davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
IN - go Eb Jay PammnC Came to His Death From an IN
MW i ,2u11nTn12 U(1A As@Sns Bullet While lifting Alone In DugOn NN
wv Which Belonged to His Friend otoh Scmdzk Y
y NowA R@1dmt of Miles City. But at htTn an Army Scout and Indian ConnyM messenger

cure a position with the pack train
at Fort Laramie, vas Informed that
he was too light. He went To the
quartermaster who let him have a
horse. He then went to Red Cloud
and secured a position as stable car
penter from the quartermaster, Lieu
tenant Murphy. In a desire to utilize
his spare hours in the evening, he
built two dugouts in Red Cloud. One
was his cabin, the other he used as
a rendezvous where men came TO play
cards. California Joe came often.
Lunches were served at midnight.
Danger from the hostiles was ever
present. On Christmas day a scout
came into camp bearing dispatches. He
reported that when he arrived in the
vicinity of Hat creek he found it diff
ficult to make a crossing. Two other
scouts fell in with him on their way
to Red Cloud. Suddenly and without
warning they were attacked by Indi-
ans. A fight ensued. Their horses
were shot from under them. One
scout was shot through the leg, an
other across his back and through his
arm. They fought on, however, until
dark. Then scrambling along, they
came to a wood camp, were placed in
a wagon and taken to Red Cloud. The
hands and feet of two of the party
were frozen before their arrival.
Shortly thereafter the post COM
mander, General Mason, called upon
Schmelzle to carry some dispatches to
Fort Laramie. Six inches of snow lay
on the ground. He travelled during
the night. During the course of the
journey, when coming up from the
bottom of a creek and reaching the
top Of a divide, his horse stopped sud-
denly. Dismounting, Schmelzle bent
low in order to get a better view in
the darkness. He saw what he took
to be an object along the side of the
road. Changing his course, he went
down the side of the hill and around
and continuing his journey arrived at
Fort Laramie between 4 and 5 o'clock
in the morning.
Runs Into Ambush
Delivering his dispatches to General
Townsend, he decided to remain for
the day and night. In the morning
preparations were made for him to
return to Red Cloud, again carrying
dispatches to Mason. Nothing untoWard
happened until within II miles of Red
Cloud.
A thin red streak of fire spit out
from behind a clump of sagebrush
along the roadside. A spiral of smoke
assembled. Schmelzle felt the sudden
squirt of wind as a bullet whizzed past
his head. He returned the fire and
saw dust rise from the spot to which
the bullet had sped. Firing ceased
On both sides. Reaching Red Cloud
in record time and delivering the dis
patches to Mason, that officer re-
marked that that was the quickest trip
he had ever seen to Fort Laramie and
back, a distance of about 100 miles.
Schmelzle went Immediately to his
dugout.
A sepulchral stiffness seemed to per-
wade the air. No n in the immediate
vicinity appeared to volunteer any in
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
Bankers Will Meet
I'm Great Fails Inn
July of This Year

Dates for the annual meeting Of the
Montana Bankers association in Great
Falls have been set for July II, Is and
10. Great Falls was selected for the
1880 convention at a meeting of the
executive council in Bozeman last
month, the dates being withheld until
it could be learned when the greatest
number could attend.
1t is expected that between 800 and
400 will attend the three-day session
officers of the state association are
Mr.. Telyea of Livingston, president;
B. M. Harris Of Park City, vice presi-
dent, and George M. Robertson, deputy
state bank examiner at Helena, secre-
tary and treasurer. The state is di-
vided into seven groups with a coun-
cilor appointed from each. These men,
who, with the officers, compose the ex-
ecutive council, are N. S. Swanson Of
Fort Benton, group No. 1; L.. K. Hills
of Baker, No. 2; H. c. Gross of Victor,
No. g.; S. B. Wallander of Froid, No.
4; r. r. Williams of Great Falls, No.
S; E. j.. Bowman of Anaconda, No. g.,
and William Witt of Columbus, No. Z.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
MONTANA LIFE
SHOWS GROWTH
HAS SIS, 900, 1000 OF INSURANCE IN
EFFECT WITH ASSETS TOTAL
ING MORE THAN $1O,0 OO, 900
Figures Disclosed at Annual Meeting In
Helena Indicate Steady Increase In
Business That Has Marked Its His
tory Is Continuing; Now In II States.

Making the same consistent growth
and progress In 1929 as 1t has every
year since its organization In 1910,
the Montana Life Insurance company
plans extensive development in 1880
in Pacific coast states, 1t was dis
closed at the annual meeting of the
stockholders In Helena.
The progress of this rapidly grow
ing Montana financial institution is
shown by q comparison of its annual
reports. In 1917, for instance, it had
$40, 500, 1852 insurance in force and assets
force had increased to $37, 639, 400 and
assets to $ 5,979, 250.17. 1t closed the
year just ended with insurance in force
totaling SIS, 198,033 and assets Of &c.,
409, 3.18. Its surplus to policy-holders
at the close of 1929 was 1887, 236. 09, a
figure which, In its ratio to the in
surance in force, makes it n Of the
strongest companies, financially, in the
United States.
The Montana Life is operating in IL
western states, but it continues to hold
the regard and favor Of its home state,
about a fourth Of its new insurance in
force coming each year from Montana.
Only two officers were to be elected
this year, and in accord with the fixed
policy of the company to recognize
loyalty and ability, the board Of di-
rectors unanimously elected Treasurer
Francis A. Howard as a vice president
and DR.. E. H. Lindstrom medical di-
rector. Mr.. Howard came to the Mon
tana Life in 1917 from a large mort
gage and bond house as assistant
treasurer. In 1919 his ability Vol for
him a promotion to treasurer and now
the promotion to a vice presidency Is
further recognition of his talent in
financial lines. DR.. Lindstrom, who
served under DR.. B. G. Brooke as as
sociate medical director, and after DR..
Brooke's death as medical director, was
the unanimous choice of the board
when 1t came to making a permanent
appointment.
Officers of the Montana Life Insur-
ance company are:
President, H. r. Cunningham; chair
man of the board, A. G. Johnson,
president American National bank,
Helena; vice president, Carl Rasch Of
Gum, Rasch, Hall 81 Gum, Helena;
vice president, T. B. Miller, real estate
and Investments, Helena; vice presi-
dent and treasurer, F. A. Howard; sec
rotary, A. j. Clemo; actuary, r. B.
Richardson. Besides these officers, the
other directors are: Will H. Murgit-
troyd, president Tru-Blu Biscuit COM
pany, Spokane; Lee Mantle, former
United States senator, Los Angeles;
Louis Hoffman, capitalist, Helena; Will
Brulo, manager mortgage loan depart
ment Montana Life, Helena; JEFF Dog
gett, stockman, Townsend; A. F. Wal
dorf, merchant, Dillon; B. F. Lepper,
capitalist, Akron. Ohio.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27

rev mounts pre-
vious to that time. Among the arrivals
at Fort Laramie shortly after Schmel-
zle'S arrival was California Joe, who
was engaged as a scout with General
Crook. He brought dispatches from
the commanding officer to the fort. A
strange friendship was formed between
Gottlobe Schmelzle and California Joe
that was broken when the latter was
shot dead while sitting in the Schmel-
zle cabin. Joe, whose ~antecedentS were
not known, was accompanied by Texas
Jack, another brave character of the
plains and who rendered valuable serv-
ice to the government in the capacity
of a scout also.
When it was learned at Fort Laramie
that Crook contemplated leaving his
wagon train temporarily at the head
quarters of the Powder river and would
move on to Custer City in the Black
hills region, Schmelzle expressed a de-
sire to accompany the scouts. He
traded a six-shooter and $40 for a
pack horse. California Joe secured his
supplies from the quartermaster. Texas
Jack went along as a companion Of
Joe'S.
Meet Crooks Troops
Intrigue and rugged a of the
hills and plains country were not I'M
common as twain experiences in the
lives OF the men of the northwest a
half century ago. The tanning of the
west came about as much through the
quarrels followed by fatal eliminations
of bad men, and good, in the groups
that moved in that region. Those who
survived in the current of intrigue
lived to enjoy the romance to be found
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27

in trail-blazing activities and earned
the gratitude Of those who came later
over peaceful paths.
The party met Crooks troops at Gus
ter City. A year before California Joe
Graham. A friendship formed before
the flowing bowl ended in a quarrel
and Graham was shot in the hip.
Learning that Graham was in camp,
California Joe remarked to Schmelzle
that he did not want to have any trou-
BILE with Graham and asked Schmelzle
to go and see Graham.
There will be some trouble if / see
him and he sees me-" he said.
When they had picked their camp,
Schmelzle went out to where it was
learned Graham was herding cattle.
us your name Graham?" he asked,
as he approached q man standing
guard.
mo-" the man replied. Graham is
over on the other side of the herd"
Schmelzle rode on. He went around
the herd and finding no one, returned
only to discover that the man he had
met was gone. He caught up with
him and the man admitted that he
was Graham and asked Schmelzle what
he wanted. Schmelzle told him that
California Joe did not want any trou-
BILE with him and wished to make up"
Graham did not reply. Instead he went
on into camp, secured his rifle and
went cunning for Joe.
California Joe was sitting with his
back against a tree. He was asleep.
Stealthily Graham approached. He
got within so yards Of Joe. Bending
to his knees he took careful aim. Draw
ing a bead on the sleeping figure he
pressed the trigger. In that split sec
ond, Joe aWOke and turned his head.
That act saved his life, the bullet
striking him on the top OF his shoul-
der, cutting the skin. California Joe,
unarmed, ran to his tent, grabbed a
gun and with two companions pursued
the fleeing Graham, shooting twice at
him but missing. Joe returned to the
quartermaster, explained the circum-
stances and gave himself up.
Enter Calamity Jane
The element of romance enters here.
The quartermaster was informed that
a woman had been discovered among
the wagon drivers. Dressed in the
garb of a plainsman, the Woman was
in charge of one of the six-mule out
fits. The officer ordered an escort to
be formed. In the meantime, Graham
had been apprehended and brought in
to camp. Ordering Graham and the
woman to appear in his presence, in
structions were given that the pair be
escorted out of camp for a distance
of 25 miles in the direction of Fort
Fetterman. The woman was Calamity
Jane. Being short one driver, Cali
fornia Joe vas detailed to take that
position.
Driving back to Fort Laramie, the
wagons were loaded to be started for
a point in the interior, up in the
Powder river country to meet Crook.
and Buffalo Bill CIV. F. Cody, and
his band of Pawnee Indians. Reach
ing the Powder river valley, the party
moved on to Custer City where Crook
received them. A double purpose was
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27

formation. The friendship existing be-
tween Schmelzle and California Joe
was we'll known. He entered his cabin.
No one was within or in the adjoining
cabin. When he emerged he was in
formed that California Joe was dead.
He had been shot to death while
Schmelzle was absent. California Joe
had been sitting in SchmelZle's cabin,
he was informed, with his back to the
door. A nan named Tom NeWcomb,
supposed to be a close friend of Gra-
hams and employed by him as a kill
err, had shot Joe. He was further in
formed that Newcomb escaped to the
woodward and stood of a company OF
soldiers who came to arrest him and
succeeded in making his escape. 1t
was Townsend, Schmelzle believes, who
hid behind the sagebrush that same
day and attempted to kill him also.
Man of Mystery
Very little was known of California
Joe. Mr.. Schmelzle remembers him as
a nan who possessed many excellent
traits. He was trustworthy. When on
duty his services for the government
as a scout were second to none. His
weakness was drink. He never in
dulged in Intoxicating liquors when
weighted down with responsibilities.
When the restraints were lifted, he
would spend the amount of his pay
check, sell his personal belongings, dis
pose of his siX-shooter and pledge any
remaining chattels if he fell short of
funds with which to satisfy his thirst
He was a kindly man, given to thoughts
for others who might be in need. He
was held in high esteem by the mill
tary commanders in the field, and his
work as a scout could always be de-
pended upon. There is no record ex-
tant that he failed in any of his IN
dertakings. He faced dangers without
a tremor of fear. He stalked through
the night to carry dispatches when
less brave men would have counseled
to avoid dangers that might be avoided
when the element of time was con-
sidered.
Strange and silent as was his en-
trance into the scene of action in the
valley of the Powder river, in like man.
ner was his crossing of the Great Di-
vide. He left no written record Of his
origin. The warm days Of the summer
and the cold and SHOWS Of winter have
succeeded each other through the years,
but California Joe has left the definite
influence of his brave deeds as a heri-
tage to those who have come to learn
of and appreciate the services Of a
character whose life and labors is like
a stone imbedded in the foundation Of
a later expanding civilization in the
northwest.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
TO MARK GRAVES
ON OLD TRAIL
FORESTERS ARE TRYING TO IDEN-
THY RESTING PLACES OF PIO-
NEERS IN OLD CEMETERIES
Path Leading From Old Silver Bow
Near Butte Through Curly Town, Sill
yer Star and on to Virginia City Peo-
pied BY Ghosts of Former Years.

An old trail, dimly marked In some
places and OvcrgrOwn completely In
others, led down from Silver Bow,
center of prospecting In days when
Butte vas but q big hill and no set
Element at all, through Curly Town,
Highland City and Silver Star to that
era's chief metropolis, Virginia City.
To keep fresh In memory its route
and the romance of those p~r0spect0rs,
gamblers, traders and trappcrs who
travelled it then as the main thor
0ughfare Of those parts, Deer Lodge
f0resters this summer will mark the
way and many lonely graves beside
it, IL time and funds permit.
Some data on the old trails windings,
run onto last season by J. N. Templer
of Butte, acting supervisor of the re-
serve, has already been collected, and
more is sought to identify mounds in
g%raveyards of ghost mining camps and
lonely cairns in the hills about.
Stage Depot on Hump
From Silver Bow the old trail runs
northerly to Deer Lodge, then known
as Cottonwood, with ruins of an old
stage depot and dance hall on the d.
vide, then known coloquially as the
hump"
Southerly, it meanders down to Curly
Town, where the remains of an old
stamp mill are about the only land
mark Of this once active camp; thence
through the Moose creek watershed to
Highland City at the head Of Fish
creek, where a prospector known to the
foresters as Brooks seeks pockets Of
gold in the hills in summer and goes
into Idaho and other states south for
winter scoutings. A dozen graves are
there yet, where several Butte families
founded their fortunes in the seventies.
Southeasterly thence, it wanders
down to Silver Star, another once tenn
ing place in times hardly more than
a memory, and on down toward Vir-
ginia City, the hell-roarin' capital of
the state in times long age.
Ghost Camps Recalled
About $50 graves in north Idaho and
Montana forests have been found and
some data gathered on their tenants
and the historical significance and
color Of earlier days. Nearly 80 graves
recall the big Lincoln gulch placer
boom in the sixties, when $500 miners
rushed into the upper Blackfoot valley
TO make the earliest stable develop
ments Whereabouts.
Several mounds are near the York
postoffice in the Helena forest. In the
Nez Perce forest In Idaho about Flor
ence, one OF the widest camps of the
early sixties, are a score or more places
OF the dead, more than half of whom
doubtless came to violent ends.
AT the request Of the United States
senate, the forest service of district
No. !, under Maj. Evan w. Kelly of
Missoula, has compiled data on the
Identity and significance of historical
Genes.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
Mountain Guides Amuse
Themselves Frequently by
TELLING YARNS To CHARGES

know why those trees are twisted"
That you shall know speedily, if
you will let me tell the story in my own
way, and I can't be hurried"
Hmm! I see that. Fortunately it
is summer and the days are long"
We'll, you may have noticed that
the young of all animals love to play;
kittens, puppies, lambs, calves, colts;
mother looking on"
"I1l bet a dollar you didn't let the
mother see you watching"
You're right. / didn't. But you'll
agree young animals like to play. Why,
I've seen young squirrels chase n
another up n tree and then another.
They would race up and down, up and
down for an hour at a time. It's great
fun to watch them"
"Ill admit tive seen 'em myself
in the city parks. Queer little chaps,
squirrels! / can't imagine, however,
what you're driving at. Looks to me
as II you were getting away from your
subject"
mot In the least. I am taking the
easiest and shortest wav to make you
understand, as you will admit later on"
I'm not SO darned stupid as you
imagine, Tom. I can easily see the
connection between squirrels and trees,
but what under heaven is the con-
nection between squirrels and swim
ming pools, and how do either make
trees grow twisted like those back
there?"
BE patient and I'll tell you. You
knnuy hnu hOuc uannro11u haun fhQir
favorite swimming pool. In just the
same way squirrels have chosen trees
on which to play. These are almost
always Saplings, six or eve feet high,
young and tender"
What of it? Are you going to
preach me a sermon with those twisted
trees as the text?"
Perhaps there's a sermon in it, you
must be the judge Of that, but l
thought you wanted me to tell you why
those trees are crooked"
II do, / do, only hurry up about it"
he answered.
We'll, as l nave stated, the SPUR
rels would run up n side OF those
slender trees and down the other. up
and down, up and down, for hours at
q time, and day after day. Some
times there would be three or four on
the tree at one time, racing around
and around with the little tree bending
now this way and that. 1t, like the
squirrels, was young-nothing, in fact,
but a twig, and you remember the
saying, AS the twig is bent the tree
is inclined. Now, wouldn't this constant
bending of the sapling have a natural
tendency TO twist the tee out of shape?
Now wouldn't it?"
why yesl l never thought Of that.
/ can just see now how the whole thing
happened. The constant racing up and
down was bound to make the tree grow
crooked. But there must have been a
powerful sight of squirrels in early days
to have twisted that whole clump."
There were; thousands of EN-"
Il must confess, now, don't y know,
l thought for awhile you we're fooling
me. But Of curse that squirrel story
is perfectly reasonable. l understand
now, just as you told me would. When
l get home I'm going to examine the
trees IN the parks and see If any are
twisted like those here"
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
Noted Forest Ranger
Reaches Age Limit
and Retires Feb. 9

Howard G. Pulaski, one of the most
noted forest rangers of the west, q
great-grandson of the Polish patriot
who fought in the American Revolu-
tionary war, and who has earned q
reputation in his work of more than 81
years second to nor in the forest serv-
ice, was retired Feb. 8, having reached
the age limit.
For more than two decades he has
been in charge of the river district of
the Occur d'Alene forest, with head
quarters at Wallace. July is, 1908, Mr..
Pulaski joined the forest service as a
guard on the Occur d'Alene. Soon
afterward he became a ranger.
During the great 1910 fires, which
swept Wallace and the Occur d'Alene
forest, Ranger Pulaski won acclaim as
a hero, the savior Of q crew of 4C
men who were trapped by the flames,
He led them into q tunnel from which
they escaped alive, though almost suf-
located. Other feats OF valor were
credited to his record during this great
conf1agration.
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
BY MRS. M. E. PLASSMANN)

(By MRS. M. E. PLASSMANN)
7 ONG before the mountains in the
neighborhoOd of the Two Medicine
- river we're set aside as a national
playground, adventurous spirits from
the east and west used to visit them
and under the direction of capable
guides explore their Businesses. There
were then no well constructed trails
over which they could travel in COM
parative comfort, nor cabins even Of
the rudeSt kind where they might
rest and be fed. To follow safely
these defileS and passes was impOS-
sible for the uninitiated and guides were
therefore a necessity. These were gen.
orally mixed bloods who knew every
foot of this territory over which they
had often travelled in pursuit of game.
And here was another reason
why a guide, who was also a hunter,
should accompany a tourist. Wild ami
mails abounded. Not alone the noun
tain sheep and goats, but wolves, bears
of both the brown and grizzly vari-
cites, lynx and mountain lions.
These guides we're often men of cul-
ture; the sons Of wealthy fur traders
who had given their children the best
education possible either here or in
Europe. Something in the wild life
Of the west appealed to them and they
chose to live on the reservation rather
than in town, where because of racial
prejudice their Indian blood would
make 1t hard for them to compete
with others on equal terms. Their
quick intelligence and keen sense OF
humor enabled them to derive great
amusement from the ignorance and
vagaries of those they elected to serve.
To talk with n Of these men IS to
tap a reservoir Of anecdotes, provided,
always, you can win his confidence.
They are not above playing practical
jokes on their charges, or, like the early
stage drivers, finding pleasure III their
credulity.
The Guides Story
One of these former guides recently
said to me, Tourists are often very
gullible. I was once taking a visitor
from the eastern states through these
mountains when we passed a clulap OF
pines hat from disease or the ravages
OF insect or worm included several
which were c%uriously twisted in FORM"
He then proceeded to give the CONVEX
satiQn which ensued after passing the
trees.
did you notice those trees back
there? / wonder what made them crow
in that fashion,"
"Oh that is easily explained" I re-
piled. 1T is only natural they should
grow so. You remember the old say
ing, AS the twig is bent the tree is
in%clined?'"
Yes, / know the adage, but what n
clined the twig?"
We'll, I will try to explain, il you
have the patience to listen.'
Fire ahead, I'll surely listen
DO you remember" 1 inquired, how,
when boys, we always had q ~fay0rlte
swimming pool, and no matter how
many others there were in its vicinity,
we liked this particular pool best?'
Yes, l am sure any one who recalls
his boyhood remembers the old swim
ming hole"
NO matter If other pools werc Just
as good we always went to this pool?"
"Of counsel But we are not talking
about swimming holes. l want to
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-27
lBy mon TANA LOU" GRILL,

GONE Semblance of order had been
restored on the Bozeman trail in
the late seventies. For more than a
decade travellers en- route to the gold
bearing regions of western Montana
had been subject to attacks by the In
dams, who were making their last
stand to save their hunting grounds.