The Bozeman courier., 1927-10-21
George IUes, Notorious
OutlalU. Once WOrsted
(By LEW L. CALLAWAY)

I'm THE summer of 1925, while visiting
at White Sulphur Springs, a friend
Il told me that Charley Cook knew the |
details OF an encounter between DaV- !
id E. Folsom and the notorious road
agent, George Ives, a story which had
not been printed. Mr.. Cook told me the
story.
AS a preface, however, some words re-
specting Folsom: In 1862, he was at
tending a college in New Hampshire
when his health failed and he was adj
vised that he must seek an outdoor life.
Nothing loath, he set out for the west
and upon reaching Minnesota learned
Of the large party which was about to
set out for the Salmon river gold mines.
James L. Fisk, a private in a Minnesota
regiment, had been given a captains
commission and the command Of an es-
cort for the train. Folsom enlisted with
Fisk. In the emigrant train were the
renowned pioneers, James Fergus, Ma
thaniel P. Langford, John Potter, Mark
Leadbeater and others well known in
Montana history The expedition left
Fort Abercrombie on the Red River OF the
North in July, 1862, and reached Fort
Benton on Sept. 6. Having heard and
needed disparaging reports concerning
the mines on Salmon river, the party
scattered to various places where gold
had been discovered, some going to Gold
creek, some to Prickley Pear, and others
to Bannack. Folsom spent the winter at
Bannack, going to Alder Gulch, the new
and great discovery, in the summer OF
| 1868.
In 1869 David E. Folsom and Charles
| w. Cook, after a memorable expedition
| into that region, first brought to the
knowledge Of the people Of Montana the
wonders of what is now the Yellowstone
national park. Folsom published an &C
count Of the exploration in the western
Monthly, a magazine printed in Chi
incredulity. Later, Mr.. Folsom was a
state senator from Meagher county, and
in 1900 was the candidate of the repub-
lican party for governor of Montana, be-
/ ing defeated by Hon. Joseph K. Toole.
Mr.. Folsom occupied many positions Of
trust. He was an upright, honorable man.
i Charles w. Cook was citizen Of the
highest type. He passed away in January
Of this year, at ripe old age, venerated
and respected by all.
Now to the story
I suppose you know, said Mr.. Cook,
that Folsom joined the Fisk expedition
! Well, after the party had been out some
days the hunter seemed unable to get any
game. They were out Of meat. Folsom
was a good hunter and a fine shot. He
said to the captain: "If you will give me
the chance I think can get you some
game" "All right" the captain said
"try it," Folsom went hunting and came
in with two deer, and the captain said
Consider yourself transferred from your
former duties. Hereafter you are to be
the hunter for the expedition" And
from then on until they arrived at Fort
Benton, Folsom was the hunter. Being
in constant practice Folsom became g
remarkable shot with the rifle.
Some months after his arrival in Vir-
ginia City, he took five of spades, nailed
to tree, and at a distance Of so feet
plugged each of the spades center. See
ing some friends coming, he slipped his
rifle in the house and when they arrived
he was standing at the point from which
he had done the shooting, with his re-
volver in his hand. They said, MY God
Dave, you didn't make those shots from
where you stand, did you?" and he said
ST certainly did" They said, I'VE dom
believe it, let's see you do it again,
and he said, well, there's the evidenc'
of it, and I don't care to waste any more
ammunition" and put his revolver bacl
in the house. This marvellous shooting
was the talk of the camp. Before sun
down the road agents heard about i
and it didn't sound good to them. The.
did not permit anyone to exist in th
camp who could out-shoot them. tn
most dangerous man among the roa'
agents in an affray there in Virgtn1
City wes George Ives. The next day Fol
som was playing billiards in a salool
when Ives came in. AS Folsom was max