Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-06-21

noise beloved forth on the silent and
sleeping city that fairly shook the
earth. Pandemonium broke loose, with
a sweep Of the big resined bow, WELD
/ ed by q half dozen men, the like Of
/ which was probably never heard before
on earth. The unearthly racket Of tin
cans, cowbells, and the deep, rasping
sounds of the bullfiddle was continued
necessarily until the store door opened,
revealing a white, haggard face, hair
/ apparently standing on end, and In
stage of panic, fright and collapse,
partly due to the belief that the Vigil
/ lantes were after him. The p1tiable
condition Of Scroggings so affected the
crowd that hasty conclusion OF the
entertainment was voted and they
quietly dispersed. Scroggings was never
further molested and he, no doubt,
lived quietly and happily with his
SQuaw wife.
There was an odd character, Sim
Grim. He was of huge frame, weighing
some $50 pounds, feet amputated at
the instepS. He was of lamb-nke dis
position, yet rugged and rough In q
western way. He was an inveterate
horse racer and originated the man
against-horse contests. The race was
conducted in the following manner:
The race was usually so yards to
perpendicular pole, then turn and race
back.
Grim was obligated to ride the small
est cayuSe which could be found. The
horse nearly always reached the pole
in advance, but in making the short
turn he would lose so much ground
that the foot racer, on the home
stretch, would many times outdistance
the rider and be declared the winner.
Many dollars changed hands in these
contests and for thrills and excite
ment no other outdoor sport was COM
pared with it. The fun and thrills were
afforded by the rider who, In his quick
sprint to reach the pole and fierce
effort to make the turn as quickly as
possible and secure an even break
with his opponent would often find
himself and his horse rolling over and |
over in the dust.
Rich Purse Stake
One of the greatest races that ever
took place in Montana, for interest |
and excitement, was pulled off In the /
fall of 1867. The match was made In |
Nevada City and a good purse was |
hung up for the winner. More money |
is said to have changed hands in this |
race than on any other like affair IN |
the state. A foot racer was pitted |
against the rider of a mule and the /
distance was 10 miles.
The start was at Virginia City, |
through Nevada City to Junction, four
miles below, nearly at the mouth of the i
gulch. The race course was the main
road full Of dust, rocks and gravel.
The foot racer was given a half-mile
start. The road was lined throughout
its entire length by thousands of men,
women and children. A thunderous
shout heralded the getaway the
of the men and the scream
ing of the women echoed and re-
echoed up and down the gulch and
over the distant hills. The nervy foot +
racer maintained the lead with heart
breaking speed, stimulated to greater
efforts as they neared the goal by the
loud-pounding hoofs of the mule,
which seemed to the runner to be ac
tually riding him down.
With a last effort and with a burst
Of speed that put him over the line
and to victory, the man fell uncon-
scious, blood gushing from his mouth,
nose and ears. He was carried in tri-
umph on the shoulders Of the winners
and his admirers the four miles to
Nevada City, where he was handed a
purse of gold dust, the value of which
was very soothing Salve for his in
juries.
An incessant warfare had always
waged between the white man and the
Chinaman. mo Chinks allowed" was
the slogan and many an individual
battle occurred, but at this period the
hatred for the pigtails had gradually
subsidized into sullen acquiescence, and
a fight was looked upon as a rare
event.
A fight took place between a white
man and a Chinese In the dry, dusty
street on hot summers day in 1867.
The principals, both Of diminuitive
size and weight, became involved in
a quarrel that ended in a real scrap.
This soon attracted a crowd of some
100 Chinks, armed with knives, and
an equal number of whites armed with
to see fair play.
The fight lasted over two hours with
little advantage on either side until