Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-02-24
BILLINGS ARTISTS
MURAL ACCEPTED
FATE OF THE MAIL CARRIER" DE-
PICTS TRAGIC END OF
EXPRESS RIDER
J. X. RaIstOn Also Has Painting in
Sidney Courthouse; He Relates Leg
end Upon Which His Mural in Stur-
gis, S. D. POstOffice Was Based.

gis, s. ID. POst0ffice Was Based.
The tragic end of a famous pony
express rider, Charles NOlin, is
the subject of the painting, "The
Fate Of the Mail Carrier" a 4 by
10 foot mural by a Billings artist,
]. X. RaIstOn, recently installed IN
the public lobby Of the Sturgis,
S. D., p0st0ffice. RaIstOn also has
a mural In the Sidney courthouse,
two muraIs in the Grand hotel
in Billings and a collection Of
western oils in the StOckman at
Billings.
The Sturgis panel was painted under
the supervision of the section of fine
arts of the federal works agency as
part of an established program to
provide new federal buildings with ap-
propriate works of art by American
artists.
Against a background of the Black
Hills the artist illustrates the dramatic
scene when Nolin's body, scalped and
riddled with arrows, is discovered by
the members of a passing wagon train.
Ralston thus relates the legend on
which the subject of the mural Is
based:
NOlin Killed by Indians
Charlie Nolin was pony mail car
rier on the old Deadwood road. He
was ambushed and killed by Indians
said to be of the Sioux tribe-on Aug.
/ II, 1876, near what are now the city
limits Of SturgiS
1.-The mail carriers at that time
usually rode through dangerous coun-
try at night. Nolin however had fallen
in with a freighting party for protec-
ton. When within about 20 miles OF
DeadwOod, however, he thought the
wagon train too SLOW and decided to
/ -. E-Tl &vsav ALI
tried to dissuade him, but he was de-
ternined.
""This is my last trip with the mall
he said. It's only 90 miles to Dead
wood and I'm sure can make it,
TN less than an hour, the members
of the freighting train party heard
commotion on the trail ahead. Coming
up later in the afternoon they found
the body Of Nolin. He had evidently
been shot from cover; the mail bags
had been ripped open and the mail
scattered about. There is now a monu-
ment marking the spot where the body
was found, placed there by the Society
of Black Hills Pioneers.
1.-THE mountain shown In the back
ground of the picture is the most OUT
standing landmark Of the region.
Standing out alone from the hills. it
was named by the Indians, 'Ma-top-
ha' or Bear butte, and is mentioned
In some of the chronicles of the earli-
est Dakota explorers"
Knows His Subjects
A native Montanan, Ralston Is as
familiar with the legends as he Is with
the life and scenery of the northwest.
been exhibited widely all over the
country, deal with western life, both
historical and contemporary.
His studies in painting and fluStrat-
ing at the Chicago Academy of Fine
Arts were interrupted when he joined
the army during the World war On
his return to civilian life, however,
he continued his work at the Chicago
art institute.
Ralston has completed three other
murals, one for the courthouse in
Sidney, and two for the Grand hotel
In Billings which depict historical
scenes of the Yellowstone valley.
Ralstons commission to paint the
Sturgis postoffice mural Is similar to
hundreds of others that have been
awarded since 1894 by the section Of
fine arts of the public buildings adj
ministration. The artists selected to do
the mural and sculptural decoration
for federal buildings are chosen on the
basis of the competent work which
| they submit in nationwide COMPETE
tons held by the section. More than
/
| from time to time by the section In
recent years All entries are submitted
anonymously, the jury making its rec
| concentrations without knowledge OF
the artists names.
Officials of the federal works agency
point out that many new and prom1s-
/ ing artists were given their first public
recognition through this program, and
a number of these artists are continu-
ing their work for private patrons as
well as for the federal government.
Was Born On Ranch
Ralston was born on ranch near
Choteau. March 81, 1896. His parents
were Montana pioneers, his fathers
people coming to Alder gulch by OK
| train in 1864, following the gold rush.
Ralston later lived at the Flying q
ranch, where his father was manager.
The brand of this outfit later was
made famous In the writings OF B. M.
Bower.
The greater part of Ralston's boy
hood was spent on ranches near the
Missouri river In northeastern Mon
tana. He worked as a cowboy for some
of the well known ranches OF the
state-79, OK, DIT, and F Bar.
He has been drawing, he says, ever
since he can remember
Ralston. also a magazine illustrator
of western subjects, has made an in
| tensive study of the history Of the
northwest In addition to his Sturgis,
4 Sidney and Billings pictures, he has
some on exhibition in New York, Chi
/ cago and other American cities. he
/ also has done calendar painting.
When making jellies do not forget