The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-09-18
REGARDING OLD FRIENDS

MI EQlUOr.@l see In tne laSI 1eW
issues of the Empire the notice of
the death of three of my old friends
and l want to add word of tribute
to their memory, is the object of my
writing at this time. Those l refer
to are Judge john M. McDougal,
Charley Oliver, and Chipeta, the
squaw of Chief Ouray
knew Judge McDougal from the
first day he arrived in Gunnison coun-
ty in 1880. In the month of April
the snow was still deep in Irwin. The
trail being packed hard stood up high
while the snow on either side had re-
ceded by the action of the hot sun
About nine or ten o'clock every morn
ing along about April and May of
1880, there would be long line of
men and women in single file come
marching into Irwin. One morning
there was man in line who was
WEARING a high silk hat, something
out of the ordinary, and the wearer
met with good natured derision and
Jibes from the crowds, so that he was
not long in exchanging the hat for
one more suitable for the occasion.
That man was John Marshall McDou-
gal. In few days there was a sign
hung out that read Thomas, McDougal
and Thomas, Attorneys-at -at-Law. So
you see Judge McDougal started in
Irwin and we were the best of friends
so long as / lived in the country. Who
could help being friend to one with
so sunny, genial nature. His stav was
only one year in Irwin, when he went
to Gunnison to live.
He was undoubtedly the best known
trout fisherman in the Gunnison coun-
try. Such distinguished men as
Judge Hallett, Dean Hart, ]. M. Ridg-
way and others, would seek his com
pany when they would come there to
fish,
An amusing incident happened ON
one occasion that l feel like relating
it in your columns. One day many
years ago a party of gentlemen ar
rived from Denver to go fishing They
hired two seated rig with driver
and had it standing in front of La
Veta They then started to hunt
Judge McDougal to go with them to
point out the good places to fish As
th' Judge came out of[the> dining
room from his lunch, ,Ghey/ spied him.
One on each side started to urge the
Judge to go with them. He said he
could not possibly go as widow So
and-so was down from Tin Gun to
have her husbands will probated and
that he must hold court that after
noon. They told him he could do that
tomorrow and in the meantime were
hustling him along to the wagon. He
was all the time protesting that he
could not possibly go, but when they
reached the wagon the Judge volunta-
r1ly put his foot on the step and was
soon seated. As the wagon drove off
the Judge was still protesting, but
the widow had to stay over for the
Judge to open court thes next day,
while he enjoyed good afternoons
nshing with congenial companions.
There are but few of the old guard of
the spring of 80 left, and Judge John
M. McDougal is remembered by all of
them as friend by his sunny dispo-
sition.
Charley Oliver was friend of the
writer He was one of the leading
mining men of Pitkin in the prosper
Gus days of that camp. r. R. Will
liams and Charley Oliver we're always
to tire front in the Republican State
and County conventions
As to Cbipeta, would that Dave
Day, with his Solid Muldoon were
alive to chronicle her passing. With
Old Chief Curay, the friend of the
white man, they lived about twelve
miles south of where Montrose now
stands. and in the days of 10 and 80,
when the unruly Utes were terroriz-
ing the whites, Chief Ouray and his
sGuaw, Oh 'peta, did much to council
peace.
Yours truly,
j. E. PHILLIPS.
F. S. l could write more but your
space allotted to me tells me to saw
of.
You are genial liap John. We
would leave cit ads to print your
stuff. Write some more.-Ed.