P a g e 9 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 THE SHOOTING OF THOMAS H. McGUIRE Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz L. R. Bumbaugh of Garnet last Saturday afternoon shot and seriously wounded Thomas H. McGuire, another resident of the Bear Gulch metropolis. Mr. Bumbaugh had for some time past been in charge of the Mussigbrod mill at Garnet and several parties who had been discharged laid the blame for this on Mr. Bumbaugh and harbored a grievance against him on that account. Among these parties was Tom McGuire, who had the reputation of being a bad man. For this and other reasons, Mr. Bumbaugh always carried a revolver when alone at work in the mill at night. The night before the shooting there was a dance at Garnet and McGuire, with others, celebrated the event by staying up all night and drinking, and this celebration continued well into the day--Saturday. About 3 o'clock that afternoon while Bumbaugh went after his lunch bucket preparatory to going on shift he was met on the street by McGuire and several others. McGuire was spoiling for a fight and without much ceremony pitched in on Bumbaugh. He struck him and then clinched and was getting a strangle hold on him when Bumbaugh managed to get out his gun and fired. The ball entered McGuire in the breast and ranging upward lodged in the shoulder. Mr. Bumbaugh gave himself up to constable Elkins and was brought to Philipsburg the same evening. He is now at the county jail awaiting a hearing. This will be had as soon as it is known whether or not McGuire will recover, which now seems probable. Thomas H. McGuire is the same man who figured as the victim in a saloon row in Garnet in January, 1899. He was stabbed five times on that occasion and recovered. The parties who "done him up" at that time were Mike and John Lavelle, Joe Irwin and Dan McPherson. They were tried in the district court here and acquitted, it having been shown that McGuire was a quarrelsome man and always hunting for trouble. He had no doubt not profited by his experience in 1899 and contained his search for trouble until he again found it. There is very little sympathy for him this time, and it is generally accepted that Bumbaugh was justified in shooting his assailant. Mr. Bumbaugh has been a popular resident of Garnet and vicinity for many years. He is a peaceable man, who minds his own business, and has never done anybody any harm. His reputation is that of an enterprising and peaceful citizen. Mr. Bubaugh fully realizes the position into which he has been forced and no one regrets the unfortunate affair more than he does; but he, no doubt, considered his own life in most imminent danger when he resorted to the use of his revolver. Dr. Peter S. Mussigbrod, it is stated, has interested himself in Mr. Bumbaugh's behalf, and he has also the sympathy of every good citizen in the community where he has resided for so many years. The latest reports from Garnet concerning McGuire are that he is resting easy but is very weak. Dr. A. N. Chamberlain extracted the bullet last Monday and since then his patient has been doing fairly well and the chances of his recovery are favorable.—Courtesy of our friends at the Garnet Preservation Association, Find out more about them and their work or about visiting and supporting Garnet Ghost Town at: http://www.garnetghosttown.org/ May 1901 Philipsburg Mail Compliments of Jennie Pak
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