The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-08-23
TRAGEDY OF DEATH
And HARDSHIP hid
MOUNT AIN PEAKS
Aged Prospector's B o d y
Finally Brought Out for
Christian Burial.

with all the stage setting OF the
early days in the west, the body of
all that was mortal of James McGin-
mis- was finally brought to Red Lodge,
where it is being prepared for the
final resting place. "Jim,' as he was
fondly known by all his acquaintance
of many years, pioneered all his life,
starting az young man away from
friends and family in Ireland ard
coming to America.
He continued in the adventurous
life and at an age when many men
begin to think of taking life easy,
he started active working in develop
ing mining claims in the Businesses
of the practically unexplored noun
tain district north of Yellowstone
park.
In this wild and rugged part of the
main range of the mighty Rocky
mountains he fought an unconquerable
attack of pneumonia and after weeks
of struggling passed on. But the
right of Christian burial was not 10
be denied and friends and relatives
struggled to bring this about-and 1t
is tale of hardship, tale of heroic
effort on their part and, above all, a
tale of almost unbelievable record.
McGinnis, man of about 65 years
of age. after emigrating from Ireland
in 1883, settled for 10 years in Red
wood county, Minnesota. He then re-
turned for visit to the old home and
upon again coming back to his adopt
ed country, settled in Red Lodge. For
number of years he conducted a
saloon in this city, later deciding tn
develop mining prospects in the coun-
try near the headwaters of Slough
. creek, some Is or 20 miles north of
the park boundary. He formed the
Horseshoe Mining company and en-
listed the membership of many of the
business men of Red Lodge in its
forming. For years he has actively
worked in the development of the
prospect and only for short intervals
has he left the property.
In March of this year he came tC
Red Lodge and returned to the mine
on the second of July. When he went
back to the mountains he took Richarc
Strachen of Washoe with him. Shortly
: after arriving at camp he was stricken
with illness, but his indomitablt
strength was Slapped and he developed
case of pneumonia. Without chanc;
to secure medical aid, he took worse
and died on Thursday, Aug. 16
Strachen was his only companion anC
ne was glad to welcome the arriva
of visitor in the person of D. E. Var
Dyke, who CHANGED to drop in. Val
Dyke volunteered to go into Cooke
City and notify Coroner Selby of Liv
ingston. The later was notified of tht
death Saturday and he in turn go
into communication with Jerry Rear
don of this city, brother-in-law O
the dead man.
In the meantime, Strachen decided
something must be done with tn
corpse and he started out Saturday Il
an attempt to get the corpse to Cook
City. The trip had to be made owe
the Horseshoe mountain and h
dragged an dcarried McGinnis as ia
as the top of the mountain when h
had to give up and so he deposite
the remains in snowbank until he'll
should arrive.
Byron B. Downward of the Bowman
Funeral Home, and his assistant, Bo
IL Of 81 7 oh al m
Saturday and by hard driving reache
Cooke City Sunday noon. They wen
BY the way of Livingston, then t
Gardiner and after passing throug
the park, reached the mining tow
which is only about so miles by al
line from Red Lodge. They attempte
TO enlist the services Of men an
pack horses to go after the body bu
had hard time as apparently no on
knew the trails. Finally help wa
secured and the body was carried .
horseback down the mountain to tim
Der line.
An automobile had managed to Sc
to timber line and here the corpse wa
IIdISlSIISu W CilS CStI anu lNetIliS
Cooke City at o'clock Tuesda
morning. The start to Red Lodge wa
Immediately commenced and arrive
was made here at 4:45 that Afternoon
1t was long trip and was made i
record breaking time.
Funeral services were held thi
morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. Fathe
Starkle conducting them from tn
Downward chapel. Interment was mad
in the Catholic cemetery.
On April 7, 1924, William Bakk;
ST., Of Red Lodge passed away frol
pneumonia in the same cabin o
Slough creek. Greater difficulty wa
experienced in getting his body out c
The mountains than in the case c
McGinnis. The snow was very dee
all over the country and the fores
rangers refused to let Leonard Johr
son, his son-in-law, or any other on