Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-08-22

could have written a much better story
Of Henry Plummer and his bandits
than did Dimsdale, but was too busy
enjoying the delights of one Of the
most marvellous gold camps of the
world, which was pouring a kings ram
som into the laps Of the gold miners
every day, and most Of which was
spent every night.
Baker had lost an eye in his early
youth and wore a glass substitute. He
ran into George Ives, the highwayman,
boiSterously drunk and looking for
trouble. Baker had published an item in
the Post which Ives did not like, for
which he proposed to chastise the news
man, and Tom knew he was confronted
with an emergency which required quick
wit to avert. With Ives was an Indian,
also in liquor. Baker, to divert, went
up to the Indian, which was like walk
ing up to the lannon's mouth because
Ives was standing beside the Indian,
and attracting the redskins attention,
he plucked out his glass eyes. The IN
dian did not change his expression, but
grunted and said: "Huhl Take UNI out
other eye" Ives roared with amuse
ment, and while the desperate was
laughing his head off, Baker slipped
out of the saloon and escaped. Ives
never forgot the incident, and always
laughed at Baker when he met him.
Baker wrote the story of the hang
ing of Ives by the Vigilantes as pub
liShed in the Post, and it was regarded
as a masterpiece. He was by far the
best news writer in the territory, and
could always find work in the editorial
rooms Of the pioneer newspapers in
Virginia City and Helena, and could
have written, from personal experience,
the epic story of the golden days of
tho fnTfsifr9-xy Nrrf 4TcfFQIlu TIM hIfcU
having fun. He enjoyed life to the full,
and finally old and blind, died at the
home of his son, John Baker, printer
Of Helena, who still operates Mergen-
thaler for the Helena independent.
The Butte Miner
The story Of the old Butte Miner is
an interesting one. Tt had been pub
lshed as weekly for several years
when it was taken over by the late
Senator w. A. Clark, then at the hey
day of his success in Butte. In few
years he had become the richest man
in the young camp and this was long
before he ever dreamed or knew any
thing about the United Verde, Arizona s
magnificent wealth producing mine.
For 20 years Clark met the annual
deficit of this daily and the total of
his losses was immense. One year the I
deficit was 100000. In the meantime,
Marcus Oaly nao arrived IN buJCe anu
saken over the Walker Brothers mines,
from which WaIkerville derived its
name. DAILY In looking around on his
OWN account, acquired an option on the
Anaconda group of claims and did SUI
'icient prospecting to demonstrate to
MS own satisfaction that he had a
bonanza. He interested J. B. Haggin Of
,he Homestake in the Black Hills, Sem
ator George Hirst, the father Of William
Hearst, and the Rothchilds.
It became apparent early that a smell
;er would have to be built to treat the
Anaconda ores and he found a site for
lis Smelter near the old town Of Car
oil, which is now Anaconda. He had
acquired practically everything he
Needed in the way Of land but dallied
With a man who owned the principal
water right in the neighborhood and
Who wanted $1,000 for his water. DAILY
Uttered him So 600 and there was q
Clark heard Of the negotia-
ions and paid the water right owner
lis price. DAILY had gone so far that
le was committed to the building of
he smelter and had to have this water
light 1t is said that Clark made DAILY
Jay him in all about 100000 and one
tory places the figure at 100000 for
his water and this started the enmity