Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-09-07
BY ELMO

intOne the Indictment in a mis-
demeanOr complaint IL was the
morning after q ri0tOus night In
Virginia City--a night turned wild
by one Of the many roaring fOrays
Of Joe SIade and his cSOwd. Slade
in past years had hOnOrably car
ried the complimentary title OF
captain. He was an unusual man.
He would have been an Outstand-
ing character In any generation.
Destiny placed him upon life's
stage and gave him part to play
and the talent to play tin q
picturesque period.
Had he followed through to the end
faithful to the character assigned him,
he would have occupied a glamorous
page in western history. Mark Twain
has made Slade famous, If not inn
mortal, by chapter In 'Roughing 1t.
But SHADES moral armor had one
weak spot. He could not stand q Life
of comparative inactivity. The sheer
force of momentum carried a strong
will and an inclination to personal
force and action across the line that
separates law and order from hoodlum
rioting. He was not criminal; rather,
loss Of self-control carried with it a
lack of respect for society.
Slade became so blind to the rights
of others that he unwtttingly was writ
ing his own death warrant
native of Carlisle, ILL.,, Slade was
q young soldier in the Mexican war
in 184S He gained a reputation for
fearless intrepidity that was to earn
for him the position of district agent
for the Overland Stage Co. in 1859. He
was assigned to the Julesburg route
with despotic powers over some 6OO
miles of stage stations, men and equip
ment, at time when road agents and
petty outlaws were dealing the COM
pany plenty of trouble.
Slade was Tough
Slade was tough. He had to be to
get results. Frontier ranchers tried
fraud and trickery in selling supplies
to the Overland company. Slade coun-
tered with penalties of violence; when
offenders sought mercy Slade banlshed
them from the country. outlaws and
petty toughs who preyed upon the
company and the travelling public re-
ceived similar treatment, from Slade
himself or at his orders.
Slade was honest. He was faithful
to his word and to the trust reposed
in him. He required similar qualities
in his men. He was gentleman among
gentlemen, and he could be as tough
as the situation might require. He had
the full support of his employers and
the unquestioned loyalty OF his sub
ordinates.
His word was law He enforced his
edictS fearlessly. OF course, he earned
a hard name for himself. But ne
spread fear among the lawleSS ele-
ment of the region, and brought COM
parative peace and safety to the stage
line and its patrons.
Jules REM, a French Canadian, was
a leader among the toughS. He was
implicated in one way or another in
Just about every lawleSs event In the
country: at least, he assumed as his
own every difficulty of the toughs |
with the stage company. He claShed
with Slade frequently. Slade was not
q man to bear malice, but Jules nursed
trivial grievances until his vengeance
account grew large.
Jules entered his house one day fol-
lowing a corral fence conversation with |
5lade and others. Slade started to fol-
ow He was unarmed.
Look out, Slade!" called byStand-
pr. Jules is going to shoot you"
AS Slade turned he was struck by
Jules bullet Jules fired five shots,
hen picked UP a shotgun and emptied
It's charge into SHADES body. Slade was
carried to the stage station.
Jules, sure that Slade was dead or
living. gave instructions for his burial.
I'm live long enough shouted Slade,
Using from his bunk, ito wear one OF
-FOUR ears on my watch guard"
The Overland superintendent arrived
hortly afterward and, learning OF the
ordered Jules arrest. A scat
old was erected. Three times Jules
vas drawn high and held while he
trangled black in the face. Let down
he the third time he promised to leave
he country.
Slade was taken to st. Louis for
of his wounds. He returned
o duty with eight shot still in his
,ody. ieaden pellets he carried until
lis death. He knew that Jules would
Tot leave the country though he
night stay away from the stage line
or a while; he knew that he would
AVE to settle accounts with Jules
ooner or later. He sent word to the
Canadian that he would Kill
i'm on sight, but that he would not
70 out of his way to make the OPP
Out to Get Jules
Business had called Slade to Pacific
springs, I'D on the continental divide,
7here he learned that Jules was dis
laying the gun he boosted would be,
sed to kill the division agent, AS he
eturned eastward Slade received sim
ar warnings at every SJaJlon. ne
topped at Fort Laramie and con-
erred with army officers. They, know
lg the circumstances, advised Slade
D kill Jules at the first opportunity,
drastic step, but one necessary to
ring an end to Jules trouble making.
Jules, Slade learned, was at sta
on a few miles east of the fort. Hur-.
wing on, he learned that friends had
ules under arrest at Chansau's
anch. Slade stepped from the stage
nd grabbed a pistol from the belt
( a bystander with the remark:
"I need thisl"
Reaching the corral where Jules was |
ED. Slade fired at his eyes. The UNI |
amiliar gun shot low, and wounded {
ules in the mouth. Jules fell back !
5 If MORALLY wounded. I