Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-11-26
States Biggest M0nhunt
Due TO Dynamite Threats

Threats to dynamite Northern Pa.
cific trains In Montana unless 9
$4,000 ransom" were paid, trans.
formed the southern part of the statt
into an armed camp in the fall o.
( 1908 with armed guards riding on every
train and stationed at two-mile inter
walls throughout an area $50 miles In
length.
The excitement started on July is
| 1908. when officials of the company
1 received a letter demanding S25 900
and directing that white cloth should
be displayed at the rear Of each pas
senger train between st. Paul and
Spokane to signify the company's In
tention to obey. If the signal were
not given within Is days, the letter
said. dynamite would be used to wreck
bridges and trains owned by the
company.
The railroad company promptly dis
played the white cloth as directed, and
laid plans to capture the persons max
ing the threats.
Receive Second Letter
Within a few days a second letter
was received by company officials de-
scribing the manner in which the ran
som was to be paid The writer de-
manded 5000 in gold, $500 In IS
bills, 5000 in $40 bills, $500 In $40
bills and 5000 In $50 bills. The money
was to be taken from Livingston at
z D. m. on Aug. %, on q special en-
CINE, and was to be deposited at
point between Livingston and Mis-
Soula when a red light was displayed.
Two other letters were received CIV
ing further directions. but following
the date set for payment, fifth letter
expressed regret" that the writer
MT Trsraunr14 RI criua the c}eV4oI
for payment, and extended the time
for paying the ransom to Sept. 2.
No payment was made on the date
set, and officials of the. railroad
promptly received another letter warn
ing that unless payment were made
some of the Northern Pacific trains
would Ego in the ditch" The writer
also threatened to double the ransom
unless it were paid by Sept. IS. "A
change was also made in directions
for payment, ordering the company to
send a special engine from Butte
through Garrison and Helena and TO
deposit the money at signal to be
given.
Ransom Increased
On Sept. IT, another letter was re-
ceived, notifying railroad officials that
the ransom had been increased to
line for payment.
Oct. passed without incident, and
company officials began to consider
the whole affair as only bluff.
Two engines were damaged by dyna-
mite on the following day, however.
One explosion occurred a short dis
lance west of Helena badly damag-
ing an engine, and the second &C.
CURED near Elliston, but without SER
ious damage.
The Northern Pacific Immediately
patrols guarding the tracks. |
were used in an attempt
to follow the trail of the dynamiters, |
and the company issued a ruling that |
no passenger would be permitted to
carry a gun Of any kind.
Find Giant Powder Charge
A week of comparative quiet fol- |
lowed, although the railroad company |
increased its watchfulness In an effort |
to prevent further attacks. Then on |
Oct. IA, six sticks of giant powder were !
found placed under the Northern Pa |
cific tracks eight miles west of Helena. |
Although it had been placed in such |
manner that passage Of train over |
the rails would be likely to set off the |
explosives, no damage was done. The |
discovery was made after freight