The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-12-28
nv GRACE STONE COATEs)

By GRACE STONE COATES)
Lewis F. Crawford, for years sup
erintendent Of the State Historical
society of North Daokta, spent much
of his early life in Montana. He en-
listed with the 18th Ohio Volunteer
cavalry in July, 1868; and at the close
of the Civil war went west. On his
way to Fort Hall he stopped for a
time at J%ulesburg, north of Denver,
named for Joe A. SHADES victim,
Jules Remi. Slade was superintendent
OF the Grand Central division of the
Overland Stage company, Through
600 miles of scant population and less
law" Crawford heard the story OF
Jules death-how Slade LAT emptied
first his pistol, then his shotgun in
to Jules PROSTATE body puncturing 1t
with 10 wounds; and the later cpl
sode of slicing off Jules ears.
At Fort Hall, Crawford was working
on the ferry when SHADES body came
through on the long journey to its bur-
ial place, in charge of SHADES grief
stricken widow. The ferry where ne
first got work was on the Snake river.
where the big adobes Of old Fort Hall
were being torn down to build the new
town. Fort Hall was on n OF the
three important routes to the Virginia
CITY and Bannack gold fields, and
thousands of adventures came that
way as well as by Fort Benton and the
route mapped by Alfred Sully and Jim
Fisk.
While Crawford was working on the
ferry, Alex Toponce offered him a Jop
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, to
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 then froze
to death. Mules can protect themselves
fairly well if left free, but soon freeze
If deprived Of action.
Onc across the divide, they found
ranch stage stations every Is or ~
miles, and got into Virginia City late on
a Saturday night. Crawford was too
tired to look at the town, and tumbled
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 a small croWd.
and on. the opposite corner a Jew was
making even more sound peddllng req
flannel shirts. In the middle OF the
street a man rode up and down on a
tousel-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
were gold nuggets and gold dust IN
pans.
Placer mining was the poor mans
chance at fortune. Crawford had no
great amount of money, and wanted
to try his luck. He fell in with a 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
on the place, which was on the main
trail to silver Bow. Sometimes the two
men spent long days alone, but some
times their cabins were intentionally
crowded with hiking ~prospectors. Few
of the travellers had horses. They pass
ed on foot, packing bed and grub. They
had no feed for horses, since 1t was
too bulky to carry. They carried PICK
shovel and gold pan, and often stopped
at the ranch for a days rest. The
rancher made his living selling live
cattle to the little mining camps.
Mr.. Crawford remembers the days OF
flour famine in Virginia City; and a
Frenchman, Beavais, who always hao
one more sack Of flour-always the
last-to sell at fancy prices. At last
the authorities raided his cache, and
confiscated all he had, paying him S8(
q sack instead of the $40 he had beer
demanding.
The road was always crowded during
the summer, but travel slackened in the
winter. Outfits went by with teams sc
poor they could scarcely crawl, weak
from lack of food, with the owners tot
ing their packs on their backs to spare
their horses. Crawford went on to Hell
ena with Just such an outfit. Helena
was q month old when he first saw thu
town. There was the little street along
Last Chance gulch; the log shacks were
going up. So far he had hardly founc
gold enough to leave a shine in thu
pan" He stayed in Helena and watch
ed the town grow. Two or three gen.
eral stores went up, saloons multiplied