
trail
Traveller Pays Toll
So deciding, he moved his few pos
sessions westward and squatted on
a new piece of soil in the midst of
precipitous mountains, where horse
could hardly find room to turn.
Here is the ideal place." thought
Slade. 'Ill get toll-gate conces-
sion and feather my nest" And so
thinking, he forthwith DISTRACTED the
trail with heavy pole gate. Slade
collected the fare and the traveller |
went on.
He constructed a substantial, low |
stone house and covered it with pole
and sod roof; just west from swamp |
and a short distance east from a /
beautiful little spring which emery
ed from beneath the lava, cold and |
sparkling, and mecca in the noun
tains. Here he and his wife felt |
content, but never realized that his |
career there was so short and that |
his life would end so ANONYMOUSLY.
Many variety of tales are told of
the career of Slade-mostly imagin-
ary-on account of his being social
evil to the inhabitants of the pioneer
placer camp over the divide toward
the setting sun.
Herbert Albert Slade was a des-
cendant of very prominent family,
and was known by all his eastern as
sociates as Albert. He was born in
Virginia and when young man NOV
ed to Missouri, and when the excite
ment of the gold fields was on join
I'd the caravan for the west, and for
/ time was messenger and scout at
Salt Lake.
BY family ties he was a cousin to
representative H. G.. and Homer
Ounbar's mother, who was one of the
sturdy early-day pioneers who faced
he perils and hardships of those
lines, and crossed the plains in the
prairie schooner and later located on
/ ranch near old Gallatin City,
ew miles eastward from the present
lite of Three Forks. So SHADES
Early career is substantiated as being
most worthy of recommendation.
Booze His Undoing
Slade landed in old Alder Gulch
Ifter career throughout the entire
northwest, which has never been sub
tantiated to be otherwise than hon
'rable; but, like most men of those
lays, he liked his "booze," and this
was his undoing. Stories
lave been told, and they are more
rue than fiction, that he could shoot,
md that he liked to shoot, and that
lie was as handy with one hand as
With the other, or could use both to-
,ether, and that when he got on one
# his frequent sprees that his great
st delight was in prancing his thor
'ughbred saddle horse through the
treets of the old mining town and
ee how many lights he could shoot
tut without missing, and when he
missed one he would ride his horse
nto one of the saloons and demand
drink, which he always got.
On another occasion while "court"
vas in session, Slade got peculiar
IDEAS from some source, and thought
What great joke it would be to "ad-
ourn court" so thinking, and with
is gun in his hand, again he rode
but not into the saloon. This
ime it was the little log cabin used
or legal procedure in those days,
nd saluted the Judge: Judge,
uess we'll call this case off, and
eclare court adjourned" And they
djourned, but Slade was apprehend-
d, and after paying the penalty, was
n short time given his liberty.
Marksman of Renown
His record as a marksman was
nown in all parts of the northwest,
nd this brought him into prominence
or important positions; so he be-
anne messenger, peace officer, and
mong many others, he was an aven-
er of cruelties. He had credited to
i'm the passing or the untimely end
f several men, but facts substan-
late the better argument, and so far
S was ever learned, he had but two
notches" in his gun, and these were
lado under DrOyOcation AS the