Dangers of Early-Day Freighting Recalled by Montana Pioneer
A Montana reminiscence recalls freighting in 1877 when low Missouri River water halted steamboat transport to Fort Benton. Pioneer A H Wilkins describes mule train routes, dangers from plains tribes, and camp tactics while delivering cargo from Cow Island to Benton with partners like the Tingley brothers and his father.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
A. H. Wilkins
St. Louis
Missouri River
Fort Benton
Benton
Cow Island
Great Fort Peck
Missouri
Lower River
Tingley
Shonkin Creek
Highwood Mountains
Father
Bill Bloom
Charles Jackson
Marias Crossing
Mose Solomon
Milk River
Groves
Cow Creek
Bluffs
Birch Creek
Wolf
Cooper & Barker Hull
Fort. Benton
Joseph
Yellowstone Park
Nelson A. Miles
Cooper & Barker
Cooper
Old West
Yankee Jim Crowned as Liar Yet Saintly by Some
Yellowstone canyon legend Yankee Jim taught toll road travelers to the park and hosted famous visitors. His dual persona drew praise from a minister and sharp mockery from a city official, while Kipling and Ingersoll once shared his hospitality. The tale recalls his frontier life, river skills, and the peril of Buckstone Jim Cutler, who drowned in the Yellowstone after a raft trip to Livingston.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jim
Yellowstone
Livingston
Mammoth
Yankee Jim
Montana
Yellowstone Park
Yankee D Jim
George
Yankee
Park
Rudyad Kipling
Robert G. Ingersoll
Pete Nelson
Park County
Rui
Rocky Mountains
Redmen
Kipling
United States
India
Curley
Custer
Coulee
Robert Ingersoll
Canyon
Ingersoll
Uncle Jim
America
Yellowstone River
Yankee Jim Canyon
Conkling
Lewis R. Freeman
Upper
Buckstone
Jim Cutler
Cutler
Arabella
McLeod Island
Johnny Doran
Cutter
Main Street
A. T. Toner
Earl Kirby
Elephant Drinks Engine Water and Halts Circus Train
In 1897 a Great Northern circus train nearly stalled when an elephant aboard the head car drank the water from the engine tank. Fireman Otto Bjornstad and crew fought to restart the steam as the train struggled through tunnel No. 10. After a risky rescue, Jumbo was backed to Woodville to refill the tank before resuming the journey.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Great Northern
Ringling Circus
Butte
Helena
Otto Bjornstad
Great Falls
Bjornstad
Woodville
J. Harvey Reed
Cascade Division
Northern Pacific Railway
Washington
Northern Pacific
St. Paul
Lake
Reed
Montana Highway Restrictions Ahead of Spring Melt
Restrictions on most Montana state highways west of the mountains aim to protect roads as spring melt begins. Officials cite warming temperatures softening ground and potential damage, prompting speed limits and weight limits to prevent deterioration.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
State buys nine thousand baby chicks for institutions
The state Purchasing Agent IL Ss. McQuitty says 9,000 mixed baby chicks were purchased for state institutions operating farms at a total cost of $862.25. Delivery is scheduled between April 1 and May 15.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
IL Ss. McQuitty
Prominent Montana Attorney Sol Hepner Dies at 69
Prominent Montana attorney and first Helena high school diploma recipient Sol Hepner died at 69 after a brief illness from a heart attack. Born in Tzaritzin Russia in 1869, he immigrated to Helena in 1882, studied at the University of Michigan law school, and served in the Montana legislature and Lewis and Clark county prosecutor’s office. He held high Masonic ranks, led Montana Masonry as grand master in 1903-04, and contributed to war effort and various fraternal orders. Survivors include his widow, a son Hal Hepner of Brookings SD, and a daughter Mrs Claire H Rhoades of Chicago.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sol Hepner
Montana
Helena High School
Hepner
Russia
Helena
University of Michigan
Lewis and Clark County
Masonic Order
State Historical Library Board
Hal Hepner
Brookings
S. D
Claire H. Rhoades
Chicago
Progymnasium
Tzaritzin
Montana National Bank
University of Michigan Law School
Grand Lodge of Masons
Woodmen of the World
The
Elks and
Odd Fellows
Rocky Mountain Dick Rock Gored by His Own Buffalo
Dick Rock known as Rocky Mountain Dick rose as a famed Yellowstone guide and wildlife dealer. He was killed March 22, 1902, in a corral by a tame buffalo bull he raised at his Henry's Lake Idaho ranch. He hunted with General Miles and Custer era scouts and exhibited Nellie Bly at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dick Rock
Rocky Mountain
Yellowstone Park
Montana
Idaho
Henry's Lake
Rock
E. H. Sherman
Chicago
Nellie Bly
Northwest
Monida
New York
Wyoming
Miles
Custer
The
Little Big Horn
West
Wild Bill
Buffalo Bill
Calamity Jane
Sitting Bull
American Horse
Snake River
Bitter Root
Lindsay
Corral
Rocky Mountain Dick
Also Mentioned on This Page
Plains
Bear's Paw Mountains
H. Sol Hepner
Barnett H. Hepner
Helena Mason
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!