Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-01-07

towering mountains,
Dan r.. Conway lies Bannack. first
capital of Montana,
and the grave of many a mans youth
and fortune, as we'll as the starting
place of many of the great fortunes
credited to the mineral of
the Treasure state. When King Alco-
hol abdicated after a reign of SIS years
In Bannack there was closed the sur
vivor of so resorts which flourished
in the palmy days when gold dust
was the circulating medium and the
TX -shooter was Montana law.
The Old Saloon at Bannack
This particular saloon. the ~rear>guard
of John Barleycorn was an historic place.
1t was there that Henry Plummer, con-
spicuous In vigilante Days fought out one
of his duels. Plummer Is said to have
taken his last drink, the day before his
arrest, in this emporium.
Most significant In the story of this
resort is the fact that It was there that
the suggestion was made to Seggregate
what Is how Moatapa from Idaho and
form a new territory. All OF what IL now
Montana, was then unorganized. The seat
or government was at Lewistown. hundreds
of miles westward overland. Control Of
affairs on the mining camps of this section
by the officials was imaginary. The only
law WAS that Of the miners meetings.
On Sundays, che miners did not work.
They would congregate in Bannack saloons
and talk. Con Orem, heavyweight cham
pion pugilist of the mountain country, and
an honest blacksmith between his battles,
was probably the most prominent man In
camp. Con was something Of a public
speaker, and frequently, on Sunday after
moons would address his friends, the mi
ners, on some topic Of interest to them.
Con and a number of his friends were In
this Bannack saloon one Sunday after
noon when the remoteness of Lewistown
can up.
Con Orem Has An idea
why not start a movement right here
looking to the organization of another
territory, and make Bannack the capital r
was one suggestion. And a dozen voices
acclaimed the proposal.
Con Orem was very much interested. He
mounted a wagon just outside the saloon
and made a speech favoring the organiza
ton of q territory. Several hundred mi
ners listened and a~pplauded.
In the crowd was Colonel Wilbur r
Sanders and his uncle, Hon. Sidney G.. ID
Edgerton. The colonel, being a lawyer, was
asked to explain a plan OF procedure, with
the result that funds we're raised and Sid
ney Edgerton was delegated to visit Wash
ington In behalf Of the project. The re
mainder of the story Is common knowledge
Suffice 1t Is to state that weeks later, came
the news that Edgerton had been success
full in his mission.
The First Legislative Session
The night when this glad news arrived
there was much gold dust pinched from
pokes In this old saloon. Everyone felt tina
they were making history, and for thai
matter, they were. Bannack, the glory OF
which was beginning to wane, due to thu
Alder Gulch strikes, took a new lease Oh
life.
Then, In a few weeks Governor Sidney
Edgerton arrived again In camp-this time
with his commission, and authority to pro
coed in plans for the first Montana Terri
torial legislature.
The first legislature convened at Bannacl
December II, 1864 and adjourned Februar,
., 1866. The officers Of the territory were
Sidney Edgerton, Governor, Bannack; Hen
ry p. Torsey, secretary; Robert Lawrence
president of the council; George Detwiler
speaker of the house.
The personnel of the two legislative bod
les follows:
Members OF the Council
Frank M. Thompson, Beaver Head Coun
>ty Frank l.. Worden, Choteau, Deer Lodg'
and Missoula Counties; Nathaniel Merri
man, Jefferson County; Charles 5. Bag&
Madison County; Robert Lawrence, Madi
son County; Arson s. Potter, Madison
County; George Haynes, Secretary; Franl
H.. Angevine, Assistant Secretary; Rober
Hereford, Engrossing Clerk; John c. Ryan
Enrolling Clerk; Harrison G. Otis, Ser
geant at Arms; Harris Gilman, Door Keep
er; Sylvester Chamberlain, Fireman
Wright r.. Edgerton, Page.
Members of the House
William Faulds, Beaver Head County
Andrew j. Smith, Beaver Head County
James Stuart, Deer Lodge County; lsaa
N. Buck, jefferson County; Milo Court
right, Jefferson County George DetwileI
Jefferson County; John FL. Rogers, Madi
son County; Patrick Ryan, Madison Coun
ty; villa Huffaker, Madison County; Alex
ander Il. Mayhem, Madison County Franco
Bell, Madison County; Washington J. Nc
Cormick, Madison County 10. b. johnson
Missoula County William l.. Brown, Chic
C1arE. Gaprna q CtauanS AqStQfunt ClnrE
J. ]. Blake. Engrossing Clerk; Richar
Richardson, Enrolling Clerk; George "
Hill, Sergeant at Arms; Aaron Flougt
Door Keeper; s. NJ. Johnson, Fireman; 4
Watson, Page; Sidney G. Edgerton, Page
The first session and the early session
of legislature which followed In the sixtie
and the early seventies were marked b
many interesting, and in some amusin
law enactments. A few OF these are we
worthy of mention. For instance:
NiKhtwatchmcn for Helena
Government of the towns of Montan
during the early Territorial days was
matter Of SOM difficulty, as the ~territol
ial legislative assembly did not, at frs
delegate to the community the power I
make and enforce its own laws, exceI
within very narrow bounds and In certai
specified ways. 1t seems odd today I
think of the legislature of Montana enac
ing a law ito confer certain powers o
nightwatchmen In the town Of Helena,
for instance, and yet such q law was pasI
ed Dy du fhrly-udy ieBl6lhtuIe hhu uppTo'
ed BY Acting Governor Thomas Franc
Meagher, December !, 1885. The law whic
seems worth while quoting In fun, espe'
tally because of Its queer character In II
light of modern civic Improvement, 70
lows:
Section lit shall be lawful and
hereby made the duty of the sheriff
Edgerton county, (now Lewis and Clar
county,, to issue populations to the pa
Section 2.-Whenever the residents
the town Of Helena shall deem 1t prop,
to select one or more day or night watcl
men, whose duty 1t shall be to preser'
the peace, to prevent depredations OF an
private property and accidental fires, pro
err evidence OF such selecture, provided
majority of the bondholders unite In su,
selection, shall be given to the sheriff
said county, who shall thereupon Issue h
populations to such person or persons
selected, decribing him or them therci
and the limits OF the locality or beat I
which he or they may be selected as watcl
men or policemen, and such deputatis
shall confer the same powers to such pc