The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-08-21

bur F.. Sanders, hero of the Vigilante
his bandits; Judge Henry N. Blake,
later of the supreme court; Capt.
James H. Mills, later to become IA
nous as the editor of the New North
west at Deer Lodge; Thomas Dimsdale,
author of "Vigilantes of Montana
and Tom Baker. With such men con-
tributing to the Post it was a bright and
and Tilton sold a one-third interest in
the Post to Benjamin Ditties. Later
when Helena came up and Virginia was
going down, DittieS bought the Tilton
interests and moved the Post plant
to Helena where he established the Tri-
Weekly Republican. The Montana Post
had been a republican newspaper of
strong Union sympathies and Virginia
City, settled by the left wing of Gen
eral Prices army, was strong for Sc
cession and the lost cause. This feel
ing helped to cut into the Posts bust
ness and waS the principal reason for
its removal to Helena where a majority
Of the electors were republicans and
%unionists. The removal of the Post to
Helena made room for a new paper in
Virginia City which was followed by a
dozen more in the course of time. The
old Virginia City MadiSonian gradually
absorbed its competitors and its still
going strong with Tom Castle as owner.
An Apprentice
But back to o Baker. He was a
unique character and deserves more
space in the historical archives of Mon
tana than has been given him. In the
early tlfties ne was an apprentice, near
ing the time when he would become a
Journeyman, in the composing room Of
the London Times. In those DAYS the
apprentice was punished %corporally for
any mistake or infraction of the COM
posing room rules, the most common
method being flogging. Tom dropped q
page form of type, and it went into
work to do over again. This was d
major offense, and young Baker knew,
that as soon as the knowledge of his
mistake came to the attention of the
foreman he would be flogged without
mercy. So he put on his coat and walked
down to the docks, slipped on board a
sailing vessel. about to depart, and
destination, sailed away for America,
a voyage of several weeks duration.
After a few days in the hold Of the
ship, hunger drove him out of his hid
ing place. He went to the captain and
confessed that he was a stowaway, and
while he got a flogging, he also got to
America.
lame Dy wagon Train
He was a good printer, for the Lon
severe one, and had no difficulty in
finding employment in every city he
visited as he wandered about the counI
try. He gradually worked his a west
and was in Denver when he heard Of
the rich gold discoveries in Montana.
He Travelled to Montana with a wagon
train and arrived in Virginia City about
the time Ti1tnr n,1roh cod &ho NE1~A~--
Post. and found employment on the
new paper. AS he knew more about the
art preventative than any other printer
in the territory, he speedily became the
right hand man of the publisher. He
couid v written a much better story
OF Henry Plummer and his bandits
than did Dimsdale, but was too busy
most marvellous gold camps of the
world, which was pouring a kings ran
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 cannon's mouth because
Ives was standing beside the Indian,
and attracting the redskins attention.
ne plucked out his glass eyes. The In
dian did not change his expression, but
grunted and said: Huh! Take UNI OFT
otner eye 1yes roared with amuse-
ment, and while the desperate was
laughing his head off, Baker slipped
out of the saloon and a D Ives
never forgot the incident, and ALWAYS
laughed at Baker when he mel him.
Baker wrote the story of the hang
ing OF Ives by the Vigilantes, as pub
llshed in the Post, and it was regarded
as a masterpiece. He was by far the
best news writer in the territory, and
oul always find work in the editorial
virginia City and Helena, and could
nave written, from personal experience,
n epic story Of the golden DAYS of
\ territory, but was usually too busy.
having fun. He enjoyed life to the full
Snd finally, old and blind, died at bic
home OF his son., John Baker, a printer
o. Helena, who stu operates a Mergen-
'lialer 1or tne HeIena independent.
The Butte Miner
The story of the old Butte Miner l.
an interesting one. It had been pub.
lished as a weekly for several wears
when 1t was taken over by the late
Senator w. A. Clark, then at the hey-
day Of his success in Butte. In a few
years he had become the richest man
IN the young camp and this was LONG
before ne ever dreamed or knew any.
magnificent wealth producing mine
For 20 years Clark met the annual
deficit Of this daily and the total al
his losses was immense. One wear the
deficit was 100000. In the meantime.
| Marcus DAILY had arrived in Butte and