Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-12-13

ally 10 Inc pioneers
of Il state, and to those who, like my
self, knew Judge Thorspson well. No
one else in Bannack was so intimate a
friend OF the Sanders and our family
as he.
This book refreshed my memory of
what happened in that long ago OF
over 60 years, and mentioned incidents
of which either never heard or have for
gotten. / have drawn from 1t for the
benefit Of such as cannot read this very
eadable volume.
The story has been told Of how Judge
Thompson acted as bridesmaid at the
marriage OF Henry Plummer. About this
time he took q trip to the Pacific coast.
While there. or on his return journey,
he heard .of Plummer's having killed a
man in California. Thompson liked
Plummer, and may, llk others, have
believed that Plummer killed in self
defense. Certain it is, Thompson did not
like to attribute a cold blooded crime
to the man he met at the Vail farm.
E. However, the report of this affair helped
to confirm suspicious he had formed
of the bandit chief.
Meets HudsOn's BAY Men
When coming back to Montana, he
fell in with a Hudson's Bay fur brigade
on its way to the Flathead, n joined
them. 1t was under the command of
Captain McClaren, who was very cor
dial. There were under his leadership
10 or IL Indians or mixed bloods. II
60 horses accompanied them, probably
those not needed as mounts, destined
to pack furs from the Flathead. On the
way" says Judge Thompson, I'VE met
Major Owen and Mr.. Macdonald, agent
for the Hudson's Bay company. This MIR.
Macdonald was none other than Angus
Macdonald, father Of Duncan MacDon-
aid.
Sometime on this journey, the Judge
was initiated into the Indian of
preparing the camas. "Camas," he ex-
plains, lis like a mall onion. 1t Is
sweet and glutinous and quite palatable,
and may be eaten raw" Squaws cook it
in heated holes in the ground. covered
with turf, n hot flat stones, on which
they keep q fire until the roots are lone.
1t can be pounded n made into bread:
dried, or eaten, presumably powdered.
He also mentions another plant he heard
called 'crowse," which is like the camas,
and plentiful west of the Rockies. The
dictionary does not give this name, which
may have been foreign. or misunder-
stood. Judge Thompson speaks of hay
ing seen canoes made of pine bark while
or this journey.
When near Hellgate, he stopped at
Frank Worden's store. where he bought
sugar at a dollar a pound, and at Johnny
Grants, paid q dollar for two pounds
of salt. Wartime n present prices are
high, but have not reached those Of our
pioneer days.
Goes on to Bannack
Having decided to open q general mer-
chandise store in Bannack, the judge
was on his way there when he was Joined
by q party OF road agents consisting or
DR.. Howard, Chris Lowrey, James Ro-
maine, Robert zachery, William Page,
Erastus jaeger called "Red"), John Wag-
ner and Steve Marshland. He says they
treated him we'll, but DR.. Howard, who
claimed to be a graduate of Yale medical
school, showed considerable curiosity
touching the judges affairs. He was in
formed that the judge had 40 money
then. and would have one until after
he sold his goods.
They talked of Plummer and men
ton may be made of the California muir
der. They all praised Plummer, claim
ing he never killed except in self-de-
tense.
When Judge Thompson spoke to Plum
mer of these men, he, Plummer, said they
were robbers and cut-throats, and he ad-
vised Thompson to have nothing to do
with them. But" added Thompson.
they spoke we'll of YOU" They speak
well of me-" replied Plummer, because
they do not dare to do otherwise" Judge
Thompson had reason to recall this re-
mark later. At the time, he was re-
lieved to hear the desperadoes praise
Plummer. Then he wondered how Plum
mer knew them so well, and why they
feared him.
Plummer told him never to open his
store door at night, until he absolutely
knew who stood without. He also showed
the new arrival how to arrange his bunk.
piling boxes or other articles In front
Of 1T, leaving only a small loophole for
purposes OF investigation, or ito shoot
through. Did Plummer vouchsafe this