Montana oil and mining journal., 1943-01-02
HOW SLADE GAVE
EFFECTIVE HELP
TO YOUNG WOMAN
HE QUICKLY RID THE COUNTRY
or MAN WHO MURDERED
HER HUSBAND

One OF the best examples Of the
sane side Of Captain Jack Shades
character, and the willingness and de-
sire Of the man TO help those defense
less and in need, is set forth IN the
story which years ago was narrated
by Amede Besette, one Of the pioneer
residents Of old Bannack- Besette said
Of Sladc:
do not expect me to blame the men
who took the rope TO hang him, for
believe that Slade carried IN his right
hand pants pocket the rope with
which he was hung.
when Slade left North Platte,
Nebraska, 10 come TO this country, had
he east into the river Jules Reni's
two ears, he might have been living
today I have seen those ears dozen
Hmes myself. was in charge Of the
North Platte bridge for two years.
There we had q nice saloon and big
store, trading mostly with the Indians.
Two, three and four hundred wagons
would cross the bridge every day--ton
S5 per wagon. This run was from the
first Of May until the first Of October
each year I heard that the bridge
was burned by the Indians in 1853.
NOV let me come back TO Slade
again. whenever he would come along
ia one of the coaches, always fun Of
passengers bound for California, he
would ean them to, take q drink At
such times he would pull out of his
pocket a handful of loose silver coin
(mixed with which could be seen
Jules dry, wrinkled ears) pick out
enough silver to pay him for the
drinks, and pocket the rest. This oc-
CURED about every two weeks. Many
passengers, upon hearing the story
Of the ears, would be so Mortified that
they would swear never to drink with
him again
Jules was killed by Slade after the
latter had succeeded the Frenchman
as division agent for the Overland
Stage Co. at Julesburg.
Thieves and Murderers
Let me here tell you what have
seen, heard and know" Besette con-
ttnued. TN the month of August 1881,
there lived, about is miles below In
dependence Rock, Wyo., two thieves
and murderers. One was named Henry
Bacon, a French Canadian; the other,
Harry Smith, a Canadian of Scotch
descent. They kept station on Sweet
water river, on the California road.
Several emigrants disappeared myster-
iously in passing these Many cattle
and horses belonging to neighbors were
recognized in their bands
Was Friend OF sIade
There lived four miles above the
Bacon and Smith place a man named
Joseph Plante, q wealthy French
Canadian. He had q big store and q
Ia H4rYssNTzF f@tfr rnnn7a c1o%a <snHx1& rxo&
anything he wanted there as IL itl
were his own place BE thought aI
great deal OF PIante.
During the summer Of 1861, Bacon
and Smith hired man named Bar
tnolameW, who had q wife and two
children boy of eight and q girl of
five. In the month of July, Smith got
drunk and killed Bartholomew. The
latter had called him a liar, Smith
said, and no man could do that and
live. There we're mo witnesses to the
affray. Two weeks afterwards, Smith
told the widow that he could give
her home. She scorned the PROPOSE |
ton TO marry the murderer of her
husband and the father Of her chill
dren. mo-" she replied, 'sYou may kill
me If you want to, but 1 win never
marry you"
About ten days after this Bacon
and Smith planned to kill Plante, who
had no relatives around, and take |
possession Of his property. Plante,
having discovered the scheme, wrote to |
Slade about. 1t, asking his advice.
Slade replied: "Sit In your store with |
a shotgun loaded with buck shot and /
shoot the first one that tries to enter. |
I win be there next Friday and win
fix those fellows. Have two rawhide
lariats ready
This letter was written on Tuesday. |
Sure enough, on Friday Slade was
there with four of his men and an
extra coach. Smith had been In
PlanteS store about an hour trying to |
raise a quarrel with Plante.
"Slade was informed of all this. he |
went to Smith in the store and ap-
preaching close to him said, Smith, |
you said lately that no man could call |
you liar and live. Pull out your gun,
for am going to tell you what |
think of you, and expect to be shot"
The two men stood about 10 inches
apart, SHADES left hand on the right |
shoulder Of Smith. Looking at him
square in the face, Slade said to
Smith, "You are a liar, a thief and q
murderer, and the greatest coward on
earth for you killed man who had
two children to support, to get his
wife, and you did not succeed, but
shall punish you severely for It,"
Had Smith Hanged
Saying the last word, he showed
Smith four feet away. Smith nearly
fell over on his back Slade then told
his men to go to work. They took
Smith, tied his hands behind him,
and walked him about 90 feet away
to the gate beam. Slade threw a
rawhide lariat around Smiths neck,
threw the end Of it over the beam and
pulled him up until his feet were
elevated three feet above the ground.
Get Bacon, said Slade. So SHADES
men took the coach, as ordered, and
went after Bacon. They returned,
stopping the coach so that Bacon
would be close to Smiths body when
he got off. AS he stepped onto the
L. 81