Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-03-14
MICKEY FINNpS
BURIAL SORDD
BUT LAUGHABLE
ONLY THING LACKING AT MIN
ER's NTERNTENT AT DEER
LODGE WAS BODY


rite. a humorous event In retrospect
but at the time an event frought with
grim sordidness.
The story Of Mickey Films demise
and burial was told two-score year.
ago by Henry Bose, then hale and
hearty at 70 and one Of the earliest
settlers Of the Flathead valley, at 9
gathering OF the Montana Pioneers
and demonstrates that Bose possessed
a sense Of drama as well as humor.
1T was In Bear gllch in the winter
Of 1870" Bose began. AT that tim
there were no wagon roads, only trails
but Bear Town was a prosperous min
ing camp cutting straight across as
we did, in the neighborhood OF 81
miles from Deer Lodge. We were drift
ing and hosting pay dirt to wash In
the spring; and the diggin's were deep
Mike Flynn-we called him Mickey
Finn-lived the third claim below us
and In the winter he got sick. We
visited him several times and finally
Mickey died
Mickey was a good Christian and
his partner had promised him that he
would bury him in consecrated ground.
We miners agreed upon the advice OF
Joaquin Abascal, to get our horses and
bury Mickey in Deer Lodge in the con-
secrated burying ground.
1--WE started out one morning from
Mickey's cabin. We had the corpse
rolled UP In a blanket and thrown
over an Arapahoe pack saddle. One
of the boys led the horse that was
carrying it behind his own. There was
quite a string of us.
Made a Coffin
Near the mouth of Bear creek we
found a man who had his rip-saw set
I'D in the woods. Some OF us stayed
there to saw enough lumber to make
a coffin for poor Mickey, while some
of us went into the Bitter Root TO
Baron OKeefe to borrow an old demo-
crat wagon and harness. We had quite
a time breaking the caynses into har-
ness. which wasn't very strong. 1t was
made, of Shaganapy, which Is a KIND
of Indian leather.
"Weu, we put the corpse in the
coffin and placed it in the wagon In
the hack. Next morning when we got
ready to pull out for Deer Lodge we
had another circus gettin' the horses
started. but after breakfast the pro-
EESSlOu 6JdIJCut b14OoC OAA @%~@~~~-~~~-
going ahead. It was quite procession.
We Travelled until we got to Cold creek;
At Pioneer bar there was some ground
sluice and we found there was a
saloon.
Boys Have Drink
dAs It was late In the afternoon
some of the boys went IN and had
drink. And then pretty soon they Went
in and had another drink. Then we
concluded that as poor Mickey nao
never had wake we would bring him
in and hold real irish wake. We got
some candles and brought the coffin
In and set 1t on two beer kegs. we
took off the lid and lighted the can
dies and there was poor Mickey a.
Iayin' in there. We had some real GOOD
singfn' and drinkin' all night. Inc
boys all got pretty tired and so we
made our beds on the floor around
the coffin.
sTn the morning as we had to go
on. we had a miner make us some
coffee and we started out on our jour-
ney toward Deer Lodge. The boys were
urettv well worn out so that In the
afternoon the storekeeper said to me
and Jim to ride on ahead and see the
priest and tell him we was comm and
to dig the grave for Mickey. SO the
two of us spurred up our horses and
got to Deer Lodge and saw the father
and told him to show us the place 70
dig the grave. He was very kind 70
us and gave us some supper. Then we
dug the grave and it was pretty dark.
It took us a while to finish and when
we were done the father came out
with his cassock and his book and
told us that the work was done IN
good workmanlike manner.
Wait for Procession
GAS we were waiting for the pro-
cession we finally saw it coming down
the valley. All Of us stood in respect
full position ready for the burial OF
poor Mickey. And finally as the wagon
nulled up. Lord and behold, and the
corpse was gone. tell you we sure
felt bad. The two drivers said that
comm down the hill the wagon had
run I'D on the horses hind quarters
and of course they reared around act
ing as though they wanted to. shake
hands with the driver. We an feiS
Dretty bad and were ashamed OF our
selves. The father said for us TO go |
10 Deer Lodge for the night ana In |
the morning some Of us could look up |
the corpse and bury 1t.
1--WE all went to Deer Lodge and had
a meeting in Pete Valiton's brewery.
rhe next morning Jim and and two
more started out from Deer Lodge In
the wagon. At the top Of the hill we
found the place where the horses had
acted up and after a long search we
finally found the coffin down IN the
creek bed where it rolled. And there
was poor Mickey standin' on his head
We had an awful time gettin' the water
put of the coffin, but we brought the
body up reverently to Deer Lodge and
We buried it with proper ceremonies.
And that's all there is to my story. 1t
seems funny now, but 1t was terrible
hen" said Bose.