Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-03-28
FRONTIER HOTEL
AT BOHEMIAN HAD
RUGGED HISTORY
HOSTELRY DESTROYED BY FIRE
IN 1900 SAW PLENTY OF
VIOLENCE

Many years ago the Northern Pa
cific hotel was a favorite stopping
place In the GalIatin valley. Long
after it was constructed it was the
largest and the most improved hotel
in eastern Montana. In the early days
Of the territory, it was visited by many
notable personages, whose business
brought them into the then little town
of Bozeman
Within the little office to the right
of the entrance, Indian raids had been
discussed and couriers bearing bad
toned by many determined frontiers
men.
In later years when the stagecoach
was the only means Of travel and
communication between the town and
the outside world, the arrival of the
coach had many times been watched
with straining eyes from the old
fashioned veranda In the front Of the
building.
Murders Committed There
Murders were committed within its
walls, which could have told many
an interesting and exciting story Of
the early days, had they possessed the
powers of expression.
The history of the old building is
quite interesting. Three years after
John M. Bozeman brought his last
train of emigrants across from the
Yellowstone, John G. Guy and Thomas
B. Gray commenced the erection Of
a log building The timbers were cut
in the hills south of Bozeman, and
as each one was notched and hewed
and placed in position, the idlers stood
around and commented on the job, and
ready to lend a hand when the logs
had to be rolled into place. AS first
built, the hotel stood three feet higher
than Main street and contained about
a dozen rooms.
The proprietors, Guy & Gray. opened
the place for the entertainment Of
guests in the early part of 1868 and
gave 1t the name of the Guy House.
For many years after its completion
this rude but comfortable structure
was the pride of the town and the
largest and best hostelry in Montana,
east of Helena.
In the spring of 1873 Willard Ford
was shot by Elijah Dumphy IN the
hotel office The two men had quar-
relied over some business matters and
when the tragedy occurred both were
under the influence of liquor. As the
men entered the office both drew their
guns and fired several shots, Ford be- |
ing MORALLY wounded and dying a
couple Of days later Dumphy was ar
rested.
The affair created considerable ex-
the people taking sides IN |
the matter, and fearing he could not |
get fair trial Dumphy took change |
of venue to Virginia City where he |
was afterwards acquitted
On Sept S, 1878, Silas Ralston, |
sheriff of the county, was shot while |
in the saloon next to the office. He |
was trying to separate two men who |
were quarreling and he was shot, &C
1t was claimed, by Gov"
N. T. williams, who was trying to kill
his opponent, Sol" R. II. Pierce.
Ralston was a man of IS and a
general favorite Of the people Of the
whole valley, and the feeling was very
strong against the slayer. Williams,
however, after two or three trials, was
finally acquitted. A number of other
shooting scrapes took place within the
walls of the old hotel, but these we're
he most serious.
1t is told that Russell B. Harrison,
l son of former President Benjamin
Harrison, on the occasion of his first
visit to Bozeman, soon after coming
% Montana, where he spent num-
Der of years, stopped to watch a quar-
eel as he was passing the hotel.
The alteration was between George
Smith, Pat Worsham and several 9TH
rs who had been partaking too freely
If the cup that inebriates. During the
icuffle one of the men dropped his
ix-shooter upon the ground close to
he feet of Harrison Harrison picked
Up the gun and handed 1t to its owner,
Who Immediately dropped his quarrel
With the others and sizing Harrison
Ip, said:
What IN hell have you got to do
With this anyhow"
harrison Beaten Up
Thereupon the rest Of the bunch