P a g e 2 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 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz halo, unseen, but felt, has hovered over their little homes and the people living there have learned to take certain pride in being known as Bannackites. But along with it all has lived that spark that inspired them to rise up years ago and resent the outrages of unprincipled human beings. If reports are true, parties recently attempted to take undue advantage of the Bannack people and selected darkness that comes with the midnight hour as the proper time to carry out their plans. Something happened. Those Bannackites, who are accustomed to act squarely with the world, took things into their own hands. A “paint party” was held. Drastic means were resorted to by unknown Bannack parties, but there was certainly provocation. According to the Bannackites the act of locating certain placer ground there, which took in a large part of Bannack was a holdup scheme pure and simple and yet, legal. The dredge boat that will soon be put to work would have to pass through this ground and probably it was thought that the dredge boat company could be made to “dig up” for the privilege of passing through. There was apparently some easy money in sight. The business advancement of Bannack was not an object nor was the development of the placer grounds an object, that’s what the Bannack people say. And it certainly looks that way. If that was the case then the parties concerned in locating didn’t give a whoop whether Bannack interest were hurt or not. If the dredge boat company refused to “dig up” whatever was demanded and decided to not put the dredge into operation, no one would be hurt to any great extent except Bannack business and that didn’t cut any ice. When capital or promoters appear in our mining districts and show that they mean business and it is their honest intention to develop our mineral grounds, they always meet with a hearty co-operation on the part of the people. We are always glad to see them. When the object is different and midnight hours are selected to put shameful schemes into effect there is just cause for resentment. Jumping claims is lawful in Montana even when it sometimes works hardship upon our citizens. Midnight claim-jumping doesn’t appeal to the good nature of mining people in general, and it shouldn’t. When parties stoop to deeds which require darkness rather than daylight, even when such deeds are lawful, the parties do not deserve much sympathy if they pull a weight down on their own heads. Before you judge those Bannackites too harshly, put yourself in their place and think it over. – “The Dillon Tribune”, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
3 Publizr Home