There are also quite a number of dance houses or Hurdy Gurdies as they are called here.
There is a goodly number of women here but as to their character I will not attempt to testify. There are Mexicans, Jews, Chinese, Dutchmen, and every other species of the human race ever known..."

The Montana Territory was an organized territory of the United States that existed between 1864 and 1889.

Autograph Letter Signed "George Jones", 4pp. 5" x 8", Helena, [Montana Territory], July 11, 1866 to Myron W. Messer of Stoneham, Massachusetts giving an very early account of this frontier settlement that was founded after the discovery of gold in the area in October, 1864.

He describes his journey westward, noting encounters with Indians and the landscape as well as a detailed picture of this rough and tumble gold rush town. Jones opens his letter announcing:

"We have at last arrived at our destination. We arrived here on the 4th of July after a journey of 71 days. I was very much disappointed at not receiv[ing] a letter from you on arriving here. I begin to think that you have forgotten me. If you do when I come back to America I will give you a thrashing. Now mind that will you. We enjoyed our trip up the river very much, and feel well paid for it, if I have to beg my way back. We had a great deal of sport, shooting Antelope, Deer, Elk and Buffalo. We also saw a great many mountain Sheep. But did not succeed in getting one. We also saw a great many different tribes of Indians; all of whom seemed peacibly [sic] disposed. Some of them presented a very comical appearance, with nothing on their person but a buffalo robe, or a blanket. The most of them were armed with bows & arrows. But very few of them had guns. At Fort Rice we saw 4000, who had just come in to get their government annuity. Our trip from Fort Benton to Helena was through the Bloods and Blackfeet [sic]-country, who are on the war path. But we did not see any of them, and to tell the truth did not want to. It took us four days to get to Helena from Fort Benton. We hired two four horse wagons to take us there. But we had to climb the mountains on foot which was the greater part of the distance. Some of these mountains are very high, and some are covered with perpetual snow. The weather has been very hot since we arrived here during the day, but the nights are very cool. At this time of the year we do not have but two hours of darkness. It gets dark here at Eleven and begins to grow light at one."

Jones then describes his new home:

"Perhaps you would like to know what kind of place Helena is. It is less than a year since this place started, and it now boasts of its hotels, theatre a large number of stores, both wholesale and retail. Also a National Bank. But the most numerous are its gambling and drinking saloons. Each one is furnished with a band of music. There are also quite a number of dance houses or Hurdy Gurdies as they are called here.

There is a goodly number of women here but as to their character I will not attempt to testify. There are Mexicans, Jews, Chinese, Dutchmen, and every other species of the human race ever known, I never saw more perfect order in my life than here. Not because there is not any rascals here, for there is a plenty of them. But they do not dare to do anything for fear they will be hung. They have a little less law and more order here than anywhere in the States. We met a great many going home on our way from Benton, and a great many more are to follow. The country is full of Prospectors and if something new is not struck, there will be a grand stampede out of the country. The old mines are pretty much worked out and no new ones of any account have been discovered as yet..."