Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-03-12

Il Due 20 SuSccptADhnty Vi A1e~1~ go
to Such Attractions.
In The formative days Of 1864-6S,
Montana was making rapid strides
towards more civilized conditions
and by Feb. ii could boast OF hay
ing an incorporated t0Wn-FirgfnAa
civ its mayor being Mr.. Pfouts.
I The Montana Post, having no COM
pesitor In the newspaper field ag
that time, has preserved for us IT'S
Impression Of the first Montana
mayors address. 1t says:
ssIf those addressed will only conform
their legislation to the directions OF the
MAYOR. we shall have the best governed
people west of Paradise. Much Is TO be
done, and nothing can be effected IN
| Montana without money and plenty OF
IL. Those. therefore, who can do the
most work for the least money win de-
serve well of the people"
| Who were included under those,
| the Post does not inform US. Certainly
! the miners who constituted the major
| Itv of the citizens of Virginia City,
were not craving long hours at small
pay. On the contrary they were willing
| to run the risk of losing the approba-
ton Of "the people" If they could
strike it rich"
The mayor, 1t seems, In the interest
Of economy thought the. building OF
iail could be postponed for time.
Meanwhile. q small building used for
combining those under arrest the pre-
vious winter might continue to be uti-
lized for the purpose.
Wants Jail Strengthened
The Post had no objection to this
but expressed the opinion that meas
ures should be taken to make 1T
secure receptacle for prisoners Inis
was an intimation that the building ~
question was not proof against JAN
breakjnp at a date when Montana was
overrun with criminals, and under or
binary circumstances (strong jail
would have been needed. But ordinary
procedure was not that favored by the
Vigilantes. Delayed justice could never
be attributed to them. Short shlIt was
granted any parties arreSted-not long
enough to call for detention OF the
accused and the sentence was almost
always that Of capital punishment II
hanging was delayed, the road agent
might be rescued by his friends. IL Is
doubtful If any of the bandits were
ever confined in the building mentioned
by the Post as having served as JAN.
Reminiscent of these same deSpera-
does is an advertisement In the issue
of Feb. IL, 1865:
For a love of bonnet, trimmings,
lace. or any other millinery goods, go
Ia Mrs. j. A. Slade, back of Cover
street, From the foregoing, it will be
seen that the widow Of Slade, whose
hanging was regretted by prominent
business men because ne was Sucn q
Gentleman" could turn her hands 20
fhe trimming of women's hats and to
something less frivolous, as well, II the
testimony of N. P. Langford is TO be
accepted. OF Mrs Slade he writes:
Admired by Langf0rd
"She possessed many personal attrac-
lions. Her figure was Queenly and her
movements the perfection OF grace. Her
countenance was lit up by a pair Of
burning black eyes, and her hair, black
as the ravens wing, fell in rich cuIrls
over her shoulders. She was OF power
full organization, and having passed her
life upon the borders, knew how to use
the rifle and revolver, and could per
form as many dexterous featS In the
saddle as the boldeSt hunter that
roamed the plains"
knowing the susceptibility Of the
male sex to such attractions, 1t Is not
surprising that SHADES plea TO be per-
mitted to live until the arrival OF MS
wife, who had been sent for, was not
granted Had she appeared on the scene
a little earlier, her husband would not
have been executed.
There was plenty of variety in the
items published in the Post OF the above
date, one Of signal importance being
the notice of the arrival Of the Oliver
81 Co. express on time-which was truly
q notable event, as pioneers can teSClIy.
The news It brought was OF equal In
terest. It reported @the Prickly Pear
country in q turmoil Of excitement, on
account of the discovery OF a new
glllch which prospects very rich. LodeS
are being discovered daily and new
towns laid out" The editor concludes
with the remark, wen have to go and
see this paradise ourselves. you pei
IF the editor took the promised jour-
ney or not, the outlook for the new
mining region did not shake his belief
in the permanence Of Virginia City,
which must remain as It Is now, the
recognized chief city Of Montana"
In close proximity In the columns Of
the Jan. "a, 1885, Post we read that
at the dedication Of Virginia C1Cy's
Union church, 1.-The first instrumental
music ever heard in place OF worship
in Montana was performed by Professor
Heath" and q masquerade ball is adj
vertiSed. In view OF the fact that most
of Virginia City's residents were from
the south, it Is surprising that any
instrumental music would be permitted
in church at SO early a date.
Objected TO Violin
In 1878, strenuous objections were
made in Helena by southern parties
to the playing Of the violin-that I'M
cody instrument a concert given
In the Christian church. This feeling
that musical instrument could be pro-
fame was paralleled IN q certain Ohio
village, when q stiff-legged farmer
voiced a not altogether silent protest
against the installation of pipe organ
in the church he attended, by gro
tesque attempt at dancing down the
central aisle, when that instrument was !
first played. Before that the choir had