Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-02-23

/ I'VE furnish the horses but you are
supposed to furnish the spurs"
Toponce's seven years experience in
the west before he entered Montana
territory gave direction to his life. and
so becomes q vital part Of his story.
During his stay ia Utah huge govern
ment contracts we're let and ADAM
doned Russell Majors and Wadell had
over 5000 wagons hauling government
supplies. They hauled over 1900 600
pounds between Nebraska City and
Camp Floyd. When the Mormon war"
failed to materiaIize, the government
disposed Of its mules and its 0utStand-
ing contracts. Colonel Carter, store
keeper at Fort Bridger, bought 200 900
pounds Of side meat at cent; another
man who had contracted TO furnish
81 900 pounds Of flour at 80 cents
bought back his contract at cent a
pound after supplying 1000 pounds.
When the mules were up for sale,
the wagon boss asked Toponce to go in
to the corrals and span them, putting
number on each span. There were
several small mules, scrubs and culls,
mountain pack mules, and the rest we're
fine, valuable animals. Toponce match
ed them up and hung number on each
span. He noticed that the first mules
brought out were span of culls. Ben
Halliday bid them IN for $50. But when
the mules went back In TO the corral,
Toponce noticed their number was
hung On span Of big, young mules and
another span Of scrubs was brought out.
They sold nothing but small mules ali
day long.
Toponce decided that he would get
in on the bidding. Ben Halliday glared
at him, but wouldn't bid against him.
lie bid in u span Of mules, all he could
afford, at $50. he went into the corral
and hung their numbers on the best
mules he could find. Nobody could say
anything to him because he knew too
much. He picked one long-legged PAGER
and another team that he sold for $500. |
He sold three other teams to three
men, only one OF whom he could after |
ward remember-John Sherman.
Feeling was running high as the Civil
war approached, and Toponce was liv-
ing IN Missouri where the bitterness
was at It's height. He was at Waverly,
Mo, when his friend, Bill Madison,
took exception to the southern SYM
pathies Of Joseph Shelby and pitched
him bodily through q fan window and
down a flight Of steps. Toponce, Henry
Carman and George Jewett decided it
was time for them to move before Shell
by came back on the scene. They out
fitted themselves for a western trip to
trap, hunt, and poison wolves, and
headed for Denver. They travelled with
Majors. Russell and Wadell's train on
account Of Indians. When they got to
French Gulch Qeadville) an explosion
wrecked their outfit and blew strych-i
nine through their provisions.
They went on to Georgia Gulch, and
here curious incident occurred. Be
fore leaving Missouri, Toponce had q
young lad who was on his way west.
he was afoot, ragged, penniless and
worn out. He wanted work and To-
ponce offered him job cutting logs
at dollar q day. He worked only O
day and half. and insisted on going
on. Toponce tried to dissuade him, and
told him nobody walked west OF the
Missouri. The boy had tramped it all
the way from Maine, and something
about his determination pleased To-
ponce. He fitted him out with a pair
Of boots, and gave him, instead Of a
dollar and q half, twenty-five with the
advice to pay for his passage in a regu
lar wagon train.
At Georgia Gulch this boy came rush.
Ing to him, almost too excited to speak:
aoh, Alex, I've struck 1t rich I've got
$4,000 in gold dust, and half OF Il is
yours"
ToD0nce refused the gift, saying he
could pay his own way but the two
boys talked all night, and the lad from
aEaane gave Toponce the information
about mining that was invaluable TO
him.
Feeling between men from different
states was surprisingly antagonigtic
A6sn from Iowa, Illinois and Ohio got
along anicably. but Kausans hated the
saissourians. and CalifoTniazs despased
what they called lousy Pixies Peakers."
After q brief experience In Colorado,
rounOce helped organize party Of 16S
nen and one woman for the gold dig
gfnns 10 Montana, and was nade cap
ain Of the train. Among the members
we're his mining partner. Henry Car
nan. who shared all his Montana VEN
.ssres and went back with him to Salt
AXE: EnOs A. Wall military man
naa0 made fortune in the gold mines;
goluneI Lsomax, whose wagon carried o
vt cat and six kittens; George Jewett,
sl1o married la Montana and took hts
gasa To Oregon. Or. Beardaley, physi-
.aan who pracfAced In Virginia City ia
laak camps earliest days; Tom 1ig-
LEI. Montana raneher, and Jack CAL
mnkseT, Montana bad uan who was
4uua By this vlgiIantes. There were
lese and A6r. and Mxs Dick sapp