The Philipsburg Affair

 

The July 28, 1887 Helena Weekly Herald published the following account about their article in the July 23rd Daily publication concerning The North Granite Mining Company located in Philipsburg, and F.L. Currie who was the recent Superintendent. Mr. Currie “seen by a Herald reporter said the report of the occurrence as published in last evening’s issue was substantially correct; only he had not witnessed the alleged strangulation proceedings. The mob, however, had requested him to leave the town on account of various claim jumping projects in which they supposed him interested and desiring to vindicate himself, he talked freely with the reporter on the matter. 

Mr. Currie furnishes the following statement of the case: ‘In 1883 Thomas F. Hynes located the Katy lode. A bond was given on it to Lewis Demars but expired in 1884 without being taken up. In April, 1885, Hynes and his wife deeded the Katy lode to the former’s mother, Mrs. Honora Hynes for $1,000 and the title thereby passed to her. In October, 1886, Thomas Hynes and wife gave to Phil M. Saunders a bond on the property for $50,000 under which a company was formed and $8,000 worth of development work put upon the property. 

I was superintendent of the North Granite Company and found out about the above condition of affairs with that Hynes and his wife had given Saunders a bond for property not owned by them and that the claim was open to jumping. I explained the situation to Joseph Sorenson and he relocated the claim under the name of the Parrot lode, agreeing to transfer to the company for a small consideration. My object was to secure to the company a clear title to the ground so as to obviate any trouble if anyone else should jump it. I received no consideration for my share in the transaction and was simply working for the interest of the company. 

Sorenson relocated the ground about the 14th inst. and gave to Phil M. Saunders a bond for $500 and 150,000 shares of stock of the company formed to work it. There was a tacit understanding between Saunders and myself that 5,000 shares of stock, in the new company, which I acquired from personal expenditure in the former company, should be secured to me, also 5,000 shares to Wm. Weinstein and John Dawson acquired by similar means, which in a measure I considered myself responsible for. 

These were the only considerations stipulated in the transaction and they were merely mutual understandings between Mr. Saunders and myself, no written agreement was made. Throughout the transaction I acted with Mr. Saunders knowledge and consent, he approving of the relocation project as the best means to secure the safety of the property. After the affair was consummated I turned all of the papers to Mr. Saunders, who took them to Helena to consult his attorney on the situation. 

When he returned to Philipsburg I was discharged by him, as he alleged, on the expressed desires of the directors, who requested a change in the office after he had stated to them the occurrences of the past few days. What his statement was , I do not know. His authority was unquestionable and I was obliged to abide by it, condemned but not heard. 

There had been various rumors previous to this about my being interested with Lewis Demars and Samuel Tolman on the jumping of the Granite Belle, The Young America and the Nelson properties. These were without foundation, but in the heat and excitement resulting from them and the action, seemingly, of the North Granite Co. I was allowed to suffer a never to be forgotten indignity at the hands of men who personally were my enemies, regardless of jumping claims….’ ”. And that was the demise of Mr. Currie as Superintendent of The North Granite Mining Company.