Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-09-13
Much Fun and Many Laughs
Mark Convention at Cooke City

I Pa Crabtree, an old-time prospector
who has been digging for gold ever
since the Indians ran the first pros
pectors out Of Cooke City. addresses
his wife:
"Doggone, Nav, II amt learned
I to writel"
Ma That's fine. Paw. I'd a never
thought you could do it. Read me what
you have writ.
Pa: Shucks, Nav, CANT I amt
learned to read yit.
shots outside; horses hoofs; sound
Of girl running: Pansy Crabtree ruShes
in. shouting breathlessly).
Pansy: Pa, that Silver Gate gang Is
feudin again. They've shot Brother
Rufus
Pa: Doggone, Nav, you know been
a thinkin' that I was miSsin' some of
the kids lately I lnowed Gorham
was shootin' at 'em all the time but
he never hit nuthin'
Pansy: Pa, you old loafer. amt you
goin out and shoot 1t out with emp
Pa Shoot 1t out with Gorham? I
should say not--nOt even with pair
Of dice would I shoot 1t out with that
old skinflint.
And so the Mining Association
got a laugh out of the "feud" between
the twin cities" Of the northeast en-
trance to Yellowstone park, as well as
many more laughs out Of personalities
injected into a playlet in which prom
inent mining men played the leading
roles. AS an example. DR.. Francis A.
Thomson. president of the School OF
Mines, was Paw" and the villain Of
the drawma was r. D. Bradford, man
ager Of the A. S. e. r. smelter at East
Helena, and the hero" was W. H. Hax
Of Jardine.
The playlet was the concluding event
Of the convention, following an after
dinner talk by o. I. DeSchon, publisher
Of the Journal. who gave the Inside
story" Of the mining industry and
shook some skeletons out Of family
and corporate closets.
The playlet was enacted before a
microphone. arranged for a broad
cast" with a Caterpillar power plant
provided for the occasion by the Con-
nelly Machinery company Of Billings.
Instead of being broadcast, the play
was recorded and thereafter played
back, loud enough so that everyone
could hear the cracks" that were
missed the first time through.
Kenneth Davidson and Harris Bow /
man, clever entertainers from Great |
Falls, provided comedy relief during /
The banquet and the miners were given |
4 brief glimpse of Mary Lou"-a name I
known by correspondence to most OF 4
.hem-who accompanied at the piano /
4 vocalist. Miss Dorothy Borcherding, 1
1ne Of the most promising young So
0ranos of the University of Montana /
1t Missoula.
Mother Nature aided the people OF
he two towns in startling entertain
nent. The second morning Of the con-
rention the miners arose TO find the /
covering mountains around them COW /
red with snow q most beautiful !
light. During the day two large bull |
moose wandered into Silver Gate,
within a block of convention hall, and
pent the entire day within range Of
he cameras of the convention folks.
Few had ever seen moose in the wild
t such short range. A COW and
alf were reported in the brush short
istance away but few persons dared
o venture off the road to encounter
hem.
The convention was a fine vacation
Or everyone. The townspeople set
side all other business to entertain
nd did a royal job. Midnight lunches
ere served at the Gorham chalet, free
} all corners, each night. On Thurs
ay night an impromptu Jack Benny
now was provided by the Caterpillar
1mpany representatives. There were
lotion pictures at Shaw's cabins, two
ances, two dinners. a cocktail party |
n the ladies and other entertainment
sting many hours beyond the allow
oles under the wage-hour law.
d e. -. C1--