Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-10-27

all summer on their rich claim and
washed out considerable sum in gold
dust. In the meantime many others
had come, attracted by the strike, and
Bannack was thriving camp.
Came the first cold nights of Sep
TENDER and the proSpectors began to
consider the long winter that was In
front Of them. They had plenty Of gold
dust but very little food. Prices soar
ed, and meeting was called, which was
attended by all the proSpectors in the
new diggings, to consider what should
be done to provide food and sustenance
for the camp. This, the first public
meeting to be held In what is now the
state Of Montana, might be said to have
been called TO consider the high cost
of living and now, nearly IS years later,
the same problem confronts us.
It was decided to equip an expedition
and send 1t to Salt Lake City, the near
est place where provisions could be had,
for supplies. Volunteers to make the
trip were called for. Roe was one of Is
men who responded. A wagon train was
equipped and Roe was put In charge Of
IL. The community fund, representing
GUfC4a4 tAAOUcNAAA 0ClUAE III AQlA 0LA1J
and "greenbacks7 was placed In bis
keeping, and on the day following the
meeting Roe cracked his bun whip and
the wagon train which was to bring
food and succor to Montana's first set
Element Of consequence started south on
its important mission.
The trip to Salt Lake was without
incident and was made in about four
weeks. Then came difficulty The
Mormons had been living and trading
among themselves. They saw very lit
tie of the federal issue OF "greenbacks,"
which had deprecated because OF the
war. They would have nothing to do
with the gold dust. Roe thought for
day or two that the trip had been made
In vain. Finally he found an influential
Mormon who knew the value OF gold
and who was willing TO sell him goods
on basis of SIT per ounce for his dust,
when it was worth $40 and who advis-
ed his fellow churchmen that green
backs we're good money when taken
at q discount.
With the wagons Of his own train,
and Of q number Of Mormons who were
willing to freight provisions TO the new
gold camp ia consideration Of being
guided to it, Roe brought Is wagon
loads OF food and provender and start
ed back The return trip was made
without trouble A wagon which was
loaded with 5000 pounds OF flour, broke
down towards the end Of the journey.
The flour was cached, and messenger
dispatched to Bannack for wagons A
guard was left near the flour and the
train moved on.
Roe and his train made triumphal
entry into Bannaek on NOV. %. There
was great rejoicing in the camp be-
cause Of his arrival Work was ssls-
pended for the day and the miners
helped to put the supplies into impro-
vised storehouses and hastily excavated
cellars. Everyone in the little camp
was happy The wintry blasts might
come but the wolf Of want would not.
There was plenty for everyone and TO
spare.
Roe's success in bringing quick relief
TO the new camp made OF him con-
spicuous figure. He continued to mine
in the placers with success and two
years later opened general merchan-
disc establishment In which he was IN
terested for nearly so years following.
Roe played a prominent part in the
stirring events which led to the exter-
minatiOn OF Pig1mmeT and his band OF
bandits He was one OF the Vigilaute8
who apprehended and executed Henry
pinmmer. Buck Stinaon and Ned Ray,
all famous highwaymen. who had been
condemned 90 death BY the Virginia