Glacier County chief., 1939-07-14
Late Frank Coney Was the Last of Three Brothers Who
Lived Through Exciting Early Days in the Treasure State

were intending to stay in that camp
for some time. A command of the
troops under Major Baird Of the Fifth
infantry, was at once ordered to take
the field against the advancing In
dams.
The commanding officer decided to
send with the troops a mountain how
itzer and the question arose of how
to get it to where it could be used.
The scouts said it would be impossible
to get 1t there on its own wheels, as
the country was so rough that no
wagon could get within five miles of
the camp. Someone suggested that the
howitzer be taken apart and trans
ported on pack mules. But could it be
packed so that it would ride? Several
of the packers tried to tie the gun on
but failed. Finally Conley and Hank
were told to see what they could do
with it.
On Three Mules
Jack and Hank looked the situation
over, compared notes, then told the
officer they would need three mules
to carry the gun. The mules were
given to them and the two began to
pack the gun. In a short while they
had it all tied on the three mules and
the test began to see If the load would
stay. The mules were driven around
on the big flat south Of the fort for
nearly four hours at pace they would
ordinarily take when travelling with
the troops. At the end of that time
the packs were still firm on the mules
backs. Coniey and Hank were ordered
to accompany the troops. The Indians
were band of Uncapapa Sioux under
Chief Crazy Bear. They were cap
tured with no loss to the troops and
only three of the Indians we're killed.
Jack Conley left the service of the
government in 1880 and went to Miles
City, where he acted as deputy sheriff
on different occasions. Then he went
conda. When he had resided In Ana.
conda a couple of years he was elected
sheriff. which office he filled for sew.
eral years. From Anaconda he went
farther west and died several years
ago on the west coast.
Conley brothers, came to Montana IN
1880. He joined a surveying party to
the Yellowstone national park at which
work he remained over year. Shortly
after his return to Miles City he was
appointed deputy under Sheriff Tom
Irvine in 1881 and held that position
under Sheriffs William Billiard, ]. W.
johnson and Charles Savage. In the
fall of 1886 he was sent to Deer Lodge
in charge of two men who had been
sentenced to the state prison.
The country around Deer Lodge
seemed to appeal to him and he re-
signed as deputy sheriff OF Custer
at the prison. He remained a resident
of Deer Lodge from that time TILL his
death.
The prison at Deer Lodge when Con-
ley began as guard was federal IN
stitution and it was run by contract.
While Conley was guard he became
an intimate friend of Thomas NC
Tague. When the time came am ~ ior ~, a
went in from Conley and McTague
and their bid being the lowest. they
were awarded the contract.
When Conley and McTague TOOK
control of the prison, Frank Conley
! was put in charge as warden and as
such he continued for Is years.
Builds New Prison
The old prison did not suit Conley.
1t consisted of two small two-story
stone cellhouses, an office and small
waiting room. The other buildings were
of frame or log construction and the
entire prison was surrounded by a
| high log palisade or fence with
| sentry box at each corner, where
guards were stationed during the day
but which were vacant at night when
the prisoners were locked in their cells.
Coniey wanted something better
He sent crews of the prisoners, under
| guard, to the mountains to quarry
Stone which was hauled to the prison
! and shaped up. More convicts worked
around the old yard and stone wall
was built around the prison grounds:
The wall was in the neighborhood OF
by Granite slabs feet wide so it would
be safe to walk on. At each of the
| four corners a guard tower was built
and one in the center of the front
wall where the main gate was. Win
the cooperation of the state a four
! story brick dollhouse was built con-
| tanning a cell block with four tiers
of cells on each side in the center OF
| the dollhouse. The cells were for two
| men and the block would accommodate
| 400 prisoners. Other buildings were put
| up. kitchen, dining room, bathhouse,
etc.
Guards On "a Hours Day
In each of the guard towers was
guard. and guards we're a,1 tones On sf ihe
ward was watched by four men VINO
were armed with a rifle, a double
barreled shotgun, and Colts 40
| caliber revolver. At each entrance there
were two gates, the keys OF which
were in charge Of the guard on the
a trusty who was stationed outside.
would notify the guard who, after
satisfying himself that the person was
ali right, would let down the key to
! the outside gate which would be un m.
locked and the person or persons let
in. The trusty would then relock the
gate and send the key up to the guard.
The guard would then press a button
which would notify the captain of the
yard guards and he would come 70 the
gate and through peephole look at
who was coming in and receive the
key of the inner gate from the wall
guard. open the gate and then relock
| It and send the key up to the guard,
out on the wall with his rifle COM
handing the approach to the gate.
When a team was let in through the
gate. the same procedure was gone
through, but there were two guards
out on the wall, one from each corner
| tower