davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

A statement by the board of health
declares that from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8, a
total of 8,406 cases OF influenza were
reported in Montana.
1--WE believe that this does not repre-
sent a quarter Of the cases that have
occurred" the statement continues.
while the epidemic is not as severe as
1t was in 1918, yet we are getting deaths
directly due to this disease, and an in
creased number of pneumonia deaths,
some OF which are no doubt due to in
fluenza. A comparison OF the numbe Of
deaths from influenza and pneumonia
during the month Of November, 1927,
with that of the month of November,
1923, is Of interest. In November. 1927
there were nine deaths from influenza
and 33 from pneumonia. In November,
1928, there were as deaths from influ-
enza and SO from pneumonia.
There seems to be but little that the
health departments can do to stay the
spread Of this disease. 1t is up to the
individuals to protect themselves. The
visiting OF persons suffering from in
fluenza should be restricted as much as
possible, n once again we urge the peo-
pie when they come down with an at
tack to go to bed and stay until COM
pletely we'll.
Automobile exhaust gas contains car
bon monoxide, a tasteless, odorless gas
which causes death by asphyxiation If
breathed in sufficient quantities.
The closed garage is almost as dan
gerous as the unguarded railroad cross
ing. The common practice Of starting
your automobile motor and letting 1T
warm up on these cold winter mornings
without first opening the garage doors
is a dangerous practice.
Carbon monoxide gas may be present
in large quantities in commercial ga
RACES. Sufficient and proper ventilation
should be provided where automobile mo-
tors are running in garages and shops.
Poisoning from carbon monoxide may
come on suddenly without sufficient
warning to permit the victim to get to
a supply Of fresh air, or it may cause
headache and nausea before the person
becomes unconscious.
Don't take any chances with carbon
monoxide poisoning; it is highly fatal.
Don't start the motor In q closed
garage.
Don't operate q commercial garage
or shop without rroper ventilation.
Don't remain in a closed car with mo-
tor running unless the car Is in motion.
During the last five years 40 lives have
been lost In the state due TO carbon
monoxide poisoning
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
@"LaSt Survivors, e. yS$5 9? z s ;$$ :3 Ss$ ss $r fS=: 3
Il Develops that They We're Really With Reno or Bmt@nt on the lay o: hat Disastrous Fight i

might as well leave him a loop-hole
of escape.
The soldiers who were sent in the
next year to complete the hasty Job
Of burial which Gibbons men had
done, were able to account for all of
the squadron but two. Later the skel-
eton of two men were found at some
distance from the scene Of conflict
so that avenue Of escape would seem
to be closed. The soldier whom the
chiefs thought escaped might have
been II of these men who got away
from the main body only to perish a
little way on. Mistakes are made in
counting up the deal on a battlefield.
however, and one of Reno's dead
might have cot mixed in by mistake.
Ii there is any element Of doubt,
however, il IS very small indeed. And
even If the chance Of one survivor
were conceded. the historian would
have a herculean job in discovering
the true survivor from the army Of
imposters. Probably like the MAN
in the Iron Mask" the Lost
Dauphin' and the Czar's daughter,
A%nastasia, the sole survivor Of the
Custer fight will continue to bob UP
in the field of speculation in spite
of all the historians can do 10 bury
him under the facts, and we doubtless
haven't heard THE last Of him yet.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

senator Tom Hogan, some years ago,
engaged in farming oil the Huntlcy
project near Billings. state senator
from Yellowstone county, prominent
in the circles of the democratic party
and active in development of the oil
industry from the time the Cat Creek
field was discovered, has become a mil
li0naire and Is now one of the leading
citizens and capitalists of Midyale, Tex.
q new town which is growing rapidly.
Motoring from New Orleans TIC Los An
geles, where he will spend the winter
former Lieut.. Gov. w. w. Mcdowell
stopped in Midvale cnroute 10 the coast
A building II stories high, the most i'm
posing structure in the town, attracted
their attention and they learned it was
the property Of Senator Hogan, who had
constructed it at a cost of more than
81 600 900. The following day they were
guests of the former Montanan who still
regards this state as his home.
Always n Hustler
Senator Hogan. from the days he first
to Montana and worked in the
mines of Butte, was active in politics.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
WHARTON
DIES IN BUTTE
WAS WIDOW OF LATE MANAGER OF
BUTTE STREET RAILWAY
COMPANY
Came to Montana Before Railroads to
Visit Relatives In Greatest Mining Camp
on Earth, Married and Remained Their
Afterwards; Husband Died In 1925

-
Death claimed another beloved Butte
matrOn recently when Mrs. Dorcas
Wharton, widow of the late Jesse X.
Wharton, for many years manager of
the Butte Street Railway company, sue
cumbed to a lingering Illness which had
extended since the death of her hus-
band five years ago. Mrs. Wharton, who
was 90 years old, died at her home in
Columbia Gardens, where she had lived
for many years.
Surviving relatives include a daughter
and son-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. Edgar Wild
of Butte, and a son and daughter in-law
and Mrs. John c. Wharton, Of Wis
dom. Other relatives Include a sister,
Mrs. Frank r Douglass Of Montreal, Cam
ada, and four brothers. George and Hally
Noyes Of Butte, Ben Noyes of Quebec,
Canada, and John Noyes Of British Co
lumbia There are also four grandchil-
dren and several nephews and nieces.
Mrs. Wharton, who was numbered
among Butte's most lovable matrons, will
be mourned by thousands who have
known and earned to love her during
her half century OF residence in Butte.
The esteemed Butte matron was born
in Canada in 1859 and came to Butte
before the arrival Of the railroads, max
ing the trip overland from the Utah
Northern terminal in 1881 to visit her
uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. John Noyes.
She was so attracted by the mining camp
that she remained in Butte and In 1894
was married to MIR. Wharton.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

VII FROM Wells ana lJb,NuU rect OF GaS
Montana public lands produced in
1928. according to the United States
geological survey. 16S,2S6 barrels of oil.
1913 1921 feet of natural gas, and 2sS,-
SSG.330 tons of coal. The total rent
and royalty received was Sl01 ,96l.S1.
This information is contained in an
interesting though somewhat technical
summary of the survey activities in Mon
tana, as submitted by the chief of the
bureau, George Otis Smith, to Senator
t. j. Walsh.
The geological survey maintains several
branch offices in Montana, one at Helena
in the federal building, in connection
with water Investigations, with
w. A. Lamb, the engineer in charge, and
two under the oil and gas leasing work
at Billings, in the Electric building, with
r. II. Airport the engineer i'll charge
of oil and gas leasing. Another is a.
Shelby with E.. w. Henderson the engi-
neer in charge of oil and leasing
Mineral Discoveries
Director Smiths report deals with
metaliferous deposits and mineral re
sources of q number of counties, with
water resources II conservation.
In the water department it is stated
IL new gaging stations were established
in 1928, making 81 in all. A study OF
ground water levels was made in the
area north Of Flathead lake by A. H,
futile of the bureau.
A survey Of the Libby quadrangle was
begun at the request of the national
geological survey headquarters. In con
junction with the Montana state engi-
neer a survey in the vicinity of Flathead
a was also started.
Six townships in Powder River and IA
in McCone counties were examined for
coal classification. Geological conditions
affecting q lam site on the South Fork
of the Flathead river were examined.
Oil and Gas
The survey supervised At oil n gas
leases, 81 coal leases, II coal licenses,
! 1855 oil and gas prospecting permits and
II coal permits affecting public lands.
On request of the bureau on Indian
affairs the survey exercised supervision
of 40 gas II oil leases on the tribal and
restricted lands of the Crows II Black
feet and examined the land sought under
n silver-lead lease on the Rocky Boy In
dian reservation
The name of the reservation recalls to
the mind of Butte people that Rocky
Boy, who gave his name to this reserva
ton was an annual visitor to Butte 25
years ago. Rocky Boy and his tribe made
their homes at what is now the western
II of the city park.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

Benton, he said, "My horse must have
carried me across, one Of those times
when | didn't know much o. what
was happening" AS the Yellowstone
is commonly a raging torrent in the
latter part of June, his explanation,
10 say the least, did noC sound plaus-
ible.
AT Fort Benton, Finkle said that he
heard for the first time Of the com
pletc humiliation of Clusters men.
lie told no one of his part in the fight,
merely saying that he had been
wounded in a scrap with some Indi-
ans. a boat was going down the river
and Finkle after being refused a job
on il because of his crippled condition,
hid ON board until it started and
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

Greatest trouble to the secret service
men dedicated to the job of putting
counterfeiters out of business is caused
by reputable people who hate to be
beat out of a bum dollar or bill' when
they get stuck and insist on passing
il just once more.
So says B. j. Wells of Spokane, chief
United States secret service agent with
the treasury department for the terri
tory embracing Montana, eastern Wash
ington and northern Idaho. Mr.. Wells
was in Butte recently to confer with
Chief of Police Murphy and testify to the
federal grand jury regarding an alleged
government check forgery case.
IT'S astonishing how this attitude is
held to among the best people, " MIR
Wells said. often when We have traced
down a man who has passed bad money.
civic officials have declined to aid us in
experimenting them. with the query,
Wouldn't you pass it on If you got STUCK
with bad money!
This attitude IS held more ~obstlnately
in the smaller towns. Probably this Is
because OF the greater habits OF thrift
said to be fostered in such communities.
We are forced to spend at least half
our time Just following up the series of
passlngs OF bad money. mostly by promi-
nent persons who could easily afford
the loss but decline 10 get stuck for the
mount
TIL first thing to do, of course, when
one gets counterfeit money. is to notify
the police and they Will get in touch
with us Mir. Wells said. only with
such cooperation of the public can the
government ever hope to put counter
letters out of business.
In the larger cities, especially in Butte,
we receive fine cooperation and as a
result have made many arrests that have
stopped streams Of counterfeiters' prod
ucts from continuing"
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

all its dramatic elements, will be made
new again.
News dispatches not so long ago
carried an account of the death OF a
certain "last survivor of CUSTER
command. As new survivors spring
up with a fair regularity, the supply
must still be large III spite of occa-
sional deaths. Although with the eX-
ception of perhaps Curley, the Grow
scout, historians Of the battle remain
firm in the belief that none escaped,
there have been sole survivors enough
10 equal Clusters command.
Used Poor Judgment
Seven or eight years ago while on
a newspaper staff at Walla Walla, |
interviewed a man named Finkle who
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
(By w. H. BANFILL)

THE recent death of Peter Thomp-
L son of Ekalaka, who claimed that
he missed the fate of Custer and his
command only by reason that his
horse became lame on the march,
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

brings to mind
that scores OF
men since the day
of the tragic bat
tie of the Little
Big Horn, have
posed as surviv-
ors of the fight OF
the last TO see
Custer alive.
7 no m MS
record in this re-
spect is far o
substantial than
most of those
who have aspired
to the lilnelight on
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

posed as the only survivor Of the bat
tie. He claimed that he enlisted under
the name of Frank Hall although his
account would have been better if he
had stuck to his own name, as there
a a man named Finkle killed with
Custer, although the first name was
not the same. On the other hand, no
Hall was on the muster roll.
Although the old gentleman had
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
Indians Saw One Escape

Although historians Of the battle
are agreed that there were no sur
vivors of the battle with the possible
exception of Curley, the Crow scout,
ii is of interest to note that several
of the battle chiefs Of the Sioux and
C%heyennes in the account which they
gave Of the fight years afterward,
said that one trooper severely wound
ed got through their lines. Perhaps
they had heard of one Of the many
"sole survivors and thought they
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

wounded. In spite of his wounds, how
ever, he went for water for his com
rades, a venture of great danger, as
the Indians endeavored TO cut the
force off from water, TO compel them
to abandon their entrenched positions.
Thompson was the proud possessor
of a congressional medal, given for
his heroism ON July % and 26, 1876.
Whether or not he could justly lay
claim to having been the last white
man to see Custer Of those who lived
to tell the tale, is another question.
As far as his being a survivor of
the battle is concerned, his title is
perhaps somewhat better than that
of a former resident of Huntley who
died several years ago. He also might
have met his death along with Custer
but he was placed in the guardhouse
at Fort Abraham Lincoln for being
drunk n some other misconduct be-
fore the expedition started and was
left behind. His troop was one that
was annihilated.
For many years there lived at Bill
lings, an old, taciturn man, John
Burhman, who for many years had
charge Of General Clusters horses and
dogs and who saddled his horse Vie
tor, the morning of the fatal charge.
Burkman had been interviewed and
Iqueried 50 often about Custer and the
circumstances of his defeat that tlc
mere mention Of Clusters name was
sufficient for him 10 shut up like a
clam and only a few who had knowl
him long could oct him to talk on the
subject at all. Burknan lived 10 be
nearly 80 and then, threatened with
blindness, committed suicide.
Custer Changed Horses
On the morning Of the fatal day,
Custer, who had been riding his IA
vorite horse, Dandy, in an early hour
scouting trip TO locate the Indian vii
.lage, returned TO camp and after de-
Gliding on the plans for the attack
with his officers, changed TO Victor,
the Kentucky thoroughbred, who
shared with him the fate Of the bat
tlefield. Burkman was at least one
of the last men left behind to whom
Custer spoke.
Burkman had been with Custer
since the reconstruction days in Ken
lucky and Tennessee where breaking
up moonshine distilleries and sup
pressing the ku Klux Khan were the
principal tasks. His service under the
general continued through the four
years at Fort Abraham Lincoln, in
Guiding the Stanley expedition and
the Black hill episodes until the final
tragedy.
Scattered through Montana and
here and there in other states as well,
are still a handful of men who can
boast Of some close connection with
Clusters last battle; men who were
besieged on the hills with Reno and
Benteen and fought desperately to
ward off a similar fate; soldiers in
Gibbon S command who we're the first
to see the awful carnage field; men
who were with the steamer Far West
which bore back Reno's wounded sol
diers and the cruel news Of disaster.
And as these men pass on one by one,
the story of Clusters last stand. with
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

~ aio hftu HIN StdtS.
finally induced the captain TO carry
him as far as Sioux City. Finkle said
that he had never made any effort to
obtain IN army discharge or to gain
official recognition; he had lost all
his papers, the Officers that he knew
had all been killed and he "wasn't
going to chase all over the country to
find some TO discharge me-"
An article which recounted Finkle's
claim TO fame, brought several letters
in reply from various people who have
made a "hobby'' of Custer battle
memorabilia, including +. A. Brinin-
stool, the author Of ga Trooper With
CUSTER and other books on frontier
wars. Mr.. Brininstool said that the
woods were full of Custer survivors
and that he had a friend in Chicago
who wa sacquainted with II men who
claimed to be survivors.
Some Annoyed Mrs. Custer
Brininstool told Of one man who
claimed that he laid on a hill half a
mile from the battlefield and watched
the fight through a spyglass. The mar
described the battle in great detail
and was able to clear up all the con
troverted points about tle battle
which have always been a matter of
speculation. Some Of these imposters
have even been bold enough to en-
deavor to get an audience with Mrs.
Custer herself in the hope hat they
could gain her help in furtheriag their
recognition, and she has been given
no little annoyance by their efforts.
The first ''survivorN TO seek and
gain notoriety was one Sebastian
Best, whose story went the rounds of
the national press as early as 1881
or 1852. Best's claim, however, was
rather that of an eyewitness as he
avowed that he was a captive among
the Sioux Indians at the time of the
battle.
According to Best, he was a captive
among the Sioux for six years until
he was regarded as almost one of
them. He said that the Sioux built
a decoy camp, placing billets of wood
covered with blankets around the
camp fires to represent seated Indi-
ans. When Custer rode down and
opened fire on the "faked" camp,
5000 Sioux warriors rode down off
the mountain sides and surrounded
him. Custer with his sabre left many
a ragged edge cross as a trademark
on the redskins faces but finally fell,
pierced with seven bullets.
Best claimed that he saw the in
trepid officer die and that when his
foes closed in at last and he saw there
was no escape, he exclaimed, 81 am
all alone. / have done my best. The
boys are all gone and / 90 with them
Best finally escaped from the Indians
after travelling for a long distance with
a fleeing band and made his way back
to a frontier town. Like many of the
other survivors, Best waited, however,
until he had returned east to give his
tale to a credulous world.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
ENpects New Record

Though Montana already leads ali
other western and m~iddlewestern COM
monwealths in its increase in bank de-
posts during the last year, the highest
total ever recorded in the state is ex-
pected the first OF the year, A. j. Lochrie,
state superintendent OF banks, said.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

rather a hazy conception Of directions,
his account Of his escape was thrilling
enough to make up for other def
ciencies. In the early part of the bat
tie he was wounded in the foot while
another bullet was imbedded III the
flesh of the muscles above his hips.
His horse was wounded i'll the flank
and another bullet cut one of The
bride reins. Still another bullet hit
the iron of his gun and a splinter
struck him between the eyes, causing
the blood to spurt over his face, blind
ing him so that he was unable to see.
His horse bolted for the hills and
with only one line, he was unable TO
control it. He remembered hearing
bullets whistle above his head but
could not recall going through The In
dian lines.
For some time he rode, dazed and
almost unconscious, with a hazy idea
Of getting back to the other troops
but with no idea Of direction. Finally
he got off his horse and picketed him
and slept awhile. On the second day,
he saw some mountains at Il distance
and started for them. On the third
day, he reached the cabin Of some
trappers, where he found two men,
one of whom was sick VITA the noun
tain fever, from which he died a few
days later. Here Finkle remained for
four months, the surviving trapper
nursing him back to health.
Near Fort Benton
When he came to leave, Bill, the
only name the trapper gave, told him
he was about two days journey from
Fort Benton and showed him the
route to take. When the attention of
Finkle was called to the necessity Of
crossing the Yellowstone river to get
from Clusters battlefield 10 Fort
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
Mail Record

All mail records for the holiday sea
son were smashed when stamps on 81 .289
pieces OF mail were Cancelled m 1000
sacks OF mail were received and an equal
number distributed IN the Butte postof-
flee IN one day.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
10 M0NTANANS
RHODES PUPILS
VALUABLE SCHOLARSHIPS TO OXFORD
UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND GIVEN
TO WORTHY APPLICANTS

George f.. Barnes, Son of Congregational
Minister at MissOula, Was First to Win
Coveted Prize in Thi State; Red Lodge
Boy Is Awarded Honor This Year
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
SERVICE
HAS TOUGH JOB
PEOPLE WIG GET BOGUS MONEY
OFTEN "PASS IT ALONG" DE
CLARES CHIEF

Government Agents Are Compelled 10
Spend Much More Time Tracing COun-
terfeiterS Because of Persons Who Re
fuse to BE "Stuck" for Amount
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
DEATH INCREASE
NOTED AFTER FLU
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH DECLARES
THAT ONLY A QUARTER OF THE
CASES REPORTED TO THEM

Statement From Officials Also Contains
Warning to Beware of Running Auto
mobile Engines in Closed Garages Where
Deadly MonoXide Gas Is Not Diluted
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
TOM HOGAN NOW
TEXAS MAGNATE
FORMER MONTANA SENATOR, ONCE
ENGAGED IN FARMING ON HUNT
LEY PROJECT, NOW WEALTHY

Lieutenant Governor Mcdowell and Wife
Are Guests in His Home in Midyale,
Tex, While Motoring to Los Angeles:
Was Active in Oil Circles in This state
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03
MONTANA LANDS
ARE VALUABLE
SURVEY OF Production FROM PUB
Lie LANDS SHOWS MORE THAN
500, 900 IN ROYALTIES

Survey Made for senator Y. j. Walsh
Shows Nearly 300, O00 600 Tons of Coal
Produced in 1928; s6S, 600 Barrels of
Oil From Wells me 1872, 900 Feet of Gas
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-11-24
HARGILL

The w n. 5. met with Mrs. A.
M. Albrecht last week and quilted
a quilt for Buclserns Orphan home
and packed a box Of other useful
things for the orphans.
B. Seal and Fl. @. Some OF Wich-
tia Falls, Texas were visitors in
Hargill Tuesday.
The slowing attended the Sun
day school convention at Weslaco
last Sunday afternoon. Mr.. and
Mrs. q. r.. Geren. Mr.. and Mrs
G. Blaskowsky. Mr.. and Mrs. Jonn
McGinnis, Sydney Lakeland. +. 7.
Linde, T. j. Ogilvie, Joplin. Rev.
G "A. Hamburg, d. 4. Stevenson,
w. II. Cattlett and Roy Mirts and
Miss Opal Catlett.
DR.. and Mrs. Cobb yer visiting
In Edinburg on last Tuesday.
Misses Mable Belle Nittler- Cor
inc Bonhma and Alice Lancaster
we're guests OF Miss Gerildine Lobb
last week end.