The Independent-Record from Helena, Montana • 9

Section Two Section Two Record 1 he ndepehdent Price Five Cent Helena, Sunday, July 13, 1947 Vol. IV No. 230 old Was Discovered in Our Beloved Qulch 83 Years Ago -W" ihiiiiui. 7 -r r-rr" jsp ''r These two men, Reginald (Bob) Stanley, right, and Judge Cornelius Hedgee, left, made early-day history on Wall street in Helena. Stan-ley was one of the Four Georgians who made thn discovery of gold In Helena just 83 years ago and then sold Ills claim when the dlggln's attracted too many others in uearch of quickly-won riches.

This a picture of him when he visited Helena in the 80s. Judge Hedges, well known to many Helena residents, was one of the men who helped make history among the men who followed Stanley. A probate judge, lawyer and schoolmaster, Hedges is credited with the Idea which founded Yellowstone national park and the national park system. He was on the Washburn expedition of 1870 which explored the land of geysers and mud pots. While reclining around a campfire one night, Hedges proposed to his companions that the weird formations and phenomena of nature be made into a national park, The Washburn expedition was planned In the old First National Bank building, now the site of a market, on the corner of Wall and Main.

Wall street became, appropriately enough, the financial and banking center of the Montana territory and was the rendezvous of the great men of the day. I Just beyond the big boot sign In this photograph taken of South Main, July 4, 1873, is bank which marks the edge of present day Wall street, near which the gold discovery which founded Helena waa made. This was Helena's main business district nine years after the discovery. The band, the fire department and citizenry make up the line of march. The Mriko! Here Artist Clinrleg Russell's frraplilc portrayal of the "Gold Discovery In Last riiAnrp Giilrh." These are two of the Four Georgians who stopped for th night bjr a little creek running Into the Prlrkly rear.

They dug a few holee, struck it rich and Iast Chance gulch was off to a roaring start. Russell's originnl picture of the discovery is in the collection of Dr. Phillip G. Cole of New York. Washburn headed, was.

planned In that bank. After it returned, other meetings were conducted by Billy Claggett, Montana's second representative in congress, who introduced legislation creating the park. The building is the real birthplace of Yellowstone park and the national park system. The building burned once and was reconstructed immediately the discovery ground from the Discovery company. It is also thought that Crabb, the fourth discoverer, became disgusted with the rapid Influx of civilization and moved over to Nelson gulch, selling out to the other three.

Measurements show it is 1,050 feet from Edwards (called Potter for a time in 1866 for John Potter, first postmaster of Helena) to Bridge, now State street. Therefore, researchers think it is logical to assume that State street on the south and Edwards on the north were the north and south Italian Soldiers Are Learning Allied System of Democratic Army, Get Many Privileges Once Held by Chiefs a lucky strike which made fortunes spent freely and not always wise. The first gold to come out of Last Chance gulch's rocky floor was near the present site, of Wall street, that one-block street between South Main and South and later remodeled by subsequent owners. Wall street itself was deeded to the city by its owners after a building on it burned, the old men of the Italian army are learn- Behemothian Egg Given to Choteau Agent Choteau, July 12. C.

W. Johns of Fendroy recently brought to Choteau, for Inspection of County Agent Raymond Kelly, an egg of 10-inch circumference. The egg was laid by a Red Minorca. Whether it was a double yolker could not be learned, as the egg was accidentally smashed while on exhibition. ing to repair and maintain as Last Chance Turned Out Well For Four Georgians, And Many Who Came Later Many Disagree on "the Spot" But One Thing Is Certain, There Was Gold in Them Thar Little Gulches Idaho meat market, in 1869.

The well as drive their new mecha By NEA Foreign Service Rome. (NEA) There was one good result of the war in Italy. GI Giuseppe now can sit down at a table to eat his meals. Park. It was there that the Four Georgians struck pay dirt, i Controversy existed for some jtime over the exact location strike.

bank named it Wall street because lines of the discovery claim, marking as they do the north and south boundaries of original block No. 1 laid out by Wood, Cutler and nized equipment. They are learn of financial Interests near it. Wall street gained its present Claims varied from Hale square ing to read maps, once the of officers alone. Most im width when the Gans and Klein to way up the gulch.

Agreement Three times a day the lmprove- portant of all, they are learning ihas been reached now that the ment in Italy's small but effeetivejhow a democratic army works, Bruce as the first town commissioners. The pay stratum of the discoverers is believed to have been a small one, being only 18 inches wide and' four feet thick. Father Palladino, one of the building was torn down in the early part of this decade. Wall is now a widened cut off between Park and Main without so much as a market to relate the extensive role this one-block street played in the history of Helena, Montana and the west. There's a first Jesuits in Montana and a his postwar army is thus brought home to the men in the ranks.

Before the war, an ordinary soldier in the Italian army simply picked up a mess kit of food from the camp kitchen, found a shady spot around the camp, sat down and had his meal there. Now he is not only provided with strike was made on Wall street near the alley on the southern side. The name "Four Georgians" Is believed to be somewhat of a misnomer. Cowan and Crabb were Georgians, probably from around Dahlonega which was among the first places where gold mining started in the U. S.

Stanley was from London, England. One of the most Important factors In fixing the location of the discovery is a deed of Aug. 41, 1S66, from Cowan, Miller and Stanley to William L. Gibson and William Roe for a consideration of $15,000. The deed stated it was for "the discovery ground in Rattlesnake district.

Last Chance gulch being 1,050 feet up and down the gulch; including the long cabin now occupied by them (the discoverers) situated on the upper end of the discovery ground Researchers state this is the only deed for mining property, of record, from the discoverers for Cowan, Reginald (Bob) Stanley, D. J. Miller and George Crabb named the gulch long before the gold strike was made. While they were searching the mountains for their fortunes, more than once a remark was dropped about that little creek running Into the Prickly Pear as being their "last chance." So, Last Chance became the name of the camp. However, that wasn't to last long.

The story is the name Helena, and be sure of the accent on the "Hel." was selected at a gathering of the miners Oct. 30, 1864. A Minne-sotan, one John Sommerville, championed the name of his former home Helena. The story of the Last Chance gulch discovery, told and retold thousands of times, is one of the adventurous west, its hopes for By I. W.

Bonier Elghfy-three years ago Monday July 14, 1864 four tired prospectors en route to Alder gulch diggings from a luckless trip Into the headwaters of the Teton and Marias rivers stopped to spend the night by a creek sheltered In the mountain fastness. As a "last chance" venture before calling It quits, the four derided to wash a few pans. A glint of pold and its ring In the miner's pan spawned a roaring mining ramp and later the wealthy Capital city of the Treasure state Helena. The four men were the now re-nownpd Four Georgians. The gold was the first of a fortune panned, luired and now dredged out of Last Chance gulch.

The Four Georgians John Home In Cut Bank Is Scene of Very Gay Parties Cut Bank, July 12. The home of Dr. and Mrs. James S. Clark, who were absent on a vacation trip, gave evidence on their return of having been the scene of some wild parties.

Not only was there vandalism, but empty beer and liquor b'ottles strewed the place. Several teen-age boys and girls were reported to be involved. The case went to tire probation officer, Mrs. Clara Withee. torian, said gold was discovered "a little above" where Wall street is today.

W. M. Sprague, another oldtlmer, said the first sluice boxes were set where the First National bank (now Weggenman's market) was and "they had a little ditch and were making $3 or $4 a day." They moved to another spot nearby and are believed to have taken out J50.000 each in two years. Delvers into old records found many other Interesting reports on Wall street. Incidental to their search to properly locate the discovery claim.

Montana history was made cm Wall street. The old First National bank at Wall and Main, was the first national bank in Montana. As financial agent for the U. S. it handled all the army pay rolls and Indian disbursements and most of the early day Indian agents and army officers, Including Sherman, Sheridan, Terry Gibbon and Crook, were visitors from time to time.

D. E. Folsom, rancher near RANGE For Every Modern KITCHEN ELECTRIC GAS and COAL-WOOD MODELS A complete selection now In stock, to fit in perfectly your modernization plans. a mess hall and mess, tables, but there is a reading room in his barracks, something never before permitted except in officers' quarters. Enlisted men now have their own shows, dances, bars and refreshment rooms.

Democratization of Italy's army began with the first landing of Allied troops in September, 1943. A special Anglo-American unit, known as the military mission to the Italian army, was formed. This unit was to co-ordinate the remnants of Mussolini's army with the Allied forces and to see whether the Italian troops could be taught to work and operate along the same lines as the Allied fighting forces in Italy. Inside of a year the MMIA had Hathaway a Is Displaying Tall Flax Stalks Miles City, July 12. Fred Bar ringer, Hathaway area farmer, is three divisions of Italian troops trained and fighting with the Al what is now White Sulphur Springs, after his trip through the tin iwBamii mkihiii displaying in a local window a sample of flax stalks, picked at UAO IfAHiai: til 111 LU-IEIiir' UfEH present Yellowstone park in 1869, was invited by N.

P. Langford random from his 45-acre patch. lies against the Germans. The troops nsed American and British equipment. The troops are still training, un The stalks are 2 feet tall and 50 184 grew without Irrigation, some and Samuel T.

Hauser to tell his experiences to a number of Helena men interested in that area. der their own leaders now, and thing very unusual in that sec are still using British and Ameri Langford, collector of internal can equipment. Their number has tion. Barrlnger says flax crop prospects about Hathaway are fine. revenue; Truman C.

Evarts, assessor, and his assistant, Walter Tmmbell, and Hauser all had of is been cut to 250,000, less than a third of Mussolini's "Army of Bayonets." But today they are far from the most discontented sol diers In the world that they were Four-burner top, with large oven for baking efficiency. Heavy Insulation conserves heat that is automat lcally eon-trolled. "Lo-Temp" operation recommended by "Home 1 sts." Rigid shelves with "Safety Stops." All porcelain enamel finish, easy to keep sparklingly clean. Safety oven gas cock cannot be turned on fices in the bank building. King and Gillette had a store next door.

They had talked of exploring the headwaters of the Yellowstone as early as 1866 at meetings in the directors' room In the bank. In Phoenix, motorists who leave their keys in the Ignition switch may be charged with misdemeanor, subject to six months in jail and $300 fine. It is a step to curb car thefts by Juvenile Joy riders. when Italy capHulated to the Al lies. Making up in quality what they lack In quantity of manpower, the The expedition, which General Helena Crew Fast the First Year Vf 0 "DEEP-HEET" COOKER dolor mm FinisH- JHSr ELECTRIC RANGE 50 3-burner top with "Deep-Heet" cooker that is a small surface oven.

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Will not chip, crack or peel from ordinary wear. Resists boiling water, heat, fruit juices, stains, alcohol, burns, scratches, etc. Featured in Many Attractive Colors RANGE WITH TWO OVENS In addition to the full size, regular oven, the Monarch Roaster Range has a surface oven built into the cook $195 PER 50 ing top. When closed, roaster compartment lid is flush with cooking top. Porcelain finish throughout.

Three roomy storage drawers, 3 surface units. QT. 334 1 (Stats Historical Library Photo) OWER-TOnSE go. Monarch Coal-Wood and Combination Ranges to Fit Every Home and Cooking Need HELENA HARDWARE GO. The above is an artist's painting of Helena In Its first year.

The expansion from a gold strike, July 14, 1804, to this teeming camp of business establishments and miners' cabins can be noted in the picture. The long street at the right is Bridge (now State) and the shorter one near by is Wood. The ground of the discovery claim is well covered with false-front stores and cabins in the central foreground of the picture. mm Just Off Main on Helena Ave. "Home Owned Store" Phone 181.