Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-12-26
RRATIC GUNMAN
CUT FROM MOOSE
THREEs0AEE IN LONELY CANYON
HAD CULPRxT on RAFTER AFTER
UNWARRANTED ATTACK

Fred Schneider was q bad man
with gun and he proved Il when
he held mp and nearly killed two
wen known Vigfaanses iu Little
PrickIy Pear canyon In 1884. But
Fred Schneider was reinforced ri
the kame by an r-Rndulgence in
'forty-red." which was obtained at
road house IN the canyon. He pos
sessed coed needle gum that ear
ried q As bullet, and he was NOT
averse 20 using the weapon on any
thing that he thought needed fix
ing.
The time was in the fan Of 1884, when
the first stampede was on to the Little
Rocky Mining country in Chouteau
county, where Pike Landusky had
stuck his stakes and discovered the
Gold Bug and Gold Boy leads. The men
held up were Joe Flick and Harry
Flicker, both well known Vigilantes Of
Helena. Flick and Flicker we're fast
friends and they were on their way to
the new mining region. They had left
Helena the day before, after paying
last visit to Chicago JOe's celebrated
dance hall on Wood street, where they
enjoyed the mazeS Of the dance before
taking their departure for the wild
country, mostly occupied by Blackfeet
Indians.
The two men, after establishing camp
in the canyon, which was before the
Great Northern railway was built
through between Great Falls and Hell
ena, visited a road house and took a
few drinks. They soon returned to
camp and to bed. At an early hour
next day they we're up and busy. They
started a good fire at the camp prep
aratory to cooking breakfast, and then
betook themselves to the roadhouse
again to inbibe.
Schneider Arrives
About that time another individual
had made a clandeStine trip to the
neighborhood. He was the notorious
Schneider, miner and prospector. He
also had camped, but IN the brush
alongside Little Prickly Pear creek, and
when he saw Flicker and Flick, his ami
mosities were aroused. He saw the two
men enter the road house and then
procured his rifle and lay in wait for
them. The time was just daylight and |
as Flicker and Flick returned to their /
fire, Schneider suddenly arose from a I
bunch OF deadwood and pointing his |
rifle at them, ordered them to throw /
up their handS-which they did. Sch {
neider had the drop on them and Just /
what he expected to do viii never be
known. The road house keeper had 4
shack, took in the situation and acted
Cautiously he approached Schneider
from the rear and leaped upon him,
landing astride his neck. The gun was
but did no damage. Flick
and Flicker on the discharge of the
weapon, went to the assistance of the
roadhouse keeper, who was getting the
worst Of his encounter with Schneider.
The three soon had the holdup man Ia
heir power, and proceeded to trice
MIN up after using him roughly. They
ragged him to one end of the cabin
and swung him up to an overhanging
rafter.
Schneider Rescued
The disturbance was heard by a
couple of youths who were little dis
,ance up Lion creek hunting on a deer
runway. When they got to the cabin
hey saw the body of a man suspended
~ the neck to an overhanging rafter.
The hanging body was not easily re-
owing to the recent man
handling. The youths demanded to
NOW who the man was, and on being
old became much excited. They both
new Schneider and ordered that he