Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-01-04
BROADWATER RAN
TO SAVE HIS LIFE
GEORGE IVES, NOTORIOUS KILL.
Err, TOOK SECOND PLACE
IN RACE

After the vigilantes of Virginia
City had banished Moore and
Reeves, members of the Plummer
band Of bandits against whom
there was no direct evidence, the
two robbers went to Deer Lodge
valley and made for themselves q
permanent camp. Colonel Broad
water and Judge w. Y. PembertOn,
then young men and who had
only recently arrived tn the ter
ritOry Of Montana, had selected
this spot as a tOwnsite, out Of
which they expected to make their
fortunes. They were plating the
ground when the exiIes arrived. 1t
was in February and very cold.
Moore and Reeves made a miserable
wickyup for themselves, which af-
forded them but little protection from
the wintry blasts. They had no food
except beef and coffee. Moore fell sick
and would have died but for the care
Of Broadwater, who took him to his
comfortable cabin and nurSed him back
to health. About this time a mesSen-
ger came from Bannack with the news
that the miners had revoked the SEN
tence Of Punishment against the men,
and they were at liberty to return. The
Indians had stolen Mooreis horse and
Broadwater gave him an animal on
which he made the trip back to the
bright lights of Bannack.
Moore Warned Broadwater
A year later BroadWater had gone
into the cattle business He bought and
sold stock and frequently had In his
possession thousands Of dollars worth
OF gold dust, the circulating medium
of the territory. On one occasion, when
he was about to leave Bannack with
g, 900 In gold dust In his belt, Moore
came to him and told him that the
road agents knew Of his contemplated
trip and the small fortune he was
taking with him.
cit Is worth my life to tell you this,
but you saved my life, and I viii take
chance with you. These men, who
are my associates, have determined to
kill you and take your gold. Ny adj
vice Is for you to leave town secretly
intend to start"
IT intended to leave In the morning,
but after what you have told me, I
viii go tonight" said Broadwater.
There you go, you - fool, shoot
ing off your mouth. Didn't I tell you
not to tell anyone" said the bandit.
In the early darkness Broadwater
started on his journey. He arrived at
the Big Hole river about O'Clock and
decided to give his horse q rest. He
fastened the lariat to which his horse
was picketed to his wrist and went
to sleep ON the grass An hour before
daylight a pull at his wrist aroused
him.
Shot an Indian
He looked cautiously about him, still
retaining his PROSTATE position, and
saw an Indian creeping through the
grass towards him; he took deliberate
aim and fired The Indian, hit, rose
with a yell and dashed into the brush. |
Broadwater then mounted his horse
and rode away.
Just before daylight BroadWater rode
into the Deer Lodge valley. He felt
that he mad passed the zone of dan
ger, but as he turned an abrupt angle |
Of the road he almost rode into camp
fire Seated at the fire were two men. |
In the dim light of the morning he
recognized George Ives, the most
desperate Of Plummera
men, and who was afterwards hanged
also Plumner gangster.
They hailed him as he passed, and
asked him to wait until they could /
get their horses, picketed q few yards
away, and accompany them. Broad
water replied that he was in a hurry, !
and as his horse was faded, he would i
60 slowly and they could accompany /
him. Afterwards he confessed that he
thought his time to die had come.
Raced for His Life
Broadwater felt that If he could
reach the Conway ranch about 20
miles away he would be reasonably
safe. Conway was his friend and