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

-HE white mans first Fourth OF July
in Montana was celebrated by a feast
at the mouth of the R~attlesnaks.
where that stream has its confluence
with Missoula river, not far from the
eastern outskirts of the present city or
Missoula. 1t was suspicious event In the
lives Of a group OF men who had under
taken a mammoth task; and With severai
Shoshone chiefs and warriors as guests,
the nations birthday was observed as be-
fitted men in the heart of an ~uncharted
wilderness.
1t is a long. long step from 1927 back
to 1906. to the days when Captains
Meriwether Lewis n William Clark
were plotting q band OF intrepid adven-
turers on an historically famous expedi-
ton. The explorers were returning east
from their successful discovery OF q route
to the Pacific ocean. They were In the
heart of the wilds Of the Louisiana Pur-
chase, acquired from Napoleon in 1903.
They had started their westward trek In
1904 at the instance OF President Jef1er-
son who. like Captain Clark, was con-
vinced that there could be located q
practical route over the backbone OF the
continent, dow the courses OF
rivers, to the great western ocean.
On the first OF July, 1906, the trailblaz-
ers entered the defiles OF the Bitter Root
range Of the Rockies, on what Is now the
eastern boundary OF the state OF Idaho.
They crossed through Lolo Pass into the
beautiful Bitter Root valley. then the
u~ndisputed home of the Saleesh Indians.
Here they made camp on the night OF
July 2. On the morning Of July 8, the
party separated, Captain Clark directing
a party to the right up the Bitter Root
river, and Captain Lewis following that
stream to where it empties into the Mis-
soula. Approaching the mouth OF what
is now Grant creek. Captain Lewis with
his men and their Shoshone Indian
guides, camped for the night July 81.
The following Notwithstanding OF
the Glorious Fourth-camp wal broken
early, and the party started up the Mis-
soula river. BY noon they had reached
the mouth OF the Rattlesnake. At this
point, all packs were unloaded, Dime
wa prepared and a great feast was
spread before the redmen-a feast such
as these members OF an aboriginal race
had never before partaken Of. After the
repast, the pipe OF peace was smoked;
the Indian guides turned again to the
west and Captain Lewis and his men
proceeded up the trail to the crest OF the
Rockies.
1t is we'll to remember that in those
days, the Fourth of July had not at
tanned its present status as a festive in
stitution. But these weary, trail-worn
men, anxious as they must have been to
complete their homeward trek dow the
valley of the Missouri, were thus cog
infant Of the significance OF the day
which marked the anniversary OF the
nation birth.
The next we hear Of the celebration in
western Montana of the nations birth
day., was when In 1864 at Frenchtown, a
settlement made up OF the first whites
to enter the territory, following the trail
blazing trek of Lieutenant John Mullan.
st. Johns Day, which falls on June %
was, in 1854, Jointly celebrated with the
Fourth of July at F~renchtown. h few
settlers from far and near, gathered at
that frontier town and made merry as
best they could with the meager means
available, concluding the days festivities
with a dance which lasted far into the
night.
More elaborate, however, was the first
celebration of the Fourth OF July In Al
der Gulch. 1t was the year 1855, Just
shortly following the establishment OF
Virginia City and it's mining camp en-
virons. In 1855, Nevada City, Just about
q mile down the gulch from the young
metropolis was a settlement OF some size
and view with Virginia; blu on this oc-
CASTOR, the national event was celebrated
Jointly by the two large camps. And,
when the days program had begun, al
most the entire populations OF Virginia
City, Nevada City. Adobetown, Junction
and Central were on hand with plenty OF
gold dust n a common purpose to
make the event all that it should be-
and then some.
This celebration of 1865 was perhaps
the largest and most successful in which
Virginia City ever took part. There were
two large brass bands to furnish music;
and all manner of games were in prog
ress to induce the visitors to separate
themselves from the contents of their
well-flled pokes.
Interest centered principally in the
horse races, for which events liberal
prizes were hung up-especially for the
lady contestants, whose prowess was via
the mode Of the ancient side saddle. An
immense gathering of people DIVIDED the
streets Of both Virginia City and Nevada
City on that day and the number Of
fancy rigs" Observation-Disclosures, phae-
tons, buggies, etc.-was marvellous, con-
sidering the fact that these had all been
brought overland from the eastern states
within the preceding year.
Virginia City celebrated the Fourth of
July yearly after this first big event, up