The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-10-16
BY ROYAL HOUSE


David Hilger, librarian Of the
Montana Historical library in the
capitol building at Helena, reports
that more visitors have entered h
historical library and museum his
summer than ever before. Tourists
from every one of the 48 states
have parked their cars at the rear
door Of the statehouse and visited
the museum where are housed
relics from MOntana's early years
Even the most unromantic, unimag-
NATIVE travellers find the historical
museum intriguing. Each relic has a
great story to tell. There may be seen
the first printing press ever brought
to Montana. It is a curious, roll-type
press and was brought to Virginia
City from Denver, Colo, in October,
1868. D. w. Tilton, Montana's pioneer
journalist, brought the press to Mon
tana territory and the first job OF
printing done on the machine was an
order Of 200 dance tickets for which the
printer received $25. The old press
seems quaint. indeed, when compared
with the great presses which now turn
out the newspapers of Montana cities.
but in the 186O's it was the pride of
Virginia City, an emblem of the adj
vance of civilization in the west. Across
the side of the press Is the legend,
Patented July 20, 1856" The press dis
appeared after several years OF use and
wa discovered in the M~adiSonian Of
flee at Virginia City by w. W. Chiefly
in 1894.
Resting neal the first printing press
is one of the first anvils ever used in
the state. Made in 1886, it was brought
to Montana from Salt Lake City in
1850 by a freighter who came to the
Bitter Root valley by way Of the Big
Hole basin. The anvil was once in use
at old Fort Owen. 1t was found at
the Curlew mine in 1894 and was pre-
sented to the museum by A. P. Loberg.
First Quartz Stamp
On loan to the historical museum
from Percy Anderson, Salmon, Idaho,
Is the first quartz stamp used in Mon
tana. The old stamp was welded to-
gether from wagon tires and operated
by an overshot water wheel near Ban
mack in 1864. 1t was the g~reat-grand-
father of the immense mills in use at
many Montana mines today.
A picture of covered-wagon days Is
easily conjured up in the minds Of the
visitor in the museum who stands be-
fore the case containing an old OK
yoke complete with bow n key. The
yoke was made and owned by Capt.
J. v. Stafford and was part of his
equipment When he made the long
trek across the plains to Montana in
l0O3 ny way VI G1lc 1dlGC 11SC4 d44d
Denver. The yoke was presented to the
museum by Brick" Stafford of Wins
ton, grandson of the pioneer who
made it. ;
A relic of the short-lived but famous
Pony Express is a saddle which was
presented to the museum by Mrs. VIII
liam B. Geffrey of Seattle. The saddle
was the property of William B. Gef-
frey who carried pony express along
the Yellowstone river route from 1873
to 1876. Geffrey entered the service as
a youth Of 10 and had many narrow
escapes from hostile Sioux and Chey-
enne Indians.
Promoters Geography Faulty
The mill stones which were used at
old St. Mary's Mission in western Mon
tana were given to the historical mu-
by Father Van Corp and the
justly famous Father Palladino. They
have had a colorful history and were
brought from Belgium by Father An
thony Ravalli. Another set Of mill
stones in the museum are those from
old Gallatin City famous ghost city OF
Gallatin county. Among the most anus
ing incidents in Montana history was
the establishment of Gallatin City
by a group of pioneers in the COS. The
buildings erected by promoters who be-
lieved that they were establishing their
infant town at the head of naviga-
ton on the Missouri. To their sorrow
the misinformed gentlemen learned
some time later that the great falls of
the Missouri were between them and
the head of navigation. When this
bit of geography became common
knowledge, Gallatin City was speedily
abandoned. Only a few crumbling
buildings remain on the spot today.
A roll of very prosaic looking wire
which lies in the case near the old
mill stones is a portion of the first
telegraph wire strung in eastern Mon
tana. The line ran from Fort Keogh to
Bismark and was erected by Gen. Mel
son A. Miles. Many momentous news
stories were carried to the United
States by the old wire, including news
of Chief Joseph's march toward Can
ada.
Invitation to a Hanging
Guns and other relics of the Custer
battle are contained in the Custer
case, and in the Vigilante case are
relics Of Vigilante days in several
towns. Two gruesome-looking skulls
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