Pioneers Meet on Oldground
Chinaman George Delighted to See His Friend of Good Old Days in Diamond City.

Over at old Diamond City, the other day there was a reflection of the good old days in the meeting of a couple of pioneers. One of the pioneers was a Chinaman; the other was one of the respected citizens of Great Falls. The latter was an American, but there was in evidence a friendship of years and which recognized no racial lines, for the Chinaman was manifestly glad to see his American friend and there was also evidence that it did the heart of the American a lot of good to stand on old scones and shake hands with his Chinese friend of the long ago. There was a bunch of “tenderfeet” present at this meeting and it did them good to see the pleasure which came to the two pioneers.

R. N. Sutherlin, receiver of the Groat Falls land office was the American; George—just remember him as George and let it go at that—was the Chinaman. They hadn’t mot in 20 years, but there was no hesitancy about recognition: both recalled the former friend instantly and there was a hearty handshake and George, who now is in his 86^th year, cooed like an infant as he looked upon his friend Sutherlin. Simple-minded George lives a life almost like that of a hermit for he has a cabin up there in Confederate gulch where he worked years ago when they were taking gold out of the gulch by the panfull and gathering wealth at a rate equalled by few of the gold-producing bars have made possible. Few people live near George now.

Mr. Sutherlin went over to White Sulphur Springs to the road meeting with Senator T. O. Larson of Choteau. He expressed a desire to see Diamond City once more and that pleased Senator Larson, for he knew that going to that historic place with a pioneer who had been there in the gay days of the old gold diggings would prove a treat. The trip was arranged V. L. Gibson. W. II. Griffin and P. N. Bernard of Kalispell, George D. Prentice of this city and his sister. Miss Lula Prentice of San Diego, and John A. Curry of Great Falls were asked to join the party on the visit to old Diamond City, as they passed through the Confederate gulch on the ray to Helena, leaving White Sulphur Springs. All. like Senator Larson, gladly fell in with the plan and were present when the pioneers met.

Diamond City of the long ago was a lively place: Diamond City, today, is merely a few cabins with a larger frame building occupied at one time as a hotel building. Incidentally, it might be mentioned that Diamond City was the county seat for a time, of Meagher county. Confederate gulch was given that name because when it was most thickly populated there were many from Missouri, not a few of whom had been enlisted in the “lost cause” and being confederates in the war. the gulch they made their home was called Confederate gulch.

“Hello. George,” said Mr. Sutherlin, as he stepped from the automobile when Senator Larson had pulled up in front of a cabin. The aged Chinaman was carrying a pail on his way to get some water from the creek at the bottom of the gulch some 00 feet down by means of a Chinaman’s method of lifting water from a stream. Instantly the bucket which the old man was carrying was set down and he turned and grasped the extended hand of his long time friend as he repeated in broken English “’ello, ’ello. Why you come back?” and there was some childish sentiment in the way he said “Why you come back?”

It was some seconds before the Chinaman lot go the hand of his old friend. Then he looked Mr. Sutherlin over, gazing from head to foot carefully and finally he said. “Were you live now?”

After there had been some exchanges, of friendly inquiry, Pioneer Sutherlin became reminiscent concerning George. “George interrupted the court at White Sulphur Springs once at a murder trial, but the judge didn’t criticise him.” earl Mr. Sutherlin. “When the interruption was made the court took it kindly and thanked George for his interest in seeing justice done.”

Then Mr. Sutherlin told the story substantially as follows:

There was a murder committed at; Maiden by a Chinaman about 20 years of age and the case was tried at White Sulphur Springs before Judge B. S. Wade. The prosecution was in the hands of a prosecutor familiarly known as “Bellyache” Johnson, because of his normal disposition. I guess it was. George W. Smith defended the Chinaman. A chinaman named Gee was brought from Helena to act as interpreter for the Chinese witnesses, and it was while the testimony of a Chinaman was being taken that George interrupted the proceedings.

The interpreter told the court the witness had made a certain statement regarding the homicide and just then George jumped up from his seat in the rear of the court and exclaimed: “Witness no say that: witness no say that.” The effect was sensational and the court called upon George to tell what the witness did say. It then developed that the interpreter admitted George was right and that so pleased the court that the interruption was regarded as a favor.

When the convicted Chinaman was brought in for sentence—the trial resulted in a conviction—he was asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed. He arose and in Chinese addressed the court, according to the interpreter, saying that he was sorry and if he would not be punished, he would promise not to do so again. The attorney pushed the convicted man down in a chair almost before the interpreter had finished the statement, and the attorney turned to the prisoner and said: “You damn fool, you ought to be hanged for not keeping your mouth shut.”

George told the “tenderfeet” and Pioneer Sutherlin that he was enjoying good health and when asked how old he was he replied promptly, “Past 85.” He explained that he knew his age because he came to San Francisco in 1852 when he was 17 years of age. George worked as rook in the Diamond City hotel for many years while the place was active. Now he occupies one of the cabins and declared he was living happy and had plenty.

Going over to see George and the other landmarks of Diamond City. Mr. Sutherlin rode faster that he ever had when he lived at Diamond City after he first came to the present state of Montana in the ’60’s. Senator Larson “let her out a little” as he drove his machine across the country, at times getting a speed of 15 miles. Mr. Sutherlin declared afterwards that he never saw the mountains in that section look more beautiful and he never had a visit to the old city since the days he lived there that was filled with more pleasure. The “tenderfeet” in the party were delighted with the trip for Diamond gulch and Cement gulch through which they passed in getting over the divide, were most beautiful bits of natural scenery.