Glacier County chief., 1940-09-20

Guns of the old west-the talk
ing pieces of frontier days-have
played 4 Colorful, and oftentimeS
effective part in the settling OF
Montana. and the collection housed
in the state historical library at
Helena rates as one of the most
important groups of firearms in
the state If the "shOOtin' irons"
housed in the library could talk,
they could tell countless tales of
Montana's early history, including
the time before the arrival Of the
mass of white men who were beck
Oned here by the lure of gold.
They could tell of the Indian wars
of the early days, the rushes to Virginia
City and Bannack when the precious
yellow metal was found to line the
stream beds of the territory, the night
rides of the vigllanteS, the battles be-
tween the whites and the redmen, par
ticularly along the Little Big Horn, and
tana which have been lost to posterlty
because OF its lack OF recording by
other means.
The collection at the historical libra
ry includes pistols, rifles and ShotgunS.
Also exhibited there are holsters, ram
rods and other regalia akin 10 the
practice Of gun totlng In the old west.
Pistol Was Gavel
Priced among the pistols in the col
lection is that used by George Det-
wiler in presiding over the first session
of the first territorial legislature, which
labored through 1864 and well into the
following year. DetWller presided over
the council. which compares with the
modern-day senate. and TO bring the
bewhiskered members TO order he re-
sorted to the effective method of bang
ing the butt end OF his gun on the
log which served as the presidents
desk.
Probably most valuable Of the rifles
in the collection Is that owned by Jim
Bridger, pioneer Indian scout and
trapper OF the west. II is a so caliber
rifle with a large octagonal barrel A
muzzle-loader, 1t was made by D. Haw-
ken of st. Louis and was used by
Bridger at the time OF Cores eXpedl-
ton from Fort Laramie to Fort Union
in 1855 and 1856. 1t was fired by per-
cussion caps and had set" trigger.
In 1856 Pierre Chen, an interpre Ter
for the Crows at Fort Smith on the
Big Horn river, purchased the rifle
from Brldger for SOS and in 1877 it
was given TO J. I. Allen of Columbus.
1t was presented to the historical Ii
brary in 1910.
PIummer's Gun Included
Ranking first, perhaps, among the
shotgunS Is the double barreled model
which was owned by Henry Plummer,
notorious leader OF the road agent
band and one-time sheriff OF Virginia
City. 1t, too, Is a muzzle- loader. The
shotgun was broken once and Is
wrapped with fine copper wire about
the putt, the repairs having been made,
it is said, by Granville Stuart. 1t came
TO the library in 1915 and was donated
by Amede BeSSette OF Bannack.
Rifles, of course, form the majo
portion of the states collection as they
were most frequently and most effec-
lively used by the frontiersmen. Blu!
there are number OF old-tIme pistols,
and few shotguns.
Among the pistols is that carried for
many years by Jack Collins, known
throughout the state. He was q stock
inspector for the state livestock COM
mission for many years. Also present.
ed to the library with his gun, were
the holster, handouts and other i'm
plementS of arrest.
Ashton Horse Pistol
There also Is an 1886 model Of the
Ashton horse pistol, which has been
made over" from flintlock TO a per-
cuSSlon gun. There are a number of
derrlngers, ranging in size, and a group
of old-tlme Colt revolverS fired by
percussion caps.
Among the derringers, however, is
that owned by Neil HOWE, United
States marshal for Montana in 1864,
who is reported to have aided the
vlgilantes in Virginia City and Helena
at various times. The gun PROBABLY
never accounted for the death of a
road agent, but it IS indicative of the
early fight for law and order in Mon
tana, and HOWE had the reputation
OF always getting his man. The little
pistol Is a single shot of about SO
caliber. The barrel is less than inches
long. Made by H. E. Dimick, 1t is elab-
orately engraved and has Howie,s name
on brass plate on the stock 1t was
donated to the library by COL w. F.
Sanders.
Old Flintlock Rifle
A flintlock musket which belonged
to an old Indian of Teton county, who
is reported to have obtained it from
the American Fur Co., is lodged in
one case at the library 1t was pre-
sented to the state by a Mr.. Davies
of Helena.
Also of historical importance to Hell
ena and vicinity is the John T. Murphy
rifle. which was used by that early
day stockman on hunting trips. It
represented the finest type of gun of
the day and was made especially for
the Helena man.
There is a so caliber needle carbine