The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-11-28

Hon. G. E. Dibble, of Clarmont, Ia, |
took up the placer claim in Dry gulch
on which was situated the chang
mans tree" is told by him in an inter
view in the Tacoma News-Tribune.
Mr.. Dibble was at Olympia visiting
his son. The newspaper also relates
some of Mr.. Dibble's experiences in
crossing the plains. The article fol-
lows:
Memories of the old days of the
covered wagon, the emigrant trail
across the great American plains, the
placer camps of Montana and the vgi-
lante committees which were formed
to curb the lawless element of the
mining camps, are treasured by e.
E. Dibble, of Clarmont, Ia, who is
spending the winter in Olympia with
his wife as the guest of his son, Fred
J. Dibble, director of the state de-
partment of licenses.
Mr.. Dibble has been at various
times ~prospector, vigilante, farmer
and lawyer, but he recalls most vivid
ly the time spent in the West in the
early COS, where he was part of the
life of Virginia City and Helena, then
flourishing mining camps of Mon
tana. Born in Chautaukua county,
New York state, he moved to Cler-
mont, Ia, in 1852 and in 1864 joined
the great rush across the plains to
the mines of Montana.
Travels in Wagon Train
On that memorable trip he was part
of the train in which the Brown fam
lily of Harper's Ferry fame were
travelling to California. He met the
family at Omaha, which was the great
outfitting point for the wagon trains
bounds for the West. The train trav-
elei intact until a point somewhere
in Wyoming was reached, where the
Browns took the southern route to
California while Mr.. Dibble proceeded
toward Montana. The train in which
Mr.. Dibble travelled reached Emigrant
Gulch in August, 1864, and moved
up to Virginia City the following
spring.
Virginia City was located on Alder
Gulch and probably more gold was
taken out of this gulch than from al
other placer camps in the West" Mr.
Dibble said. Virginia City was ther
the largest city in Montana and every
other business place was a dance hall
saloon or gambling joint. Thousands
of dollars were being taken out of the
placer diggings every day and thous
sands of dollars were spent in the re
sorts every night. Money was plenti
full and the dance halls, saloons ant
gambling houses did a flourishin,
business. While in Virginia City / be
came a member of the vigilance com
mittee."
Owned Hangman's Tree
After spending the summer and fal
of 1866 in Virginia City, Mr.. Dibbl
moved on to Helena, taking up a clair
on Dry Gulch, which is today in tn
center of the residence district of tn
city. His claim extended across tn
gulch, and on the southern end of
was the celebrated "Hangman's tree,
which is mentioned in many wester
chronicles. While he owned the CLAIM
two outlaws, known as "Frenchie
and Daniels" were hanged on til
tree by the ~vigilantes, Mr.. Dibble sal
The city of Helena preserved an a
of permanence from the very begin
ming, which was lacking in Virgin
City, MI. Dibble stated. While Heller
was not far behind its rival in ii
number of dives, there were also got
homes there, and the business sectiC
of the city was substantially built.
While camped on the east side
the Yellowstone river, on the prese
site of Livingston, the train of whi'
Mr.. Dibble was a member had i
first experience with offering Indiar
The prowling Indians stole all t
provisions in camp one night, even t
supply which Mr.. Dibble had plac
under his head for safe-keeping, a
they also stole the ramrods from t
guns. The party had little or nothil