Brenda Steunenberg Richards

Brenda Steunenberg circa 1921
Caldwell, ID

Dear Friends and Family:

I wanted to let those friends and relatives that are not nearby or in regular contact know that my mother, Brenda Steunenberg Richards, quietly passed away early this morning (Sunday). She is now with her brother Cal and her parents Julian and Francis and the rest of the clan that have come and gone before us.

Mom has been in nursing care for about four months. I last saw her just yesterday and peeked around the corner of her room before going in. She was begging over and over “dear lord please take me.” She even ask “John, please help me go” but then would say I can’t, as she “didn’t want me to get in any trouble.” She did the same with my sister Kris. Leave it to Mom to always think first about keeping us out of trouble. I was very troubled thinking of her laying there begging to go and am at peace that she has passed away and that her prayer was answered. We were as prepared as one can be at such a time.

My father is in the hospital after a fall and striking his head last week so we are coping with that too. I informed him shortly after the nursing home called and was up to the hospital today to see him.

I will most likely write more about my mother once a little time passes. Arrangements are pending. Mom will be cremated and we will celebrate her life at a later date. She did not want any formal services.

With love and regards from my mother and all our family to all of you,

John

Bob Meldrum's Colt sold at auction

Remember my recent post on March 5th,
Bob Meldrum's Colt Up for Auction.
As we have discussed before, Bob Meldrrum and Charles Siringo were hired to guard Harry Orchard. They weren't concerned about his escape, but were there to discourage any assassination attempts on his life and to perform various other duties involving intimidation and protection. You may have seen this photo postcard from my grandparents (Julian and Francis Steunenberg) photo album before but always worth another look. I would like to find more of these or similar postcards if you ever see any or have some stashed away. Siringo is up toward the top of the stairs and Meldrum is second from the left with his hand/arm reaching behind Orchard (in the derby hat). Rudie Barthell (a step up the stairs just behind Orchard) was another hired gun that we see with this group. The picture was taken at the courthouse in Boise. Click on the photo to enlarge for better viewing. The following link shows much of the same group as they prepare to leave the Idaho Penitentiary.
Meldrum's Colt sold for $258, 750.00. Goldarnit, I just missed getting it! I wonder who did?
Click the link below to see detail photographs of this fine Colt.
Photos showing detail and engraving

And below is the full description from
James D. Julia auction item 2092.
*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE AND HISTORIC HELFRICHT ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER PRESENTED TO "BAD GOOD GUY" ROBERT D MELDRUM. SN 253161. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue finish with 4-3/4" bbl, full front sight and 2-line address with caliber marking on left side. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in a circle. Mounted with 2-pc smooth pearl grips. Revolver is spectacularly engraved in very unique patterns by master engraver Cuno Helfricht with about full coverage on frame consisting of fine foliate arabesque patterns with gold wire inlay in two patterns on each side of the frame, narrow gold bands on the bbl at the frame and at the muzzle and a gold wire border around the presentation on the back strap. Rear edge of left recoil shield has an unusual geometric & foliate pattern with diamond & dot patterns combined with foliate patterns on the top strap. Loading gate is engraved in a beautiful scallop shell pattern and there is a large flower blossom on the ejector rod boss. Bottom front gullets of frame are engraved with tiny flower blossoms. The foliate arabesque patterns extend about 2/3 of the length of each side of the bbl with fine braided border patterns around bbl address, terminating in intertwined geometric & foliate arabesque patterns. In addition to the gold band around the muzzle there is a 4-panel triangular shaped diamond & dot pattern, and a flower blossom on each side of the front sight. Ejector rod housing has an unusual & well-executed foliate arabesque pattern on outer radius with a foliate spray at the frame end. Ejector rod housing top gullet is fully engraved with a braided pattern. Top of back strap is engraved with a fine shell pattern with chip & dot border and punch dot background. Back strap engraved with the presentation "From The Tomboy Gold Mine Co. Lt'd / Telluride Colo" and the butt strap is engraved "Rob't. D.Meldrum". Trigger guard & trigger bow are engraved in foliate arabesque patterns with a gold wire inlay on the trigger bow. Cylinder has full coverage engraved foliate arabesque patterns on the outer diameter with the flutes left unadorned. Rear edge of cylinder has four borders with a narrow gold wire band inlay and another very narrow gold wire lands on each side of a very fine, wavy border with a chip & dot border at the very rear edge. The serial number was observed in the usual three places on the frame, trigger guard & butt strap with the last three digits of the SN on rear face of cylinder. This revolver is very similar to two other Helfricht engraved and gold inlaid single actions, SN's 242701 and 256058 which are illustrated in full color on pp. 434 & 435 of The Colt Engraving Book Volume One, Wilson. A factory letter accompanies this lot which conforms to this gun. It also states the gun was ordered by Tompkins Hunt Hardware Co., (which was located in or near Telluride). According to factory records, only 2 gold inlaid 1st run Colt S.A.A.'s were ever made inscribed with presentations (this being one of them). As noted S.A. authority Ron Graham states in his letter (accompanying the gun), "The only way this could be any better is if the other (inscribed) one did not exist!" However, it actually gets better. The history of its somewhat nefarious former owner is both interesting and reflective of a time of great transition in the history of the West. While civilized societies were expanding, many areas were still hard and dangerous. In these areas, a lawman needed to be equally hard and feared to survive. It was hard to sometimes differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys. RobertMeldrum was such a man. In 1900Meldrum recognized a Texas fugitive, Noah Wilkerson from a wanted poster.Meldrum simply shot the man and collected his $200 reward without risk of personal injury. This approach seemed to become his policy. By 1902 he hired on as a mine guard and deputy sheriff in Telluride, Colorado, for the Tomboy Mining Co. located high in the mountains overlooking the village of Telluride. It had two serious problems; mineral poachers and organizers attempting to organize the mine workers. In need of a hired gun, the mine purportedly contacted the famous Tom Horn who is believed to have referred his acquaintance RobertMeldrum. While working for the Tomboy Mine company in a covert operation involving the Pinkerton Agency sometime from 1902 to 1904, Meldrum ingratiated himself to the mine (probably by killing some problematic individuals). Tomboy was unquestionably grateful because they not only presented him with this spectacular gun, but also gifted him another engraved (but not gold inlaid) Colt.Meldrum continued his heavy-handed ways and in 1904 killed unarmed Olaf Thissal in Telluride and others as he felt they needed it. He was brought to court on various cases involving killings but was usually acquitted. On a few occasion he worked for cattle growers associations like Tom Horn to dispose of and discourage cattle thieves. Finally in 1912, as a law officer, Meldrum killed another drunk unarmed cowboy, Chick Bowen. Meldrum was again brought up on charges and finally sent to jail. By 1919 he was out on parole and later owned a saddle and holster shop in Wyoming. In 1926 fire destroyed his shop and Meldrum disappeared never to be heard of again. There are far more fascinating details about this bad-good guy. More info and a great exhibit of some of Meldrum's things are available at the Museum of Northwest Colorado in Craig, Colorado. Much of the above information was graciously provided by Director of the museum, Mr. Dan Davidson. In appreciation of this, James D. Julia Auctioneers has commissioned Doug Turnbull to produce an exact copy of this gun which will be donated to the museum as part of its permanent Meldrum collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including cylinder, grips are unnumbered. Overall retains 20-25% orig blue finish, mostly in sheltered areas on the bbl and in the flutes of the cylinder and on the face of the cylinder. Balance of the revolver is an even bare metal patina showing moderate wear to the inscription on the back strap. Grips are extremely fine with great fire & color. Crisp mechanics, bright shiny bore. 4-38974 JR91 (200,000-400,000)
--James D. Julia Auctions

Governor Frank Steunenberg's Model 1895 .303 Savage Rifle

I guess this is guns week, so in addition to the Bob Meldrum and Harry Orchard Colts discussed in the immediately preceding posts, we might as well cover Frank Steunenberg's Savage Model 1895 .303 rifle. I would like to get better documentation and photographs of this personally engraved rifle given as a gift to then Governor Steunenberg in 1899--but here is what I have to date.
The Savage was reportedly given to Frank by several mine owners. I don't know which ones specifically but would like to find out. One would assume it was presented as a token of appreciation for his action to suppress labor unrest in the Coeur d'Alene. I know that opens up a political Pandora's box but those issues are covered elsewhere throughout this blog, in the history books and the production of Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century.

This 1895 has a custom checkered stock, a 26" octagon barrel, a engraved patent date of 1893, a gold crescent butt plate and a blade front site. It takes a .303 cartridge (not British .303) that is no longer available commercially but can still be purchased from various re-loaders. Unfortunately, well intentioned kinfolk had the rifle re-blued, stock refinished and checkering probably sharpened up a bit. Never a good idea with an antique firearm.

A nameplate affixed to the stock says "Frank Stennenberg, 1899, Governor of Idaho." As often happens with the Steunenberg name, it is misspelled on the nameplate. You would have expected the mine owners and/or engraver to have been a bit more careful in that regard. An interesting mistake when presenting such a special gift to a standing governor. The picture to the right is not very clear but you get the idea. The engraved plague may have been silver but was unfortunately blued.

After Frank's murder by Harry Orchard on December 30th, 1905, the rifle passed into the possession of his brother, Will Steunenberg, who mentioned it in his last will and testament ("To Hell With the Man Who Breaks My Will"). Will indicated the rifle should be passed on to either of Frank's two sons, one being my grandfather Julian and the other Frank Jr. Although Julian hunted as a teenager and young man, I don't believe he or Frank Jr. had any propensity toward guns later in life. This picture (Caldwell, ID circa 1905) shows by grandfather Julian on the right, after a fresh kill, a knife in his mouth and holding a rifle. Maybe this one? Probably not but always fun to speculate.

I am not sure the exact chain of ownership from there, but assume the rifle came into the possession of the Steunenberg sisters and passed into the hands of my Crookham kinfolk through the marriage of our families. Later, George Crookham Jr., passed it on to the current kin's possession. Those family members wish to remain anonymous and I will respect their request.
I would like to get the serial # and obtain a letter of authenticity available from a former Savage employee and historian (link is a sample, not for this rifle) documenting the rifles manufacturing date, shipping date, who it was sold to, etc. It would be good to have that letter with the rifle and might be helpful in tracing the early provenance.

I am gratified to know this great old Savage 1895 it is still within the family. Hopefully, I may be able to make a trip in the not too distant future and examine the rifle more closely, study and document its history, obtain more detailed closeup photographs.... and maybe shoot off a couple rounds.

Thanks to my kinfolk for providing the photographs of the rifle.

Shorter barrel on the 1895 pictured above. I believe it was available in carbine (23"), rifle (26"), musket (30") or thereabouts.

Related Websites

Savage Arms Co. History

Early Savage Model 1895

Unofficial Savage Website

Model 1895

Where is Harry Orchard's Colt Single Action Army? Who has it?

If you have a little spare change around, the Colt of Meldrum's in the previous post would be a fine item for your (my) collection. Now if I only knew where Harry Orchard's old Army Colt ended up after being auctioned off a few years back. It wouldn't be as pretty as Meldrum's, as Harry wasn't no gunfighter and probably didn't take very good care of it. A gun was not the chosen tool of his trade and shooting wasn't his type of killing. However, a cowardly shot in the back now and then wasn't against his constitution if he couldn't get his prey with dynamite.

The following auction took place circa 2003-2006. I believe it was likely 2004, as that would have been the only year within that time-frame with Columbus Day falling on Monday October 11th as indicated at the top of the listing. Click on the auction listing for clearer reading. Those of you more familiar with auction houses specializing in old weapons might be able to shed some light on it. If you are the one that bought Harry's Colt, or know who did, I sure would appreciate hearing from you. Not particularly looking to buy, but would like to get some documentation and good photographs for the historical record.


Colt Single Action Army (Wikipedia)

Colt Firearms

Bob Meldrum's Colt up for auction

Remember Bob Meldrum? Well you can now purchase a fine Colt given to Meldrum by the Tomboy Mining Company of Telluride, CO. Meldrum had been recommended to the mining company by his friend Tom Horn. Tom is another one of those characters, like "Hair Trigger" Bob, that moved in and out of various roles as a lawmen, gunfighter, assassin, Pinkerton detective, etc. Meldrum, Charles Siringo and others were hired by the Pinkerton's and/or Governor Gooding during the Haywood Trial in Boise, Idaho. Who was on which side of the law was often hard to distinguish.

Below from James D. Julia Auctioneers


Now move 90 years ahead in history to the Wild West Colorado, specifically Telluride. The lot in question is an extraordinary and rare Cuneo Helfricht engraved and gold inlaid Colt single-action Army revolver. According to the records, it appears that of all of the 300,000 antique Colt revolvers produced over a period of approximately 30+ years, only 16 ever had gold inlay and only two of those gold inlaid ones ever carried presentation inscriptions on the backstrap, this being one of them. The backstrap and butt strap read, “From the Tom Boy Gold Mine Co., Telluride, Colorado to Robert L. Meldrum”. The gun had been on loan and display at the Museum of Northwest Colorado, in Craig, Colorado until the owner learned that the Julia auction company in March of 2009 had sold a similar gold inlaid revolver for around $750,000 and as a result, contacted Julia. While this gun is not in the spectacular condition that the Sears Colt of spring 2009 was, this has something the Sears Colt did not have and that is a most intriguing and exciting western history. Meldrum apparently was a friend or acquaintance of Tom Horn. The Tom Boy Mining Company was experiencing great difficulty with organizers trying to get their workers to go out on strike and poachers stealing minerals from their claims. They unsuccessfully tried to get Horn to come work for them but he was busy at the time and referred them to Meldrum. Meldrum obviously was successful for the mining company because in 1904 they presented him with two beautiful engraved Colts. This one however, is by far the finer of the two with gold inlay; a most extravagant gift in those days. History about Meldrum indicates that his title “hair trigger” was well earned. During his lifetime he killed no fewer than 14 men, most “in the line of duty”. Meldrum was obviously a hard and cold man as at least two of his victims were unarmed at the time he shot them. Meldrum’s history is not only intriguing but a bit mysterious. By the 1920s he had established a leatherwork business making saddles and holsters at which he was greatly accomplished. One night his business was burnt down, Meldrum disappeared and was never heard from again. This extraordinary pistol with its tremendous history carries a presale estimate of $200,000-$400,000.
--James D. Julia Press Releases

Update on My Mother Brenda Steunenberg Richards

Her is a brief update on my mother, 91 (working on 92) years young Brenda Steunenberg Richards. I know quite a few family and friends read this blog but are not in regular contact with me or the immediate family and I have not posted an update since November 2009.

Click on the picture of my mother to the right to read the story of the cross.

My mom is resting comfortably at Vineyard Hills Health Center in Templeton (near Paso Robles) CA, where she has been for over three months now. The facility is about 30-40 minutes away from where I reside in San Luis Obispo County, CA. My dad, John Sr. or "Rich," remains at their nearby home in Paso Robles and my sisters Beckie and Kris also live nearby.

Mom is weak, frail and fighting the inevitable health issues associated with age. However, she is comfortable and fortunately has not suffered the severe dementia/Alzheimer's that plagued her mother/my grandmother, Francis Steunenberg, or her sister/my aunt Doris Steunenberg Knowles. Her short-term memory is not very good (but then neither is mine) so she may not remember I was there minutes after a visit ends, but she knows who we are and can express herself quite clearly at times! We are still able to have enjoyable visits and converse, particularly during those periods that she is awake and/or not fighting an infection that tends to create a more confused state. Moms spirit and smile still shine through as does her ever present concern about others rather than herself (no mom, I'm not going to eat your food as your baby boy eats too much as it is!).

We know the days are numbered but Mom keeps fooling us with her staying power through each medical crisis. She is comfortable and cared for and that is all we can ask.

We love you mom.

If you have any inquiries, want more details or need an address, please contact me at:
mailto:john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net

High Tone Music of Idaho

Below from our friend and Idaho music history affectionado Gary Eller. Thanks for your continued great work Gary (and the supporting cast of musicians) for your many contributions to the preservation of historical Idaho music. John

Greetings from Pickles Butte, home of the Idaho Songs Project. Here are some update items for the project.

The projects website at www.bonafidaho.com/idahosongs.htm has been updated with audio tracks for January through May based on pre-radio era Idaho-related music. There are some very cool new songs that relate to the fabric of life in the earlier days of Idaho in these postings. Just follow the link to Idaho Songs of the Month.

And, two weeks ago we released High Tone Music of Idaho. You can read about this project at the Recordings link for the website above, and I've also included the cover below. The project contains 16 audio tracks and an interpretive booklet. All songs are based on pre-1920 Idaho-related sheet music performed in the "classical" piano/five-string banjo style, Sean Rogers of Boise is on piano and lead vocals and I'm on banjo and harmony vocals. This instrumental combination graced fine music parlors and halls a hundred years ago, before banjos became uncool. In many respects, the three-fingered banjo style anticipated the bluegrass style techniques by many decades. $15 plus tax and shipping, if you're interested in this unique project.
(Click on picture to enlarge for better viewing)

My 2010 calendar is filling up fast with historically-based Idaho songs programs for the Speakers Bureau program of the Idaho Humanities Council around Idaho. Also, I'm playing banjo for the Chicken Dinner Road bluegrass band which will be doing festivals and other events all over Idaho in 2010. Perhaps our paths will cross during the year.

As always, if you find some early Idaho songs based on actual Idaho people, places or events that are not in the Idaho Songs bibliography that you can access at the website above, please let me know.

And if you find technical or factual problems with the website, please let me know.

Regards - Gary Eller

(While looking for a chicken dinner, I found the following link. Take a look and a listen. John)
Chicken Dinner Road

James Carl Behlen Sr.

We had another untimely and unexpected death recently with the passing of my wife Cindy's father, James Carl Behlen Sr. I recall what may have been my first visit (an early one anyway) to the home of my future in-laws, Jim and Jackie Behlen. I am not sure of the exact date, but well over thirty two years ago as that is how long Cindy and I have been married. Her mother Jackie and father Jim were then living in Dublin, CA so we were in closer proximity and visits took place more frequently. I sat down for the first time at their kitchen table, trying to play it cool and make the good impression as the boyfriend/college man/future son-in-law. No sooner had my rather sizable derriere hit the chair when the loud cracking of wood could be heard and down I went in a pile of splinters. Talk about life's most embarrassing moments! Fortunate for me, I wasn't skewered, the cameras weren't rolling and the chair was not a family heirloom. Jim and Jackie massaged my damaged ego and continued to make me feel at home. Jim had a good laugh and would not let me live it down anytime soon thereafter. Cindy lost her mother Jackie to cancer not long after those first visits I had to the home in Dublin.

Through the years, we didn't always have a lot of time with Jim, as we moved to different states and opportunities to visit became more limited. It seems time has never provided enough when death comes knocking. I will always remember my last visit, hug and cry with my father in-law Jim, immediately following the dispersing of Jimmy Juniors ashes (another much too soon a death) out of an airplane over Sand Mountain, Nevada in 2005. It was a rather incredible moment that remains etched forever even in my somewhat weak memory. Junior and senior are now soaring together again. We love and will miss you always. My loving condolences to my wife Cindy, sister and brother in-laws Mandy and Kevan, Jim's wife Patti and all the rest of the many members of that side of our family. John

James Carl Behlen Sr.

James Behlen Sr. born on April 30, 1933 to Carl and Sophie Behlen Mandella and Frederick Mandella died February 5, 2010 due to heart failure.
He was preceded in death by son, James Behlen Jr.; wife, Jacqueline Behlen; wife, Marilyn Conradi Behlen; and his parents.
Jim is survived by his wife, Patricia Behlen; children, Cindy, Kevan and Mandy Behlen, Gene, Jerry and Lisa Conradi, Sheree, Jim and Leslie Vassion; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
At Jim's request, no services are planned. His family will meet Saturday, February 20, 1:00 p.m., at 7701 Hardeson Road, Everett, WA in the cabana at Westridge Estates.

Legacy Guest Book - James Carl Behlen Sr.

Idaho's trial of the century

From the Idaho State Journal, Friday, 2/19/2010, a nice summary of events surrounding the assassination of Ex-Governor Steunenberg and the trial of Bill Haywood.
Click on the link below.
Idaho's trial of the century by Vern Herzog

"Big Bill Haywood's revenge: the original intent of the exclusionary rule."

An interesting and informative assessment and opinion of the exclusionary rule in law and the key role it played in the Haywood Trial.

Click on the link below.

Other viewpoints, opinions and analysis are welcomed. I will probably come back and re-visit this article at a later date.

Big Bill Haywood's revenge: the original intent of the exclusionary rule.

"THE OLD BULL PEN"

From a University of Idaho Ph.D thesis by Stanley Stewart Phipps, 1983, and book published in 1988 by the same title and author: From Bull Pen to Bargaining Table. The Tumultuous Struggle of the Coeur d’Alenes Miners for the Right to Organize. 1887-1942. The poem (song lyrics?) below attributed to “a Coeur d’Alene Miner”, from Freeman’s Journal, June 8, 1900. This item was brought to my attention by our friend Gary Eller.

From Gary's website: The Old Bull Pen (Mrs. Mary Cleopatra Robinson? Auntie Rhodes? 1899). Lyrics for this song were found in the University of Idaho Ph.D. thesis by Stanley Stewart Phipps (1983). Most likely this is the song of this name that is mentioned in an aside in Way Out in Idaho. In other places, there is a suggestion that it was written by Mrs. Mary Cleopatra Robinson, “the nearly blind poetess-laureate of the Couer d’Alenes.” A melody has not been found, but a plausible air is the classic Irish protest song “Wearing of the Green”.

--Gary Eller

Be sure to check out Gary's "The Idaho Songs Project." I wonder if a recording session and setting these lyrics to a melody is in our future?

I have added a photograph of Governor Steunenberg and General Merriam from a previous blog post. See another related blog post, Insurrection is Proclaimed/Sixty Rioters Arrested.

Here is an article from my footnote.com site that is related to the bull pens: 3/15/1900 - Discarded His Army Button

THE OLD BULL PEN

The old bull pen is empty now. There are no prisoners there no more.

The miners are all turned out, and the warden has closed the door.

In eighteen hundred and ninety nine, this famous pen was built.

And numerous were the prisoners, there without one stain of guilt.

Brave me that fought in ’61 to break slavery’s cruel chains,

Were guarded there by Negro brutes, in that bull pen in the Coeur d’Alenes.

It was one despot Steunenberg that built this Siberian pen.

And Merriam with his Negro brutes and bayonets herded us in.

From May until December they kept us in that pen,
And treated us like savages instead of working men.

There liberty once found a home, but you can now look for her in vain.

For martial law and bayonets rule in the once fair Coeur d’Alenes.

Hundreds of us lived within those dark and gloomy walls.

One small window in the gable to furnish light for all.

“No mercy to those cowards show” one haughty captain cried.

“No more than a snake you know” a Negro fiend replied.

If I were guilty of a crime a trial we justly claimed.

And a removal of troops and bayonets from our homes in the Coeur d’Alenes.

We were herded just like cattle, and formed all in a line.

And with bayonets drove to dinner each day just like so many swine.

Sour was the bread they gave us, and rotten were the “spuds”.

With coffee black as midnight made by a scab called Tubs.

Our table was old Mother Earth, our chairs were just the same.

Now that is how the miners lived in that bull pen in the Coeur d’Alenes.

Permits they would not give us, yet they made us work each day,

For the Standard Oil monopoly, for which we got no pay.

At last we tried to escape, and tunneled underground.

But when thirty feet from liberty, some of our plans were found.

Brutal Captain Edwards, in command, soon this information gained.

And gave us inhuman treatment in the bull pen in the Coeur d’Alenes.

They fed us on bread and water till nine long days had fled.

And before our eyes they burned the straw from our impoverished bed.

For seven long, weary hours each day they stood us bareheaded in the sun.

And if one faltered in his track he would be braced up with a gun.

The Spokesman Review these facts would hid; but its lies were all in vain.

For the world now knows the truth, of that bull pen in the Coeur d’Alenes.