The circle banner., 1924-09-12
AUSTIN, PIONEER,
SAYS SLADE WAS
INNOCENT VICTIM
CASCADE PIONEER WORKED ON
SHADES CLAIM AT TIME OF
VIGIIAANTE ACTIVITIES
Pleads the Cause of Montana's First
Governor; Says that Sidney Edg-
erton Was Not Given Fair Chance
In the Early Days.

In the Early Days.
A resident of Montana before it
had even a name, let alone an indie
pendent political status, Jimmy
Austin of Cascade county paid his
first visit to Butte after 81 years
of residence in the state, in attend
ance at the recent convention
Montana Pioneers.
Austin came to Montana in 1868
with Sidney Edgerton of Akron, Ohio
appointed by President Lincoln as
governor of Montana. While admit
ting that Governor Edgerton came
not as a trail blazer, but as holder
of political appointment, Austin is an
admirer of Edgerton.
Sidney Edgerton was a fine fell
low" Austin insists. He also de-
clares that Jim Slade was unjustly
hanged, because Slade didn't kill
anybody around here" as Jimmy
puts it.
"Of course Slade killed Jules Benz,
that Frenchman that Julesburg,
Colo, is named after, but didn't they
declare war on each other ,and
wasn't it fair killing? Course it
was, and a Denver jury said So
Course Slade cut off Jules ears for
souvenirs after shootin' him, but
little pleasantly"
Jimmy Austin was working on
Slades claim in Virginia City when
the former stage boss who shot and
hanged men right and left in the ap-
parent belief that he was himself
the law, was hanged by the Vigi-
lantes. IT often wondered why they
didn't hang me up too," Jimmy says,
81 was pretty close to Slade, you
know"
Hardly A Square Deal.
Coming back to Sidney Edgerton
Austin said: "They didn't give him
exactly a square deal. Lots of the
first arrivals in Virginia City were
Confederates. With them came lot
of scrubs, toughs from Texas, Geor-
gia, Missouri and other places, loud
mouthed, fighting shooters, who
wanted to fight the battle of the
South in Alder Gulch diggin's. They
went about hollerin' for Davis and
Lee the two best men America ever
produced and when F. George Heldt |
hoisted the American flag one Fourth |
of July those rapscallions tore it |
down. That's the bunch that Edger-
ton, an Ohio man, and Colonel San
ders went up against.
"You know they named a county |
Edgerton county, but when the 9TH
er bunch got in they changed the
name to Lewis and Clark.
"But, what I wanted to tell you
was this: Edgerton wasn't appoint
ed governor of Montana in the first
place. He was governor of the Ter
ritory of Idaho. Idaho ran clear to
the Missouri river. He was figuring
on making Lewiston, Idaho, his capi-
tai. He changed his mind. EdgertoD
had IL families in his OK train. I
joined them on the Sweetwater.
Costly Towage.
II came west in 1859 and went to
Denver. Say, Denver was put under
martial law in 1863 on account of
the rebels. I remember that we had
to pay $6 a wagon for towage across
the river-and the cattle and mules
had to swim.
"Well, anyway, after Edgerton
gave up the idea of going to Lew
lston, he joined us at Bannack. The
mines were booming. The boys
we're taking out gold by the pound
got the idea in his head
about creating Montana Territory
and he went back east, taking a gold
shipment with him. He put it over,
came back and was governor of the
territory for some months"
Austin left Denver with train of
500 Mormons. When he met the
1dgerton party he changed his mind ]
about going to Utah and decided on
he "gold diggings."
The Ives Hanging.
Wilbur Sanders practically con-
rolled Alder Gulch," says Austin. {
I mind the time that George Ives S
vas hanged. The miners wanted to 7
ynch him. Sanders said: mo.
live him fair and impartial trial. /
Che way to do that is to have
committee hear the evidence I y
Ion't know that crowd, but I'll pick 7
tut 25 of the boys who are known to
,e square to try Ives. Are you