Distinctly Montana Magazine

27 w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m T HE SPRAWLING MINING COMMUNITY OF BANNACK, MONTANA, WAS AWASH IN THE FAR-REACHING RAYS OF THE MORNING SUN. The rolling hills and fields around the crowded burg were thick with brush. Saffron and gold plants dotted the landscape, their vibrant colors electric against a back- drop of browns and greens. Twenty-seven-year-old Lucia Dar- ling barely noticed the spectacular scenery as she paraded down the main thoroughfare of town. The hopeful schoolmarm was preoccupied with the idea of finding a suitable place to teach. Escorted by her uncle, Chief Justice Sidney Edgerton, Lucia made her way to a depressed section of the booming gold ham- let searching for the home of a man rumored to have a building to rent. Referring to a set of directions drawn out on a slip of paper, Lucia marched confidently to the door of a rustic, rundown log cabin and knocked. When no one answered right away, Chief Justice Edgerton took a turn pounding on the door. Finally, a tired voice called out from the other side for the pair to "Come in." The interior of the home was just as unkempt as the outside. Cobwebs clung to the dark corners; dust inches thick covered dilapidated pieces of furniture; mining equipment, picks, pans, and axes were scattered about as well as a few dirty clothes, and an assortment of whisky bottles. A pile of buffalo robes in the middle of the floor stirred, and a scruffy prospector, obviously suffering with a monstrous hangover, emerged. Lucia and the chief justice introduced themselves and informed the man that they were there to look at some property he owned that could possibly be used as a schoolhouse. "Yes," the miner responded with a thick tongue. "Damn shame, children running around the streets here. They ought to be in school. I will do anything I can to help. You can have this room." by CHRIS ENSS roughout e entire journey LUCIA KEPT A DETAILED DIARY OUTLINING THE ROUTE THEY TOOK, THE INDIANS THEY ENCOUNTERED, THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS THEY PASSED, THE DAILY CHORES THAT HAD TO BE DONE, AND THE WEATHER PATTERNS.

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