Montana oil and mining journal., 1936-10-10
Br WILLIAM WEST

In the old hilltop cemetery in
Bannack, first capital of Montana,
in that part of the plot where lie
the adventures of the sixties, may
be seen a roughly carved headbOard
which reads: "NeIlie Pagef, Age 20,
Shot April 20, 1864" The headbOard
is old and gray and shows the ef-
fects of more than 20 years Of
wind and rain and snow. The in-
scrEption Is simple and TO the
point, but thereby hangs tale.
It is a somewhat melancholy tale
of a romance of pioneer days, a ro-
nance which bloomed and faded when
the west was young and when the
United States itself was q nation less
than a century old It Is a sad little
drama Of the kind only too often en-
acted in gold rush days. The opening
scenes took place in a small town in
Illinois.
Helen Patterson was just 16 when
she fell in love with Howard Humphrey
and promised to be his bride. Howard
carried the good news all around town
and probably carved the legend Helen
loves Howard" on dozen trees along
the river bank. He wanted the we'd
ding to take place at once but Helen
Paget was an independent kind of
sweetheart for those sedate days and
said the wedding would have to wait.
Her sister and brother-in-laW were
preparing for journey TO the far
west, to the prairies and the great
mountain country beyond the MiSSiss-
ippi. The idea of journeying into that
romantic land of the sunset gave Helen
Patterson a certain little thrill. She
watched with starry eyes the prepara-
tions and outfitting Of the big prairie
crtr nV7d G0N sold chc
would go along-she, too. would jour-
ney along the adventure trail. Let those
who would languish In the safety and
comfort of the settlements; she would
see for herself the wide frontier
None know what Howard Humphrey
said when Helen told him Of her de-
cision. Perhaps she even asked him to
go along, but for one reason or an
other he did not When the wagons
pulled out for the west one spring
morning in 1862, Helen was aboard
one Of them waving q fond goodbye to
Howard. They had promised to be
faithful to one another. She had said
she would return within a year and
he promised to wait for her.
Feund Trails End At Bannack
The exact destination Of the party |
with which Helen Patterson travelled |
was not known but they found the end |
Of their trail at Bannack, lured there /
by tales of miners who were said to |
have found gold nuggets as big as wal
nuts. Incompatible Bannack, where
every man had chance to loot the |
earth Of its golden hoardl Bannack OF
the gay dancehalls, saloons and gam /
bling houses. Bannack Of the gay night |
life.
Women were scarce In the gold camps 1
Of the early west and every woman
was adored and shoWered with atten-
IONS Helen Patterson found herself
he center of many mems attentions
and the alteration went to her head.
She was young and beautiful and in
his gold camp she had the world at
her feet. She forgot her promises to
Howard Humphrey and threw. herself
aeadlong into the riotous underworld
of Bannack. She entered dancehall
Is q dancing girl. There every night
was a night for celebration and she
became the center Of 8 gay company
If road agents, miners, freighters and
common drunks. In q bizarre silken
rowr she danced the polka or q reel
)eneath the glarish lamps Of a honky-
,onk. In these surroundings Helen
Patterson was too prosaic name. She
hanged 1t to Nellie Paget and thus
he was known TO her friends Of the
rontier.
Toast Of the Camp
Nellie Paget was the toast Of Ban
lack and in camp where men out
numbered women 20 to she could
lot keep her admirers from fighting
or her fayors. One night one Of her
aEurites. Jealous Of attentions sa1e paid
.nokhaK mau. drew his gnn end RAA0s
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