Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-05-09
BY GLENDoLN DAMON WAGNER

Nv GLENDOLIN DAMON WAGNEE
Mrs. Decker, Of Billings, who, IS
wears ago, was Josephine Miner of
Miles City, says: THE good times
we had during the early days in
Miles City are a beautiful memory
20 me-" IL was in 1882 that she, with
her mother and two younger chill
dren, iOurneyed on one of the first
westbOund trains from Kansas TO
Join Joseph Miner who had pre-
ceded them five years. The blood
Of pioneers ran in her veins and
she viewed the crude little town
through the giamOrOus eyes OF
youth. Miles City, ina those days,
was lust beginning to win renown
as one Of the important horse and
cattle markets of the west. Streets
teemed with life and the air seemed
surcharged with promise Of ad-
venture. Our white haired pioneers
of to-day were boys and girls then,
looking forward eagerly to a Spien-
did future In that new land. They
were, uncOnsciousIy, builders Of an
empire, but, meanwhile, they were
having fun-innOcent fun, Mrs.
Decker insists.
Social life in Miles City So years ago
was on a rather magnificent scale.
Formal balls were held at the Mac
Queen hotel, with canvass spread over
the beautiful rugs in the dining room
for the dancers. Usually the Fifth in
fantry orchestra from Fort Keogh two
miles away furnished the music, and
the young army officers in their re-
splendent uniforms added color to the
scene. The Miles City girls, MRS; Decker
SAYS always wore elaborate ball gowns,
often with diamonds sparkling on
smooth, white Threats, and their escorts
came in full dress with white KID
gloves MacQueen hotel afforded the
natural center, around which Miles
City gayeties gravitated, and when. a
few years later, 1t was burned, the
young folks who had had such good
times there, stood around crying as
they watched the ravaging flames, feel
ing as though some of their carefree
joyousness was being destroyed with It,
Often the Fort KeOgh officers who
enjoyed Miles City hospitality gave
balls in return and sent the fort am
bulance down TO be loaded with young
folks. On one particular night, MRS:
Decker recalls, Sousa's band furnished
the music. It was a snowy, WINTER
night, bitter cold and, through careless
oversight, the ambulance did not come
for them However, not at all daunted,
the Miles City boys and girls muf1led
llp, put on oVerShoeS and walked the
two miles through deep snow, and then
danced all night. mus the close l1ToA-
unity of the fort not only guarded the
town from all threat of Indian in
vasion but also added color to their
lives. The clear note of bugles sounding
reveille floated to them across the
plains, marking a beautiful beginning
to their days, while, evenings, the band
playing for military formations made
a fitting close.
Mrs. Decker firmly believes that in
those days the morals of the young
were more carefully guarded and their |
standards Of living more wholesome
than is the case today. Summer eve
nings when they went horseback riding
over the plains or winter nights when
they skated and tobogganed chaperons
were always In attendance At the
dances, too, chaperons were distinctly
in evidence Drinking and smoking
were unheard-of crimes. There was, she
admits, with delicate hesitation: a
element in the town. FlashiIy
dressed tdemi- mondes were occasionally |
seen on the streets, but they had no
part in the social life of Miles City 55 j..
years ago as Mrs. Decker remembers !
it. Many travelling troupes stopped in
the town to give performances at the
Rink" and unhappy was the girl who 6
had no escort for those occasions. But a