Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-01-25


for weeks with increasing emphasis
OF the almost fabulous mines Ia and
around the town.
Winding down the long hin, we en-
camped upon Yankee flat near the
banks OF the streams and the oxen
were released from the labors of their
long journey. Here we found out
what We had apprehended would be
the case, namely that IL would be I'M
possible for US to go by way Of He'll
gate 70 Lewiston, the capital Of the
4 templated, as we we're told that the
Mullan road was filled with fallen
trees, and there was snow upon the
| mountain divides. We, therefore, de-
termined TO remain ia Bannack for
\ the winter. and we moved into a house
formerly used as a store which stood
on the banks Of the Grasshopper, In
/ which five rooms were partitioned off.
and when the walls had been covered
with muslin, pictures hung CARPETS
put down, 1t seemed very homelike
and comfortable. When one has been
moving for q few months, he Is not
inclined TO be fastidious as 20 the
style OF the house he occupies. Dur
ing our second year there was a long
continued rain, which melted a heavy
snow, soaked through our mud roof
long after It had become fair outside.
Tribute to Brave Women
There are unwrttten chapters In
the history Of every new settlement
which no pen will ever write but
could they be written they would ten
Of many heroines as well as heroes.
women as brave and deserving OF
credit as those who landed from the
Mayflower. They had much to do in
Ia -
lization has always followed closely In
the footsteps of the women pioneers
1t Is the pioneer homemaker and the
pioneer schoolteacher who have paved
the way for the permanent church and
Sunday school and have often exerted
more lasting influence than was
realized at the time. Bannack was
tumultuous and rough, the headquar-
tiers Of a band Of highwayunen and
lawlessness, and misrule seemed to be
the prevailing spirit Of the place. But
into this little town had drifted many
worthy people who unbendingly held
firmly to their principles Of right.
There were few families there and
the parents we're anxious to have their
children in school and It never was
known when there came a cry from
the children that some schoolma'am
did not rise up In response.
was requested to take charge of
such an institution and the question
Of finding room In which 10 teach
vas matter of some difficulty. we
learned Of man In town who owned
some houses, which It was thought
might answer the purpose, and Chief
Justice Sidney Edgerton, who was NV
uncle, went with me to interview him.
With some difficulty we found his
residence and raped loudly
but finally q mans voice
sailed Come in" Pushing open the
ioor we saw in the dim light a man
ying on buffalo robes on the floor,
&c did not rise to meet us, for he
lad not fully recovered from the eff
'ects OF tmbibing too freely Of the
'avorite beverage then SO plentiful
Ny uncle stated our errand. yes,
lad of It," he said. Damned shame:
hildren running around the. streets:
,ught to be In school, will do any
hing can TO help her; she can
AVE this room-dirt cheap-$5O
month";
started In October, 1858
It was some time In October, 1853,
hat the school was opened in a room
n our, own house on the banks Of
he Grasshopper creek near where the
ord and footbridge were located. It
Vas somewhat strange gathering Of
for they came from
faine to Missouri, and many other
IateS. The exciting time when the
igilance committee effectually rid the
srritory Of the band Of highwaymen
occurred during this period and the
allows tree up Hangman's gulch
lany times bore fruit for the heal
10 Of the nation.
cannot remember the names Of
I the scholars In that school. With
le aid OF Mrs. A. E. Graeter Of Dill
n, I have made out the following
st. which think Is fairly correct:
irst Scholars
Emma zoller, Emma Cutler, Susan
urchett, Mary Teeters, Charles Van
amp, j. Edward Watson, Wright
rescott Edgerton, Della Gutter,
gorge Burchett. George Teeters, Jen-
e Bennette, Euphemia Van Camp.
lmes j. Sanders, Mollie Dye, Matilda
rench. William Jones, Henry French.
argaret French, Pauline Edgerton,
gorge French.
The house In which this school
as taught did not approach In archi-
ctural beauty The Little Red School
ouse," and IL IS gratifying TO learn
lat the undiscovered, d-plastered
Id mud-lined house with its wooden
inches and inprovised desks has
ven place to finely equipped school
uses, and that our fncongruous
ethods Of study compelled by the d.
rsitieS Of our schoolbook has Yield
TO the courses of study which
eet the approval OF the best teachers
the land.