The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-10-01

the whites IN the area breathed sigh
of relief.
Libby, county seat of Lincoln county,
received its name from a prospector,
one of the first in the region, who had
a daughter by that name.
Aside from being a great hunting
and fishing territory of early Indian
tribes, the Lincoln county area was
important to them because OF a certain
kind of white sandstone obtained here
from which they made bowls for their
pipes. The rock was found near the
mouth of Pipe creek. Also in the Pipe
creek locality Kootenals took their
sweat baths. The baths were arranged
for by digging shallow pit. covering
it with hides and filling it with water
Into the water hot stones were dropped
and the Indian would get under the
covering of skins and enjoy steam
bath. Upon emerging he would rush
to the river and dive in. Today thou
sands of broken rocks mark the koo-
tenai baths The hot stones burst INTO
pieces as they were dropped into the
cold water OF the bath pits.
First homes in the town of Libby
were log houses erected in 1891 on the
site the Richards hotel now occupies.
The coming of the Great Northern gave
rise to the settlement of Libby. The
first train pulled in on May 3, 1892.
The towns first newspaper was The
Libby Miner. started in 1892 BY John
Pace and E. S. Doyle.
A typical Montana frontier story tells
of the beginning of the first Libby
graveyard According to accounts, two
men, French Joe and man named
Beatty, were riding into Libby to DIS
cuss with other settlers the ACCESSIBILITY
of laying out cemetery for the new
town. On the way to town the men
i stopped at the cabin of Henry Van
Wick, and French Joe and Van Wick
! engaged in conversation about some
| lost horses. A fierce argument ensued.
French Joe lost his temper and threat
ened Van Wick with a gun, whereupon
Van Wick drew his own gun and shot
French Joe. French Joe was therefore
the first man to occupy a grave III the
new Libby cemetery, which was located
/ Immediately
aHill BiIlies" Move in
Tales of more modern days in Lin
coin county revolve around the settle
ment Of West Virginia mountaineers IN
the Pinkham creek district The first
Of the group came in 1905 and others
followed until in 1918 there was a
score Of families. some of whom home
steaded timber lands. Carrying on the
whisky tradition of their native state
the West Virginians erected stills anc
proceeded to brew brand OF whisky
which is remembered with a smack
of the lips by many Lincoln county res
idents. They paid little or no attention
to the law Of the land They hunted
and fished without license and showed
the business end of a double barreled
shotgun to the game warden when he
protested For time they made good
thing Of fighting forest fires until il
was discovered they were the cause Of
the fires. They were dropped from the
flre-fIghtlng payToll 10 man, IoF a.
long as they were paid for fighting
fires the Pinkham creek area was the
scene OF continual blazes Two of tht
West Virginians were actually caugh
in the act Of setting a fire and were
sent to prison.
The advent of the prohibition law If
1920 only added new impetus to The
whisky-making activity Of the Yves
Virginians at Pinkham creek. A steady
stream Of liquor shipments came of
the hills along the creek One day ;
party of federal men and state depu.
ties invaded the valley, Several no
stills were found but the owners hat
vanished Nothing could be proves
against the PinnhaIn Creekers and
| was impossible to break up thei
| whisky business, although few Wer
later brought to justice. The West Vir
ginians still live on Pinkham creek an
, are reported to be abiding and in
| dustrious citizens although it is sal
! that he who knows the pungent ode
, of hot still will find that odor in HI
, nostrils if he strolls in certain woode
| gullies along Pinkham creek today.