Mansions for Millionaires – Prayers for a Floater – 1891

Mansions for Millionaires

The stately and imposing mansion of Hon. Hiram Knowles, located near the Bitter Root track is completed and will be occupied by the gentleman and his family, about the first of July.

The beautiful residence of Mr. E. L. Bonner, also on the south side, now in the course of erection is assuming architectural proportions and will soon be ready to receive the roof.

While in the city last week Marcus Daly purchased of A. B. Hammond an entire block of land on the south side and today ground was broken for a foundation whereon a new stately home for the mining magnate is to be erected.

A. B. Hammond is today having surveyed a beautiful block of his land on the south side of the river and will begin at once the erection of a magnificent residence, the same to be completed before winter sets in.

Hon. Frank Higgins has caught the building fever and he also proposes to erect a dwelling on the south side, on the Montana addition, which will discount anything either now finished or contemplated.

This character of structures is what Missoula wants and the wish is that many more such may be speedily erected. Missoula is the city of homes and any building erected cannot be too good for this beautiful spot.

 A Floater Still Floats.

Two men walking by the river yesterday afternoon near the Bitter Root bridge saw first a valise, then a hat, and finally the body of a man wrapped in a blanket, floating down the stream. They succeeded in getting the body and nailed the blanket in which it was wrapped to a log. Then they went to hunt for the coroner. When they came back the body was gone.

The above articles appeared next to each other in the same column of the Missoula Weekly Gazette on June 17, 1891.

The macabre irony here was unmistakable and could not have reflected well for the paper’s editor. He may not have known what Missoula really wants. Hopefully the town’s people let him know about it. If nothing else, the floater’s remains reside in one of the nicest river courses in the country. If Missoulians didn’t say a prayer for you, Mr. Floater, they should have.

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Posted by: Don Gilder on