Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-08
Early New Year Celebrations
at Bannack Saw Participants
Literally Wined and Dined

] Main street to the general merchandise
store. kept by Thompson 81 Swift.
There we're no women in the store
when they arrived, but there were sew
eral men, among whom was Henry
/ Plummer of shady reputation, engaged
/ in such a heated dispute with another
man, that he failed TO notice the girls
entry. At first the alteration was car
ried on in a low tone Of voice. AS their
anger increased, they talked louder and
I presently weapons were drawn.
I To be in the midst Of a free for all
fight between desperadoes like the
Plummer gang was more Of a New
Years celebration than the girls had
planned on and they lost no time In
getting outside the store, but not before
they had seen Mr.. Thompson with his
hand on Plummer's shoulder and heard
him urge Henry" to settle his quarrel
outside, meanwhile indicating the back
and not the front door as the preferable
exit. The girls had left by the front
door. fully satisfied with their New
Years experiences, and only trusting
that they might reach their homes in
safety.
The Bannack New Years Of 1896
was uneventful and was in nowise diff
ferent from any other winters day in
the first territorial capital, except that
there were more men in town, because
it was the capital Bannack, however,
was losing prestige being overshadowed
by its rival, Virginia City. -Four years
later a New York Tribune correspon-
dent recorded how the holidays were
spent in the latter town:
Between Christmas and New Years /
the city was unusually lively. The
streets were gay with beauty and
fashion and in the evening merry music |
and the dance were always to be found
under some Of the many hospitable !
roofs Of the town. Col. John <. Beidler |
(then collector Of customs in Helena) /
was here. having a good time, visiting |
old friends: and Col. Nell HOWE, (head /
Of the Montana Volunteer Indian fight /
ers at that time) was also among the
guests enjoying the festivities OF the
capital We spent many pleasant hours,
during leisure afternoons, hearing
Colonies Sanders. Beidler, HOWE, Hall
and others fight over again the deS-
perate battles they had to give in order
to make safe the victory over organized
crime
FINALLY New Years morning dawned
upon the little mountain capital and
it was by general consent laid out as
a field Of frolic' and a party consist
Tuttle, Chief Justice Hosmer, Secretary
Marshall. Professor Eaton and some
other congenial souls started out to-
gether to celebrate. This they did with
such a will that at length Bishop
futile left them. when they decided to
attend a sparring match, the contes-
tant answering to the names OF Chick
and Teddy"
This 1868 celebration was long before
prohibition and we may be reasonably
sure that this group Of notables were
literally wined and dined at the num-
erous private homes they visited and 1t
is also likely that they refreshed them
selves with liquors OF various strength
between houseS-at least the reporter
intimates as much, but
other times, other manners" 1t Is
sufficient to know that day was cele-
brated, however the celebrantS may
have felt the next day.
In Helena in 1877, the New York Gus
tom of the ladies entertaining their
gentlemen acquaintance on New Years
day was still in force there. The papers
published list Of the ladies who would
keep open house on that day and gen.
orally those who did so were assisted
by several others whose names were
also published.
Helena was then known for its lavish
hospitality and its excellent cooks. All
cakes, etc., served were home made OF
necessity, the modern delicatessen and
bake shop were unknown then In that
lily. In the dining rooms Of those re-
,eiving, tables were set out with the
pest china and Silverware and heaped
With rolls and many kinds of cakes,
,ogether with such other eatables as I
would appeal TO masculine taste. Some
lines, but not often, there was wine,
)ut coffee generally took its place.
Early in the forenoon the guests be-
,an to arrive and were received by their |
losteSseS, arrayed In beautiful gowns,
md were at once led to the dining
DOM to partake Of the good things
here. The reception continued all day '
md until late at night; yet never was {
t said that the feast ended for lack !