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« THE BOZEMAN COURIER, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1926 PAGE ELEVEN rx=^TSc 3 R S

* Original Metropolis of the Flathead Region Harbored Great i* Demersville Hopes of Becoming Mighty Mart of Trade and Commerce l(3l 3k i—=—ig ♦' it of the pioneer has been demonstrated shop, a livery stable, several nice resi­ (By DAN R. CONWAY) dences” in every section of Montana during the Egal ANY forces have entered into turbulent days of this empire’s construc­ still survives and is a station on tion. Men came here, found new areas to the Great Northern main line a few miles the advancement of clvilzation. * The river which flows onward their particular liking; they chose a home-, northeast of Columbia Falls. M site; they buiided cabins, tilled the soil A Flathead Tragedy toward the sea is composed of the and started towns; they Cleared the trails Among other very interesting articles, F m mingled waters borne to its banks and made simple the work alloted to later this ‘‘Flathead Facts” contains an account ••i by tributaries coming from many generations. of a tragedy of those early days. The Flathead Country “As with other localities,” the article- sources of mountain spring or low­ says, “sceens of a desperate nature have- ■* In no part of what is now Montana, dur­ land marsh. Just so, the mighty ing the days of the stalwart pinoeer, was been enacted In this land, the tragedy here torrent of civilza- the work of empire builders laid in the stated being particularly a memorable ones. tion’s forces is but midst of more picturesque scenes than in “Jack Allen, Neil Campbell and Tom No­ the Flathead region. Perhaps in no other lan, all well-known old timers of Missoula a mingling of var­ section of this commonwealth did the pi­ ’F county, were passing with a fine band of ious potent e 1 e- oneer manifest greater courage and faith K2. horses bound from the northwest country, ments. Following than in the territory of which Kalispell and they camped within a few fçet of Se- is now the metropolis. lish. During the night they drank freely ft the courses of these If you have ever traversed the trails of liquor. In the morning the best horse elements, through that lead north from Missoula, around they had was missing, a race animal, which the years, are vis­ Flathead lake and into the upper Flathead they felt convinced was ‘cached’, as after­ iepl river valley, it will be easy »or you to pic­ M I m wards proved to be the case. Upon recov­ ible current and ture the seeming insurmountable task that ering the horse the party made ready (or a ,!»«!« , ; 11 ■' i start. Allen was a little H countercurrent, tur­ confronted the first pioneers to enter that I quarrelsome, how- bulent, m in g 1 i n g part of the country. Yet, in those days, R ever, and between aim and Jack Finley het and intermingling, men were men, and a task akin to life on words passed, knives were quickly drawn the frontier, was something to be under­ and Finley crossed the river into that Un­ rising and falling, taken as a part of life, and to be brought known. There was a great excitement. Tho blending together, to a‘successful termination, dangers and Indians met and Chief AËneas demande«! now in confusion, hardships notwithstanding. With that spir­ that Jack Allen should be turned over to it, the pioneer came to the Flathead re­ Sal»' him, promising to deliver him to the sher­ now in harmony, gion, broke bis own trail along a rock- iff at Missoula. The demand was not ac­ until in our con­ bound. densely timbered lake shore and ceded to and the party proceeded on theic Dan R. Conway templation of the established the promising little city of way. Allen was a gentleman when sober, Demersville. • a maniac when under the influence of li­ finished whole, as we know it today, Demersville, during the late eighties and quor. The Indian made a ‘short-cut’ and we can scarcely discern the total in­ the early nineties, was the metropolis of . * ^ à soon brave Jack was shot down from am­ fluence or impress of any one ele­ the upper Flathead valley. During its bush. The Indians then told the rest o$ palmy days, the citizens there harbored the party they could go ahead and would THE CITY OF DEMERSVILLE IN 1890—This thriving metropolis was the forerunner of Kalispell, Montana. It was ment. fond and well-founded hopes for a city that not be molested by them any further. But However, throughout this apparent the head of navigation on the Flathead river, and for several years, the largest town north of Missoula In the state of Mon­ would become a mighty mart of trade and a strange fatality seems to have attended chaotic transformation which has formed tana. The town was located some miles north and east of the site of the present city of Kalispell. commerce. The town was established in the whole party. When crossing the Bon« a mighy river, there is usually one domi­ 1887, by T. J. Demers, who died two years river it appears some of the horses turn­ nant source, or feeder, which has been, and after the townslte was platted. With the ed back. Nolan, an excellent rider, went t«> ' .t Is, a sort of mother to the whole. Al­ tains surround the lake, the peaks of some ville’» growth and prosperity are many; for many year», is well liked and has been establishment of Kalispell in the nineties, of which arc clad in mantles of perpetual 1st. Its central geographical location. engaged in the saloon business long enough head them bach when his horse turned ov­ though, perhaps, working quietly as an Demersville lost its and gradually er in a sort of somersault style. Campbell undercurrent, scarcely noticed at times, snow. 2nd. Its accessibility by land and water. to have jnstly earned an enviable reputa­ passed into the list of the state’s ghost Flathead River 3rd. Its hotel accommodations. tion in that line of trade. The saloon is seeing Nolan’s danger at once rushed U» it has determined the direction and general his- assistance. Campbell’s horse per­ character of the entire stream. cities. “The Flathead river, about thirty miles 4th. Its superior stores. complete and elegant in all its appoint­ During the past three hundred years, the “Flathead Facts” of which is navigable. Is a marvel of na­ 5th. Its magnificent climate. ments. The bar contains the finest and formed the same act and both brave met* expansion of n.e Anglo-Saxon race has Recently, I discovered a cop-«’ of “Flat- ture’s handiwork, and though sluggish In 6tb. Its unsurpassed saw and grist mill choicest brands of staple liquors. The bar were drowned and the waters of that creek been the great maternal force responsible head Facts.” a “booster” magazine, pub­ its course, is deep and voluminous. Its sites. is presided over by polite and courteous still chant their requiem. Was there not a fatally about that expedition? for the phenomenal advances of civilization. lished by the Missoula Gazette in 1890. The shores are extremely picturesque, being 7th. Its possession of United States gentlemen skilled la their art. who exert Perhaps the most dominant, significant entire booklet was devoted to an exploita­ skirted with dense timber, alternating fre­ troops, and the advantages obtained there­ themselves to please and satisfy the num­ “Old Joe Ashley, who now lives at the and constructive feature of this great ex­ tion of Demersville and the Upper Flathead quently with cliffy causeways and occas­ from. erous patron» of the place. foot of the lake and after whom Ashley pansion has «een the movement of Ameri­ country. It has evidently been published ional patches of ground made clear by the 8th. Its pure water. Stanton’s Stables creek and the town of Ashley are called, hand of the sturdy husbandman. Here then lived between Seitab and Demersville « can people across the continent. With re­ jointly by the citizens of Demersville and f>th. Its inexhaustible forest and timber. “Stanton’s Stables are conducted by thht sistless, untiring energy and dauntless the Northern Pacific Railway company, along thi» route is the hunter’s paradise, 10th. Its matchless bunting and fish- on the ranch at the present by Mr. Eugene “King of rustlers,” T. S. Stanton, better McCarthy. After the Indians told him of spirit, the American people have seen, se­ with a view to interesting prospective set­ and there is no exaggeration in the state­ ing. known as ‘Bad Rock Tom.’ At these livery, ment that the noble deer, attracted by the 11th. The public spirit and enterprise of the tragedy he went and found Allen’» cured, occupied, developed, and established tlers. The booklet, which wa» formerly feed and sales stable» one can be furnished American ideals in the vast West. the property of Mr. George F. Stannard, noise of the diminutive steamers as they its inhabitant». body covered with brush, his hat on top go puffing up the stream, come to the 12th. The mining and agricultural in­ at very short notice with any kind of a of the firm of Clifford & Stannard, who turnout wished for. Tom Stanton is Just Montana’» Part in the Great Drama platted the Demersville townsite, said in banks and gaze in bewilderment at the terests. M “'■* • • * the very man to size up bis customers and Of all this great stage upon which were part: strange sight. “Demersville has practical, energetic * ■> “At the head of navigation on the Flat- companies who can insure success to any give them the proper outfit. The traveling •v - *’ 4 Geographical and Topographical preacher, teacher or professional man of