Chauncey Leland "Chance" Harris: The Old Slouch of the Mountains - Part III

Chance Harris Returns From The Civil War

We left Chauncey Leland "Chance" Harris at Bailey's Crossroads, Fairfax Co., Virginia as he Mustered Out of Union service with his regiment on 28 May 1865 after nearly 3 years as a soldier and prisoner of war. The troops of the 108th Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers, returned to Rochester, Monroe Co., New York on the evening of 31 May 1865 and were met by a large crowd at the train station and thence escorted to Court House Square. The troops were formed, and the Rochester City Mayor gave a welcome speech to the 108th. Afterwards, the soldiers were escorted to the Brackett House for a meal described as "excellent." The soldiers reported to the Fair Grounds the following day where they awaited their final pay and discharge. Thus, the Civil War was finally at an end for Chance Harris.

The 1865 New York State Census shows Chance as 24-years old in his father's household at Rochester. For the next 10 years, however, not much can be found about Chance's life. An obituary in a Detroit newspaper indicates that Chance spent three years there after the Civil War, probably from 1866-1868, moving to the West in 1869. The same source states that Chance was a Civil Engineer participating in survey work for the Northern Pacific Railroad. This was probably the work that took Chance to the West; however, the Northern Pacific's construction proceeded very slowly and had come to a multi-year halt by 1876. Chance's involvement with the railroad may not have lasted nearly that long. Chance also was intimated to have been a Scout during the Indian Wars in northern and eastern Montana in the early 1870s, and an account exists of Chance passing through Fergus Co., Montana Territory in company with a detachment of soldiers seeking a party of Indians who were on the war path. An obituary of Chance's father, Daniel Harris, locates Chance at Camp Baker (later Fort Logan), an Army post 18 miles northwest of White Sulphur Springs, Meagher Co., Montana Territory in 1875. While not definitive, Chance's presence at Camp Baker indicates some affiliation with the U.S. Army.

Newspaperman at Butte, Deer Lodge Co., Montana Territory 

Chance Harris became a resident of Butte, Silver Bow Co. (then Deer Lodge Co.), Montana Territory about 1876 after removing from Alder Gulch, Madison Co., Montana Territory. Butte was a mining camp where gold, silver, and later copper were to spur rapid growth into a major city during its heyday. What brought Chance to Butte is not known, but he was reputed to have written for newspapers in the East and elsewhere, perhaps as a Correspondent, and exhibited a great talent for writing as shown by his Civil War letters. Chance became known as a newspaper man over about 4 years in Butte. Several sources state that Chance was the first City Editor of The Butte Miner ca. 1876-1878. Chance later would be noted for his ability to "sniff out" stories and chase down leads.

In August 1878, Chance was at Smith River, Meagher Co., Montana Territory, apparently the guest of Mr. Ford of the Ford & Patterson Ranch (also identified as the Potter & Ford Ranch in one account). Mr. Ford returned from an antelope hunt on 20 August, and the men engaged in dressing the antelope in or near the same room where a herder, George Meadows, lay sick. Mr. Ford remarked that the trigger of his rifle seemed to pull hard whereupon Chance examined the gun and began tinkering with the lock mechanism. Unfortunately, the rifle was loaded and discharged, the bullet striking George Meadows, resulting his death several days later. The death was viewed as accidental as no further record of the incident is found in newspapers of the day.

The Frontier Index was established at Butte in September 1878, this being the earliest date that Chance Harris could have become City Editor although his actual starting date is not known. One story relating Chance's zeal as a newspaperman occurred on 14 September 1879. A well-known and liked man named Carver stepped into the street after spending some time in the Centennial Saloon and declared himself to be "the best man in the West," presumably an invitation to take on all comers. What Mr. Carver and other residents of Butte didn't understand was that a newly passed ordinance against disturbing the peace had taken effect. Mr. Carver began to fight when Policeman Giles Brownell asked him to quiet down. Soon Policeman Joe Campbell and the Marshall became involved as a mob gathered in support of Mr. Carver. At this point, Chance Harris pushed his way into the mob, asking questions for a newspaper story in the making. He was taking notes when one member of the mob struck him a tremendous blow that knocked him off his feet. In response, Chance published a headline that evening that read "Blood!" in large black letters, which one commentator said may have been "more personally suggestive than many of the readers imagined."

Chance Harris was very supportive of the local schools while a newspaperman in Butte. He facilitated a benefit performance by the Le Petre-Hudson Company, a minstrel show, in November 1879, for which he was mentioned in a Card of Thanks by R. B. Hassel, Superintendent of Schools. Chance also signed a petition to the School Trustees ca. June 1880, requesting that an act of the Territorial Legislature "to enable the people of Butte to erect a school house" be resubmitted to the voters of  Deer Lodge County School District No. 3.

The 1880 federal census lists Chance Harris as an Editor living in the household of R. F. Wilkinson, publisher. Somewhat typically, Chance gave his age as 52, an inflation of 14 years. This practice continued for the rest of life because at the time of his death at age 56, Chance was claiming to be 69 years old. Perhaps Chance maintained his inflated age to enhance his self-description as "the old slouch of the mountains." Chance left his employment with the Frontier Index on or before 14 September 1880 to engage in prospecting and mining.

Conflict Between Woodchoppers of European and Chinese Origins

The whereabouts of Chance Harris and his exact activities during most of 1881 are not clear but he seems to have been based in Butte because he was called as a witness to the shooting of  Jesse B. "Tex" Sanders by Samuel A. Kennicott (who claimed self-defense) in that city. Chance testified that he had left before the killing occurred but had overheard words between the two parties before he left. Chance's testimony for the prosecution showed that Kennicott was trying to avoid a conflict, which probably did not help the prosecution's case!

During 1881 and subsequent years, the burgeoning number of mines and smelters in the vicinity of Butte drove demand for timber and fuelwood, respectively. By June 1881, a Jos. Broughton & Co. was advertising for 500 woodchoppers and haulers. Appropriate forests for wood harvest were found in the mountains some distance from Butte. One such location known as Highland Park or simply Highland was in the headwaters of Basin and Blacktail creeks south of Butte. Chinese laborers were reported to be working as woodchoppers for half the wages expected by woodchoppers of European origin. At the time, anti-Chinese sentiment was rife in the West and seems to have infected non-Chinese woodchoppers as well, although there seemed to be no shortage of jobs as evidenced by the Jos. Broughton & Co. advertisement for woodchoppers.

One report in early 1882 described Chance Harris as leader of the Woodchopper's Union although this may have been figurative, not literal. What is known is that Chance, with James Matingly, unfortunately led an armed group of 213 armed men on 18 December 1881 to scatter and disperse a group of about 40 Chinese contract woodchoppers working in Highland Park for a man who had a wood contract with the Colorado and Montana Smelter. Constable "Cap" Owen had ridden out to prevent the attack, which fortunately was bloodless, but could not control the armed woodchoppers who determined to scatter the Chinese woodchoppers before Chance Harris and several others submitted to arrest as the ringleaders. Chance was said to have been released on $2,500 bail.

Constable Owen returned to Butte to organize a posse of about 20 men who went back to Highland Park on 20 December 1881 and made seven arrests although one unnamed ringleader was said to have escaped during their return to Butte. On 24 December, Chance appeared before Justice Wilcox, waived preliminary examination, and was released on $500 bond to await Grand Jury proceedings on a charge of  "unlawful assemblage and interference with private rights." While out on bail, Chance was involved in arranging and promoting a Wrestling Match held in Renshaw's Hall. One can guess that Chance got some share of the proceeds of the Match, which he may have needed as he was delinquent $19.04 on his 1881 tax bill and did not own any real estate.

Butte held a Washington's Birthday Carnival on 22 February 1882. The parade, which was roundly mocked by a Letter to the Editor of the Independent-Record newspaper of Helena, Lewis and Clark Co., Montana, featured a parade wagon, among others, with a banner motto, "an ax is great[er] than a Chinese pipe." The author of the letter claimed that Chance Harris had said the motto was intended to keep the question of excluding Chinese woodchoppers from Highland Park in the minds of jurors currently in session. Less than a week after the Carnival, the men holding Chance's $500 bond asked to be released from their obligation, which was granted, leaving Chance no choice but to await trial in jail. Of the 6 men taken before the Grand Jury, only Chance Harris and James Matingly were indicted. Chance sought a separate trial, which occurred on 4 March 1882. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Chance was fined $100 plus $58 costs and remanded to jail until paid. Chance either would not or could not pay the fine and thus remained in jail until the amount of the fine was considered redeemed at $5 per day served. His release came on 11 April 1882.