Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 83 But there are other persistent suspects, too. Like Nelson Story, or rather, a goon pulling a trigger while in the employ of Story. Story was a successful cattle rancher, vigilante and miner, and Bozeman and Cover stayed at Story's ranch the night before the murder. Seemingly concerned about Native attacks, Story sent Spanish Joe, his colorfully named employee, to investigate the site. Years later, Story's son said that his father had told him that Cover had murdered Bozeman by shooting him twice in the back—and shooting himself. Later yet a band of Blackfoot said that they were the ones to kill Bozeman. A dearth of witnesses and conflicting confessions means that we'll probably never know who really killed the 32-year-old raconteur. THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF GOVERNOR MEAGHER Funny enough, one of Bozeman's boon companions would also die in 1867, and also under mysterious circumstances. omas Francis Meagher is one of the most fascinating and compelling figures in Montana history—and, indeed, 19th century global history. Born in Ireland, exiled to Australia, he finally immigrated to the United States, where he served as a Union General in the Civil War (distinguishing himself at the battles of Antietam and Fred- ericksburg) before moving to Montana and becoming Territorial Governor. It was in his capacity as Governor that Meagher was travelling on a steamboat on the Missouri River. He was on his way to col- lect a cache of weapons for use by the Montana Militia in retalia- tion against the Blackfeet for the alleged attack on Bozeman. But, in the days before his arrival at Ft. Benton, he became gravely ill, until early in the first night of July, he apparently fell overboard into the deep, turgid river, never to be seen again. Even sick, Meagher, a hail and hardy world traveler, was formi- dably healthy, and almost immediately there were rumors that he hadn't fallen at all, but been pushed. Some thought it may have been the vengeful act of a Confederate soldier bearing a hateful grudge, or 1867's most popular scapegoat, the Blackfeet. Others, including writer and Meagher biographer Timothy Egan believe that Meagher was killed by political rivals. But the truth of what happened that evening have long ago been carried down the Mis- souri and into myth. the truth of what happened that evening have long ago been carried down the missouri and into myth. John Bozeman Meagher is seated with the all-Irish brigade he led in the Civil War.

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