׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://B_ntU0IZ8C5mCRb52Osfbd_EhLe43YK6UUwcdNdnphI`׉ 7cassandra://Kv13hl6GBQJIIGIyQhePMEN9VlQs2nO6LIEyMPrXEP8ͅ`s׉ 7cassandra://YSMVIJ8MmfiWUtLRIoC3w9ifa0PXs7CsqlZyBXeQRfs(`׉ 7cassandra://V9pPKWLF6w3spQDXeKLOElATA2GvdJekAX3FxkbeWEI͠]c:9yνO]ט(u׈frJנc:9yνO`̅ 9ׁHhttps://montananewspapers.orgׁ ׁ Ј׈Ec:9yνOF׉EKOCTOBER 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Judith Basin County Press, Oct. 22, 1925 Scattered Shacks Become State Park and Historical Landmark This article ran in the May 7th, 1938 edition of the Montana Oil and Mining Journal. Can you imagine if Bannack hadn’t been saved? A big thank you to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the many others who would follow, for saving this camp and preserving a piece of Big Sky history! SCATTERED SHACKS AND RUINED FOUNDATIONS ALL THAT IS LEFT OF RICHEST, TOUGHEST MINING CAMP KNOWN– by Jean Moore The visitor of today would see little in the scattered shacks and ruThe Old Town of Bannack ined foundations of Bannack to remind him of what was once called the richest and toughest mining camp known. In fact there were few who were aware of the existence of this little ghost town until recently when its remaining residents petitioned for their right to a post office. From a populous and thriving bonanza it has degenerated into a small camp of approximately 100 persons. Yet, although the camp of Bannack is now little more than a memory, the name itself will continue to live through the years as a symbol of true Montana pioneer days when the survival of the fittest was a proven fact. It was in the year 1861 that George W Stapleton decided upon MonAccessed via: https://montananewspapers.org tana as a new field, in which to practice law. He was doomed to disappointment, however, when he discovered that there was as yet no need for his services in this wild and sparsely settled territory. While awaiting the oppor׉ 7cassandra://YSMVIJ8MmfiWUtLRIoC3w9ifa0PXs7CsqlZyBXeQRfs(`c:9yνOGc:9yνOF(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://fqM7IU0JvIp1jiNAePXJFi7kPo5aPTrPCOdfNoCYETg!6`׉ 7cassandra://Gv1g33bS6zaB4CJ0xGKjTa0eEMncift2MkIGuSXGZVE͊`s׉ 7cassandra://Erk4G0D6tZpQ9ouYH2MYuGOU3i7mfe1iK548FuAPja8&`׉ 7cassandra://zDooarJe3K9QVBty5WMU3VHAhESPe5cp6pKQB9p7lzo͠]c:9yνOaט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://DJkjTBrWEhcKDlI6mE5SRczatnnbL1e8PYg5RjBY_XkG+`׉ 7cassandra://CqOYBTIkY7ijZ218AiOuZM42TMXZjkPv4eKLCl4REpQ͝`s׉ 7cassandra://a4NEEzlr79VLauhYtbmjtDEVlVvAkoO_id2Ngq3GlJg)G`׉ 7cassandra://igiIxp595sule-LvLXC2NOuaC4wwGmOb9-GQLaFOgwg;͠]c:9yνOb׉E >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 tunity to practice his profession, he became interested in mining as a means for a livelihood. As though to recompense him for his first disappointment, luck decided to favor him in his new venture and he was among the first to discover gold in paying quantities in Grasshopper Creek. As news of the discovery leaked out and traveled, via the grapevine system, Mr. Stapleton soon found himself surrounded by many ambitious neighbors, all anxious to share in his luck. Any transportation available was used as a means of getting to Grasshopper Creek. Belongings were piled upon ox teams, mules and horses which were often traded upon arrival for a claim on Stapleton’s Bar. Some came armed with nothing but hope and courage, undeniable assets in those days. Crude shelters were at first erected and as the population grew these were followed by more pretentious buildings. Saloons were on every corner and in a few months from its discovery Grasshopper Creek seethed with a mass of gold-crazed humans. Grasshopper Creek With the continued increase in the population Grasshopper Creek seemed to outgrow its name and it was decided that a new name should be given it. Being the founder as well as a very popular citizen, the miners voted that the name of Stapleton should be substituted for Grasshopper Creek. Mr. Stapleton, however, declined the honor, stating that it would be more appropriate to call it Bannack after the Bannock Indians whose home it was. So Bannack It became. Lack of food, cold, and encounters with the Bannock Indians caused Judge George W. Stapleton many to suffer untold hardships before reaching their promised land. All these were forgotten, however, when armed with picks and shovels, they took their place with fellow men in their eager attempt to find a fortune. Many never realized their dream of wealth but each contributed to the development of a new land. Some unlucky in placer mining made good in business enterprises and by freighting goods to their more successful neighbors. Bannack's first winter was one to be long remembered. The problem of securing food was a serious one. As the nearest source of supply was Salt Lake City, it was no easy task to risk the attack of hostile Indians in order to obtain supplies from the Mormon town. A call for volunteers was finally made by the miners and 13 men responded. The trip was made with a wagon to which three oxen and a horse were attached and the journey was a slow and perilous one. The party started on Sept. 2 and ׉ 7cassandra://Erk4G0D6tZpQ9ouYH2MYuGOU3i7mfe1iK548FuAPja8&`c:9yνOH׉E P a g e 3 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 ferried the Snake River. The Mormons refused to accept their gold dust and greenbacks. When about to give up, a man was found who agreed to give them $17 in currency and who gave them a reference to Mormon merchants saying that the greenbacks were acceptable as money. Flour, beans, and bacon, the three staples of pioneer days, were purchased in large quantities. A smaller amount of sugar and coffee was purchased and the supplies loaded onto the wagons, for, enchanted by the tales of gold related by the miners, the return trip boasted 26 wagons. All went well until they arrived at the banks of the Snake River where they divided, coming together again after the crossing only to have three of the wagons break down. The contents of the first two were divided and distributed among the other wagons but when the third gave away under the heavy weight, it became necessary to send ahead to Bannack, 25 miles away, for help. Six thousand pounds of flour, which represented the cargo of the third wagon, was hidden and the party continued on its way. Several days later they met a man who was on his way to pick up the hidden flour in answer to their call for help, but his errand was not to be fulfilled as he was soon attacked and killed by Indians who burned his wagons and scattered the flour. The grubstake party delivered supplies on Nov. 28 and was welcomed with much rejoicing by hungry miners. As Bannack prospered it also attracted the attention of many holdup experts and other ambitious persons who specialized in relieving the hard-working prospectors of their gold dust. They competed with the Indians in making life as interesting and dangerous as possible for the residents of Bannack. A natural death was looked upon as an unusual occurrence. Men disappeared into thin air never to be heard of again, and hardly a day passed that there was not at least one fight and shooting scrape. Bannack citizens early learned that a long life was to be enjoyed only by those who found it convenient to see nothing, know nothing and hear nothing. Holdups occurred with alarming frequency. Many a miner found himself destitute by thieves that Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Skinner’s Saloon he dared not identify. "Stick 'em up," brought terror to the hearts of many a teamster, who, if he had nothing of value, was punished for this offense by being shot through an arm or leg. One night two wild characters by the names of Reeves and Moore decided to have a little fun by firing bullets into a peaceful Indian village. An Indian chief and a papoose were killed much to the amusement of the killers and also a white man who assumed too much interest in the affair. Finally, however, the miners decided that enough was enough, and that it was time to call a halt. A meeting was called and a young man called Henry Plummer was elected sheriff. He was the choice not only of the more timid easterners, but was equally popular with a crowd which represented the rougher and wilder types. The few old timers who opposed his nomination were quickly overruled and their opposition referred to as "just ignorance." ׉ 7cassandra://a4NEEzlr79VLauhYtbmjtDEVlVvAkoO_id2Ngq3GlJg)G`c:9yνOIc:9yνOH(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://yopf2244gEZB6tcKUlWlnI3xUHkUwhEOcExLBTSQ4PY:`׉ 7cassandra://7sTZrSVcoYycuIrbhX-ydbPkSqfTiBt3sJqt4mgK4tA͛`s׉ 7cassandra://6NXA3RPQ4AA-J2R-ekalhfDPfOCi6PVF7GTfiMWbqkE)2`׉ 7cassandra://9dbwSdIXjwjg-9P3yktHo0TKdRMj7mXYb6Q_FwQwkucsd͠]c:9yνOjט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://mCWDTSz9xMy4FUqPvvBtrQKY2GLs76fCeRiSfMemw8s@p`׉ 7cassandra://DJAJH0c18gAKsm9IYqkd3LOGqH-Mc3p8G4MTEOzIkls͜`s׉ 7cassandra://wqyDcPDVfweaZ8MfancbC4JuivqCv_qvF2OZlzKzLoU*`׉ 7cassandra://-81i8IxGh1eGFul2Jexmo6g8Q1UElSNjp9RsGG7ri6w8H͠]c:9yνOkנc:9yνOe6̶B9׉H