Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-12-22
nv GRACE STONE COATEs)

Lewis n. Crawford, TOR years sup
erintendent Of the State Historical
society Of North Da0kta, spent much
Of his early life In Montana. He en-
listed with the 18th Ohio Volunteer
cavalry In July, 1858; and at the close
Of the Civil war went west. On his
way TO Fort Hall he stopped for
time AZ Julesburg, north Of Denver,
named for Joe A. SHADES victim,
guIes Renai. SIade was superintendent
Of the Grand Central division OF the
Overland Stage company, Through
800 miles Of scant population and less
Law" Crawford heard the story OF
Jules death--hOw Slade had emptieo
first his pistol, then his shotgun in
20 Jules PROSTATE body puncturing It
with Is wounds; and the later cpl
sode Of sIicing off Jules ears.
At Fort Hall, Crawford was working
on the ferry when SHADES body came
through on the long journey TO It's Dur
fal place, in charge Of SHADES grleI-
stricken widow. The ferry where ne
first got work was on the Snake river.
where the big adobes Of old Fort Hail
were being torn down to build the new
town. Fort Hall was on one OF the
three important routes to the Virginia
city and Bannack gold fields, and
thousands Of adventurers came that
way as well as by Fort Benton and the
route mapped by Alfred Sully and jim
Fisx.
While Crawford was working on the
ferry, Alex Toponce offered him JOB
hauling butter, eggs and fresh vege-
tables into Virginia City by bull team
the first snowstorm Of the season
caught the outfit on Beaverhead creek,
and they had to keep fires all night,
taking turns at sleeping. They blew
smoke over the potatoes all night, 70
keep them from freezing. They got
through without serious mishap, but
heard that a man camped near them,
caught in the storm, tied his mules to
his wagon wheel and two Of them froze
to death. Mules can protect themselves
fairly well if left free, but soon freeze
If deprived Of action.
Once across the divide, they found
ranch stage stations every IS or 20
miles, and got into Virginia City late on
q Saturday night. Crawford was too
tired to look at the town, and tumbled I
into bed. Sunday morning he was out
bright and early to see what the gold
camp looked like. On one corner a /
preacher was exhorting small crowd.
and on the opposite corner Jew was
making even more sound peddling red
flannel shirts. In the middle Of the
street man rode up and down on
to1sel-coated mountain pony, auction
ing it off, assuring possible customers
that it was gentle and stout. In a sa-
loon a fist fight was going on. The
saloons attracted his attention more
than anything else, with their wide
swinging doors, their clink of glasses
and poker chips. In the bank window
we're gold nuggets and gold dust in
pans
Placer mining was the poor mans
chance at fortune. Crawford had mol
great amount of money, and wanted
10 try his luck. He fell in with man
from the Pasamari, who offered to
share his cabin, Is or 20 miles from
Virginia City, if Crawford would buy
half the winters grub. There proved to
be three cabins and several log barns
Jn the place, which was on the main !
rail to Silver Bow. Sometimes the two
men spent long days alone, but some I
lines their cabins were uncomfortably s
:rowded with hiking prospectors Few
& the travellers had horses. They pass
d on foot, packing bed and grub. They
lad no feed for horses, since 1t was
90 bulky to carry. They carried pick, {
hovel and gold pan, and often stopped
It the ranch for a days rest. The
'ancher made his living selling live
'attle to the little mining camps
Mr.. Crawford remembers the days of I
1our famine in Virginia City; and b
prenchman, Beavais, who always had +
me more sack Of flour-always the Z
ast-to sell at fancy prices. At last e
he authorities raided his cache, and
0nfiscated all he had, paying him $50 o
sack instead Of the $40 he had been a
Il
The road was always crowded during +
be summer, but travel slackened in the g
7inter. Outfits went by with teams so n
COR they could scarcely crawl, weak
rom lack Of food, with the owners tot Z
ng their packs on their backs to spare a
heir horses. Crawford went on to Hell A
ma with just such an outfit. Helena r.
Vas month old when he first saw the u
own. There was the little street along p
asst Chance gulch; the log shacks were
DING up. So far he had hardly found f
old enough to leave shine in the n
AN" He stayed in Helena and watch g
d the town grow. Two or three gen. Il
x1 stores went up, saloons multiplied g