P a g e 6 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r driver. Then, accompanied by the California Minstrels and their band and waving a banner 15 feet in length, they paraded the streets while treating the citizens to many patriotic airs. From Blackfoot City they continued on to Carpenter's bar where the same performance was repeated. When winter weather made it necessary for many prospectors to discontinue work until spring, Deer Lodge City offered itself as a refuge from winter solitude and became a favored winter resort. Here around pot bellied stoves, miners swapped yarns and drew up plans for future use. It was to Deer Lodge City also that Blackfoot miners went with any troubles requiring legal hearing and a court decision. A trial was considered good excitement and always drew a large crowd. An interesting case involving a Blackfoot defendant concerned a lady who was sojourning for awhile at Blackfoot City. During her visit, the Prairie diggings were discovered. One portion of these diggings proved to be exceedingly rich, while the other portion was equally worthless. The visiting lady had an acquaintance, who had secured a claim, but soon found it to be valueless and so told her to palm it off on one of the boys. Taking him at his word she looked around and discovered a likely victim, whom she told all about the rich discovery of which she was part owner. Soon the miner wanted a claim and the lady, simply because she wished to do him a favor, was willing to sell him one. Inviting him to go with her to prospect the ground, the miner was in the act of washing a pan of dirt when the lady was attracted by a very pretty bird and called the miners' attention to it. While they were both gazing at the small creature, the lady dropped some gold into the pan. The miner, convinced he had a good prospect, struck a bargain and the convincing lady friend pocketed $700 for worthless land which, was not even hers. The miner soon discovered that he had been taken in and obtained a writ of attachment for the recovery of the amount. For some time following this suit, the miner found himself the butt of many jokes because of his unpleasant experience. ITS DECLINE RAPID Quite as sudden as its rise, was the decline of Blackfoot City. Where once stood this famous mining town, only a few log cabins have survived the years. In these live present day prospectors, who still have hopes of striking it rich in some place overlooked by the original treasure seekers. When not working their claims, these prospectors occupy their time by panning and screening the dirt over which, at one time, rested the buildings of business houses. Their efforts are rewarded by gold dust lost in the weighing process of years ago or an old coin. Among the ruins also have been found old pottery, ox shoes, gold pans, and recently an old opium pipe was unearthed. These things are sold by the finders to curio and antique shops. Some of the early-day miners decided to exchange their picks and shovels for plows and used their stake for a start in cattle or sheep. Others not so fortunate in Blackfoot territory, joined stampedes to greener Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
7 Publizr Home