Page 40 - Cornelius Hedges Story

27 The Cornelius Hedges Story

On the third day out, April 14, Henry was playing and broke his
leg. By overtaking the “Walter B. Dance” just ahead of them, they
obtained the surgical services of James Stuart to set the leg. Thus
Henry’s broken leg became the point of major concern for Cornelius
for the entire trip. Will remembers that “At all Posts where there was
a surgeon, his services were called on to dress Henry’s broken limb,
which mended rapidly, and ultimately became quite well.”74

A Steamer similar to the Waverly.

At Benton, Mrs. Wilcox and Clara left immediately by stage
for Helena. However, because Mrs. Clark was badly affected with
rheumatism, Hedges hired Johnnie Leach and his two wagons to
convey the party with their baggage to Helena for $70. They departed
on May 26.75 they “encountered the ‘usual rainy’ season which was
such a terror in those early days. The Dearborn was very high; and
wagon boxes had to be raised up in order that the sick and our goods
might not get wet,”76 according to Will. Their route carried them
through Wolf Creek Canyon on King and Gillette’s Road, and past
Malcolm Clarke’s ranch in the Prickly Pear Valley, reaching Helena
on June 1.77

It was then time again to get settled. On June 10, Hedges leased
his old law office for a period ending January 1, 1868, for $125 in
bankable gold dust. And on the 11th, he moved his family into a
small house on Joliet Street, from Ten Mile where they had been
staying with Widow Durgus until the tenant vacated the house.78 The
family moved again when Cornelius purchased the house, furniture
and books of J. E. Vinton, a local Attorney on July 22, 1867.79