Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-06-20

In those days the miners were like
groWnup boys and hungered for any
kind of amusement and nothing was
too great. or small. of whatever ma
ture. of which they did not take ad-
vantage.
If there are still living any old
timers who were in Nevada City In
1867 they will no doubt recall the fol-
lowing incident in relation to one
clothing store This Scroggings was OF
bulldog physiognomy, dirty red hair
and little red evil eyes, beetling brows
and pock-marked face.
White women. even at that late
period, were few and at a premium
and Scroggings, who was along in years
and single life becoming tiresome and
monotonous and having for some time
unsuccessfully endeavored to attach a
helpmate. finally, in desperation. mar
ried a young and handsome Bannack
squaw. The ceremony was performed
by a rough old justice of the peace,
who, when he pronounced them man
and wife, said:
Here stands a white man and squaw
Married under the white mans law,
Up the hill and down the level:
Kiss your wife, you ugly devil
This was too rich thing for the
DOyS 10 pass up, 81 liley So1iSiooSo ~
give the bride and groom a charivari.
This one was somewhat original and
out of the ordinary. A requisition for
tin cans and cowbells soon had all
the kids that could be rounded up
hilariously at work. while in the mean
time a huge fiddle was constructed in
the shape of trough some 20 feet
in length and 4 feet in depth. Larlats,
dipped in resin, were tightly drawn
fhic a SanlinU rDlP In
feet long served as a bow, which was
strung with strands of rope similarly
dipped in hot resin.
Raise Unearthly Racket
Having now everything in readiness,
the crowd silently gathered in front
of the store at midnight, and at a
signal from the leader of the band, a
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 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 a
stage of panic, fright and collapse,
partly Que 10 tne Delle1 tIlat lIle VlBl-
lantes were after him. The pitiable
condition of Scroggings SO affected the
crowd that a 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-like dis
position, yet rugged and rough in a
western way. He was an mveterate
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 50 much ground
that the foot racer, on the home
stretch, would many times outditance