Higgins’ Wild Ride – 1900
Higgins’ Wild Ride
Some Pipe Dreamer Springs a New One on Missoula’s Delegate
Captain Frank G. Higgins, of Missoula, who may be named by the next democratic convention as a candidate for governor, is credited by his friends with giving a wild west exhibition on the streets of Kansas City, but the story is probably a fabrication. The story goes that Mr Higgins, while walking down Grand avenue one day, was accosted by a young woman, who noticed his badge showing that he was from Montana. The young woman, although a perfect stranger to Mr Higgins, wanted to know all about Montana. She had heard about wild cowboys, she said, and she understood that the Indians were very troublesome and made frequent raids on Helena for the purpose of scalping their old time white enemies.
Mr. Higgins stood it as long as he could, and then noticing a man on horseback going by, he beckoned to him.
“I’ll give you $5 if you let me ride that horse half an hour,” said the captain to the rider.
After assuring him that the horse would not be injured the dicker was made, Mr. Higgins passing over the money. During all this time the young woman was an interested spectator. Mr. Higgins, who is an expert horseman, and served with the rough riders, vaulted into the saddle after the owner of the animal had dismounted. Riding up to the curb he reached down and seized the young woman by the waist and lifted her into the saddle, and the horse dashed up Grand avenue. Then Mr Higgins drew his revolver and began shooting in the air. The young woman shrieked and thousands of people started after the pair. Higgins rode down near the old town of Westport landing and, after placing the young woman on a street car and thrusting a bill into her hands, he rode back to town and surrendered the horse to its owner. It is said it was the liveliest episode of the week in the town. – Butte Inter-Mountain.
The above article appeared in the Missoula newspaper – Daily Democrat-Messenger – on July 10, 1900.