davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01
Sheriff Seeks Old
EDollar With Odd
S History Of Conflict

In circulation somewhere, or perhaps
reposing as a mysterious souvenir Ia
some home, is a silver dollar LElat LkAs
a history Of its own.
Formerly the property Of James NC
CLARITY, former Park county sher11, the
dollar was given out by mistake by MN
about a year ago when paying Tor q
meal at a restaurant. MIR. McClarty,
who now lives in Bozeman, would IKE
to get his dollar back, but so far has
failed in every effort to locate 1t.
On one side the coin has engraved
the words. "The Wars Over, and on
The other the names of three great
battles, Chateau Thierry, st. Mihiel ana
the Argonne, with the dates OF each.
The story of how the silver dollar
came to be thus engraved ana now II
came into the hands OF the former
Livingston sheriff, was told by him 70
officer William OHern, and relayed
by the latter to The Livingston Enter
prise. -
McClarty was sheriff at Livingston
In 1917 in which year Bill WrlgnC en-
listed in the army. Handing WrlgnI
silver dollar, McClarty said: Here's a
good luck piece If you carry IL through
the war, will give you $40 Tor 1t upon
WRIGHT went to France and carried
the self-same dollar safely through the
entire war. Upon his return ne kept
the agreement with McClarty to turn
the souvenir over to the latter Tor $ZU:
The former sheriff carried his priced
memento of the great war for many
wears until the day when he accident
ally spent the dollar without noticing
that 1t was the treasured pocket piece.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01
10000 Or More Indians Wiped Out by
Scourge of Smallpox During Early Days

about 10 days after leaving the fort
during the first part Of August. They
became terror stricken as hundreds OF
their number were laid low. Many com.
nnftted suicide at the appearance OF
the first symptoms of the disease.
AT the tlincture of the Belly and 81
Mary's rivers in Canada, where Fort
Whoopup later was located, the NOR
tality among the Bloods, the PieganS
and the Blackfeet was tremendous, 80
great that they named the place
SGraveyard. Fully two-thiruS OF the
whole number Of these three tribes
died. 1t was the flower OF the tribe
that persisted, too for the aged were
generally among those whom the dis
ease passed by.
The Gros Ventres lost only about 200
from the epidemic, due, it was. pre-
sumed to them having been previously
inoculated by contact with the disease
among the ArapahoeS during q visit
to that tribe in the south. The Crows
did not take it at all, keeping them
selves carefully beyond the reach OF
infection. Two-thirds of the. ASSinn1-
BONES were wiped out. The robes taken
in trade at the fort were shipped down
river without any precautions what
ever to prevent TRANSMISSION or the
disease. It is not recorded that there
was any general outbreak OF smallpox
at any place in the east where they
were distributed, as 8 result.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01
Brass Band i'm Cyclonic Action Subdued Indians

~ o far as Is known there Is only
one instance I'm western history
In which a brass band saved the
members of an emigrant wagon
train from attack by Indians and
probably averted a massacre. 10 oc-
summer Of 1867 and enc Of the members
Of the emigTant group was the late
David HiIger, then a boy OF nine years,
who with his father, Nicholas Hiiger
and other members Of the family, was
coming from Minnesota to settle in the
Treasure state.
There were few emigrant trains that
crossed the plains that could recruit
talent and instruments enough to form
a band. but this one, an immense cav
alcade of 800 Slow-mov1ng wagons
drawn by oxen, could and did. Many
nights in the prairie camps during the
three months trip 1t rendered concerts
for the members of the train or played
music for them to dance on the
prairie grass by the light Of their camp
But the emigrantS really learned the
value of what they had in that mus
teal aggregation, when, in the MIX
river valley, surrounded by between
500 and 500 Indians, whom they had
been warned were hostile tnoSe pan nus
men. with fear in their hearts; with
blanched and prayerful lips, footed
their horns and beat their drums for
their own lives and the lives OF their
fathers. mothers, brothers, sisters,
friends and neighbors. And they won:
The Indians, bent upon a mission OF
death. breech clouted and IN war pant,
never before having heard or seen
anvthing of the kind, forgot what they
had come for, accepted presents, snook
hands. smoked and departed IN peace.
People Ready for Emigration
David Hilger wrote an account of the
incident and Of the trip from MIME
sofa with the wagon train Tor the
Montana Historical society many years
AGO. David Hilger came OF pioneer
stock. Born in Minnesota IN 1893, IN
1862 at the age OF four years, ne W.
one of thousands of children, VINO, WIN
the UroTnen of that section, were taken /
into st. Paul for safety when the nos
file Sioux Indians were Staying tIle
settlers and burning farm homes ana
villages. His father, Nicholas HllgeI, (
was one of the volunteers VINO MsnS
TO the aid Of the town OF New Jim; /
which was sacked by the 1lula1 - a. ~ !
where hundreds we're maSsacred IN one
IF fhe worst Indian orgies OF MURDER
and fire that the history OF the country
~erords IN addition to Indian oepLe-
dations Minnesota had suffered loI
several years from drouth ana sever
winters. Minnesota regiments hao Dee l.
Ge srs in battles Of the Civil war.
The discouraged people were, In JUST
the proper mood to yield to the splrlS
" o. errnieration when stories Of the Mon +
tana cold fields came sitting over the
l4"-- sOO-WagOn Train
The Hilgers were one OF "a 1aTnlnes
that gathered in the early summer "
1857 al a point 80 miles northeast OF
Fort Wadsworth, N. D., to form q
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01

and Cree Indians ranged the country
through which they were passing.
The greatest handicap the emigrants
experienced was from the oxen getting
sore feet in the alkalied country. Many
of the animals gave out and had TO be
shot, which required readJuStment OF
teams. oxen were used by the emil
grants because they were cheaper than
horses and more easily cared for. The
oxen wouldn't wander far from camp
and the Indians wouldn't steal them,
because they had no use for them, not
even as meat. When an animal had to
be left behind it was always shot as
an act of mercy to keep it from being
gored to death by buffalo bull or
pulled down and eaten alive by wolves
or coyotes.
When the train started on its jour
ney, the Hilger family outfit consisted
of four wagons, each drawn by two
yoke of cattle besides two milk cows.
Before the trip was ended 1t became
necessary to work the COWS In teams
Nicholas Hilger had crossed the plains
in 1864, and his experience was relied
upon and his advice sought n many
Instances to solve problems that were
encountered. Hilger took with him three
young men who wanted to come west
but had no money and who worked
their way by driving his teams.
The oxen covered from IL to 20 miles
a day, depending upon the nature Of
the ground and camping facilities such
as grass and water for them and fuel
for the emigrantS.
1t was after the Hilger train struck
the Milk river country that the most
buffalo were encountered There wsr@
sometimes is or 20 herds in sight at
one time, ranging from Is and 100 up
to 500 or 600 each. The train was some
times delayed by herds crossing its
path. One day a big buffalo bull ran
right through the train, which was
strung out double file, by jumping over
the drag chains between the teams Of
oxen. No damage resulted. The emf
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01

to restrain their young men, who, when
they started out had intended killing
every member of the wagon train.
At the end of the journey the H1lger
family settled in Lewis and Clark
county, where David Hilger was edu-
Gated and as young man operated a
ranch near the Gates of the Mountains
on the Missouri river. In 1881 he went
to Fergus county and embarked IN the
sheep business. The town Of Hilger,
north of Lewistown, located in a ter
ritory where he ranged his sheep for
years, was named in his honor. BY 1893
David Hilger was one of the states
leading wool growers.
He eventually disposed of his live
stock interests and went to Lewistown
where for many years he was engaged
in the real estate and banking business.
In 1884 he was married to Christina
Fl. Fergus, daughter of William Fergus
and niece of James Fergus, for whom
Fergus county was named. In 1884 they
celebrated their golden wedding at the
old Hilger home In Fergus county. Mrs.
Hilger survives. For IL years prior to
his death, Oct 16, 1887, Mr.. Hilger was
librarian of the State Historical library
at Helena. His body was inferred In
the family cemetery on the old Fergus
ranch on BOX Elder creek in Fergus
county.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01

wagon train for the trip west. In the
"a families there were 80 or 40 child
rem. In addition there we're 100 un-
married men in the group. When the
train started for Helena in July there
were nearly 300 wagons, all drawn by
oxen. It was joined by two companies
of United States army infantry VINO
were driving 300 head of beef steers to
Fort Buford on the Missouri in north
western Dakota, thus assuring the
emigrants a reasonably safe trip that
far at least. At an organization meet
ing a man named Davy was elected
captain, an advisory board chosen and
a code of laws adopted to regulate all
matters pertaining to the train man
agement and the safety of the people.
Punishment was established Tor IN
fractions of the criminal code.
The route distance of travel and
camp sites were all in the hands OF
the captain and his advisory board,
with power to maintain strict military
discipline Night camps were always
made with a view to protection from
Indian attack. The wagons were pulled
into a circle, with the tongues pointing
inward and the work cattle were
coralled there at night. Game was
abundant and meat was tne mann AZ ar
ticle of diet, buffalo, antelope, deer
and elk.
Hired Three Guides
The train had hired as guides two
hall breeds and one full blooded In
dian The last outpost of civilization
at that time was Fort RfnSely IN MN
nesota, and the first evidence OF haol-
tation after that was Fort Stevens, a
military post ON the Missouri river pc
low Fort Buford. The route followed
across Dakota was from point near
Big Stone lake on line about ~ miles
south of Devils Lake to the missouri
river.
While the wagon train was stu IN
the Dakota country, someone gay. sLS
q1Ndes some whisky one day, ana gney
became so paralyzed drunk that they
had to be loaded into one OF the
wagons. When they sobered up the
captain of the train talked TO them Ii
a manner which made them mad ana
they threatened to quit their JOBS. ~
required a very diplomatic cnange U
tactics to persuade them TO remain;
but after being promised e presents snssd s to
stav at least until the Missouri river
was reached. In the meantime, because
of the lapse of the guides, the Jraln
had to make q dry camp and boCh Ine
people and the livestock were surfer
ing for water.
PIummage SmOOthed
After the ruffled plummage Of the
yuides had been smoothed, one OF them
odd the captain to hitch up. and ne
would take them to spring only mile
from where they were. There they
found plenty of water for all purposes.
From Fort Stevens the wagon train
followed the general course Of the Mis-
souri, river to the mouth Of Milk river,
hen I'D Milk river to a point near
where Fort ASsinniboine was after
Yards located, then southwest to Fort
Benton and Helena. In the Milk river
country the emigrants had their worst
sxneriences. THE water was scarce and
lad. the country dry and hot, the |
.attle had sore feet and there was sick
ness among the emigTants. Rowing |
,ands of hostile Sioux eros Ventures
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01
IT'S A LONG TIME
BETWEEN APPLES

The governor of North Carolina,
so legend holds, once said to the
governor of South Carolina, TITS
been a long time between drinks"
The other day the governor OF
West Virginia said 20 the governor
Of Montana, "Have an apple"
Gov. Roy e. Ayers received a box
of the famous Appalachian apples,
grown on the estate Of West VIZ
ginia's Gov. Homer A. Holt.
The only apparent reason Tor the
gift land attaches of the governors
office thought the apples very
tasty Is that both Governor ayers
and Governor Holt are democrats,
sun
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01

A scOurge Of smallpox decE-
mated the Indian tribes Of the re-
gion now encOmpassed by northern
Montana, the Canadian area just
north of the Montana border, and
North Dakota, during the summer
Of 1887. The death toll from ghe
epidemic probably reached q total
OF 10000. In the Piegan, Blood and
BIackfeet tribes alone, there were
fully 5000 deaths from the disease,
according to figures computed by
the Indian traders who were ia
miIiar with the territory at that
time. One village of AssinnibOines
was reduced from loo 10 so per-
sons. The Mandan tribe in Dakota
was practically wiped out. At the
outset there were 200 reds. When
the disease had run its course there
were only 30 left. The Minnetarees
of the Dakota region lost 200 out
Of 1000 warriors.
The Indian traders in the affected
erritory feared that the trade for thai
,ear had been ruined by the inroad;
If the disease among the tribes. TIC
heir establishment the trade increased
however. over that of the
previous year. Because there werS
ever Indians, the villages had less need
or buffalo robes, the principal item OF
.rade at that time, and hence they
we're available for trade. Fully 10000
obes were accumulated in that one
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01
RoAD PATROL ENLARGED

The state highway commission, sitting as
the highway patrol board, has enlarged inc
and abolished the office Of assistant super
visor. which position had been held by Walter
Beck since the inception of the force Members
Of the board said that authorization oy tne
last legislature Of four sectional assistant
supervisors made unnecessary an administra-
tive assistant
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01
OIL for
Troubled Waters

IN EVERY industrial field, plant super
IL intendents and management executives
turn to the SOcOny-Vacuum Oil Company
with its 20 years. experience whenever
fabrication problem, great or small, threat
ems TO disrupt operating schedules.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01

Peat Is being tried as fuel for central
heating in Dublin, Irish Free State.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01

Al mine, well or
refinery, Gar
gOyle Industrial
Lubricants can
help you combat
the heat and
wear of netaI-tO-
metal friction.
Equally inpOr-
tant, they can
make possible a
Lub alton
profit.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-10-14

Cadiz, Ohio, community Of less than
5000 people, wins prize offered by a
Hollywood star to "the proudest small
town in America. Cadiz bases Its pride
on having given the world such natives as
Clark Gable, film star; General George
A. Custer and General Thomas M. Vim
cent, war heroes; Mary lobe Akely, edu-
Gator; John A. Bingham, and Edwin M.
Stanton, statesmen; w. H. Holmes, arch
eologist; Percy Hammond, critic; Bishop
Matthew Simpson and Lynn Harold
Hough, clergymen.
Some of these people are widely
known; others are not. It will be agreed,
however, that the list speaks very well
for so small place. Now we shall doubt
less have rivals all over the land getting
into the game and trotting out their
favorite sons and daughters It Is q
worthy form of emulation, which should
stimulate ambitious young people and
take some of the undeserved stigma from
small towns. Mere numerical size Is no
sign of greatness and confers no distinc-
ton on citizens.
The present form Of civic pride, how
ever, should work both ways. 1t Is right
for Cadiz to be proud OF Its famous Off
spring, but 1t Is also important for them
to be proud of Cadiz. In any case like
this, shrewd observers will want to know
whether the greatness has all been
drained out OF the town, leaving 1t deca-
dent, or whether 1t Is still producing fine
people.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-10-14
autumn Or Fall?
Autumn Is English Fall Is Amercan-Both
Forms Have Supporters, Claims for
Common Usage
Common Usage.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

rumble In speeded -up delivery, there
Is no mistaking the season. But do
you call II autumn, or fallp
I'm every way" says q learned
Englishman OF old London, "fall Is
better on the merits than autumn.
II Is short, Saxon, picturesque. II
reveals Its derivation TO every one
who uses IL, not 10 the scholar only
as does autumn. We once had as
good q right to Il as the Americans,
but we have chosen TO let the right
lapse so that TO use this monoSylla-
BILE now Is little better than larceny"
Apparently autumn Is now Eng
lish, while fall Is American. Fur
ther investigation reveals autumn
as better suited 10 verse, with fall
congenial TO prose. The searcher
can scarcely And poetic reference
10 fall whereas he encounters au-
tumn almost at every turn-"yellow
autumn wreathed with nodding
corn" autumn Ia the mellow time, y
autumn nodding DER tho plain
ian autumn that grew by reaping,
autumn days are here again,
"autumn's Are" 'happy autumn
fields" "the windy lights OF au-
tumn," and "autumnal leaves In
Vallombrosa."
Autumn has won classic approval
and wide sanction through long
usage; II bespeaks the scholarly,
Fall Is popular because OF It's short
ness and ease Of enunciation. But
autumn remains the poets favorite
because autumnal glory has q poetic
ring and fall, II seems, has none.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-10-14

hoodlums, Il the most dlsgracoful episode
vet. The cardinal had tried 10 conciliate
the Naxls, while holding 10 the essentials
of his religious faith and the traditional
rights OF the church. He had even asked
his people TO vote for the Austrian union
with Germany, and q large part of the
favorable vote must have come from that
support. He merely asked, for his office
and people, such rights as are freely
granted in almost every civilized coun-
try. But Nazism itself seems to have
become a religion, more and more given
to violence after the manner Of Moham-
mechanism in its early days.
The saddest thing about this shameful
proceeding in the one peaceful and
humane city of Vienna was the hooligan-
ism and cruelty perpetrated by boys and
girls of Hitler's youth Movement. There
was no reverence, no respect for religion
or law or decency, merely an urge to vio-
late and destroy things usually respected
even by heather. What future is there
in land where youth is reared with such
ideals?
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-10-14
Many Stalwarts Absent

Both major political parties will engage
In contests on Tuesday, November 3,
without the vote-getting assistance OF
veteran legislators. The ranks OF the
Democrats and Republicans have been
thinned OF what might be termed material
trained and tried In the ways OF political
campaigns The Republican ranks were
deprived OF many good campaigners this
week at the caucuses held IN so many
cities and towns throughout the state.
The list OF those who fell by the wayside
is impressive, II not actually awe-inspir-
ing, that Is bringing awe at the havoc
wreaked on party stalwarts.
Among the more prominent were Noah
Swayne OF Darien who was the House
leader OF the COP. In 1887 and who, II
elected, might have been the House
Speaker In 1889, depending on the line
up of party forces In this legislative body.
q. Gaynor Brennan OF Stamford OF the
state Senate also failed OF renomina-
ton. SWayne and Brennan constituted
powerful force In Fairfield County poll
ties, yet they failed to get themselves
renoniinated which Is sure sign that
somewhere they overlooked point or
else their day In the political sun Is run.
Close to home Representative George
Cowdell, member OF Waterways extra
ordinary Grand Jury also failed Of renom-
imation. Up In Salisbury another Bell,
this time J. Mortimer, Jr., tried to follow
Ia his illustrious fathers footsteps, but
fell by the wayside, Bell, the father, was
speaker OF the House In '37, but Bell, the
son, has still to win his legislative spurs.
Louis Tolles high up In the State Grange,
couldn't make the grade In his bailiwick
Of Southington. Nor could State Senator
william F. Curtis of Bridgewater get
another fling at 1t. Eugene Lamphier OF
WATERFOWL was another veteran to be
dropped.
Among the Democrats we note Judge
Raymond Devlin OF New Haven out Of
the running on account OF his Common
Pleas jtldgeship. In our own city Repre-
sentative John d. Thoms, veteran OF many
sessions, remained aloof from campaign
ing. Democrats have not yet finished
their caucuses, so there may be more
casualties In their list before they are
completed and the rival parties line up
for the contest.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-10-14
The School Situation

II does seem as if the protests Of School
Superintendent DR.. Thomas j. Condor
and the Board of Education over the re-
ported plan to effect economies in
Waterbury's municipal government by
slashing School Department expenses
right and left are prompted by primary
consideration for this very important
detail OF civic enterprise. OF recent years
the city has witnessed quite few changes
In the school system. Many old schools
have been abandoned and also one or TWO
new structures. All of us realize that
falling off and retrenchments are in
order.
But. hasn't Waterbury complied to a
great extent in the past few years? And
f. probably still would comply, If the need
was felt for such drastic curtailment OF
services as Is requested In the auditors
report. Personally we believe that school
department heads are best fitted to say
when and how they should cut expenses.
One thing Is certain - If the school
heads oppose holly the plan to lop off
few schools, drop janitors and teachers,
cut teachers salaries, tremendous oppo-
sition is going to be created throughout
the entire city.
It's not a move calculated to win public
support. AS for salary slashes, we hardly
need to mention the fact that teachers
In the past were most willing to cooper
ate In carrying through a program OF
economy In which all city employees
joined. But that they should emerge
frCm one such cut to face another Is just
q bit discouraging. There must be other
ways and means, not quite so drastic as
this pan, to bring about condition In
Waterbury, whereby expenses might meet
income.
As DR.. Condor put IT, the blow to the
morale Of the school department II such
wide-sweeping changes were put into eff
feet would be tremendous. It might i'm
pair the efficiency Of the school system
FOR years to come. We really think In this
instance the suggestions Of Griffenhagen
should be subjected to much more than
cursory attention by our city officials be-
fore complying with them.