Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-10-24
Dreams of Making Ophir a
Second Benton Swiftly Dissolved AS
Bloods Swept Thru, Bent on Revenge

Blood Indians, bent on reprisaI,
nut a check on the ambitions of
Ophfr, a little town founded at the
mouth of the Marias river, 20 years
ago, and which aspired TO become
the rival of Fort Benton. They
killed about half Of the promoters
and frightened the rest away, and
the river laureHs that were old Fort
BentOn's remained with her until
the coming of the railroad and the
consequent decline of river traffic.
In 1864 Fort Benton was In the hey
dey of her river prosperity. The town
was the head of navigation on the
Missouri, and the water gateway Of all
the great northwest The river below
her was alive with stern wheel steam
ers Of light draft, carrying adventurers
and supplies into the new land. De-
tachments of troops and government
supplies came up the river and cleared
for the remote places. Men made rich
by a seasons success IN the placer
mines made the place their rendezvous
while waiting for the boats that would
take them down the river TO civiiliza-
ton.
The money these men expended dur
ing their short stops in Benton repre-
sented, in the aggregate, a colossal sum.
dAlO AlCHAUElc O4 Allo D1tA1L4t
gang, with the loot of many robberies
In their possession, made their expen-
ditures for pleasure there, because they
were afraid to spend too much money
In Virginia City. Hurdy gJrdieS, gam
bling houses and saloons never closed. |
Gold dust abounded. Merchants and
hotel men and all who catered to the
river trade were very prosperous. 1t
was the metropolis Of the young terri |
tory Of Montana.
In July, 1864, Capt. James Moore, Of
the stern wheel steamer Cutler, ar |
rived at the mouth of the Marias river, |
80 miles below Benton. He had with |
him a number of immigrants from /
Minnesota. Something went wrong
in the machinery of the boat, and the /
passengers completed the journey on
foot The boat was tied up for the
winter.
Challenge to Fort Benton
While lying at the mouth of the
hdarias, Captain Moore conceived the
idea of founding town there which
would rival Fort Benton His dream was
TO build up q river metropolis. He
squatted on ground for the townsite
which he decided to call Ophir, plated
the townsite in rude way, and went
TO Virginia City, then in the first flush
Of its placer prosperity, with the idea
Of interesting capital in his enterprise.
No Wallingford ever painted a more
glowing picture of withdrawing pos
sibilitieS of his project than did Cap
tain Moore. Alder gulch had given up
her riches lavishly that season, and
Moore found eager listeners He told of
the desirability Of the townsite, of the
deep harbor, and dwelt on the fact that
his town was 80 miles down the river
and would be the first town of conse-
1uence the voyagers would reach after
The long trip from st. Louis. He sold
lots right and left at inside property
prices, and experienced no difficulty in
a considerable amount of
capital. Among others who invested In
the project was the late Henry Filing,
then Just getting on his feet financially
rs banker and buyer Of gold dust
Laden with gold dust which was the
treasury of his townsite company, and
by 20 men who had put
money into his undertaking, Moore
started in the middle of winter back
20 the new river town of Ophir. The
season was too far advanced to permit
If much activity, but large double log
:abin, the offices and headquarters OF
he company, was constructed. When it
vas completed the promoters spent the
est of the winter dreaming Of their
ich harvest Of next year.
Boycott On Moore Followers
The residents of Fort Benton we're
naturally very much incensed at
doore's designs upon their prosperity.
they became so antagonistic that he
vas warned to keep away from the
own. Several Of his associates who
entured to make necessary purchases
vere compelled to make hurried and
nceremoni0us exit
About this time q Blood Indian, on
spree with a half breed named Bas-
rich and Joseph Pearson, a Canadian,
TaS murdered, and his body thrown
1to the river. His tribe decided to
make reprisal on the white men. Fort
Senton was too large and strong for
hem so they selected Opl1ir as the
lace OF vengeance
few days after the Benton muir
er, 10 white men and q negro from
)phir went up the river to cut timber
Or the new settlement Calf Shirt, q
Hood chteftain, with q strong party OF
'arriors, took them by surprise, and
He'd every one Of them