Molly B’Damn, Part 2: Murray was Fertile Ground for a Legend

Molly was in San Francisco and restless at age 30. 

She read a news item reporting on a rich gold strike in Murray, Idaho. It was 1884 and time for new adventures. She purchased a train ticket to Thompson Falls, Mont. It was winter and the rail line couldn’t negotiate snowbound Thompson Pass leading into Murray, so she bought a horse and inserted herself and her belongings into a pack train heading over the pass to Murray. A young mother with a child were part of the pack train, but they were on foot since they couldn’t afford a horse to carry them or their goods.

The pack train encountered blizzard conditions and it became apparent that the mother and child were having worsening problems keeping up. When the mother stumbled and fell, Molly dismounted and placed both in the saddle with her. Still unable to keep up, it was decided the three should stay in a dilapidated shack they found. Molly said she would stay with them. She surrendered her fur coat to the inadequately clothed mother and child. The pack train moved on fully aware they might not see the three alive again. 

Arriving in Murray, the pack train members recounted to the townfolk the gracious and sacrificial acts of the single, wealthy lady who would likely die from the cold along with the mother and child. Her brave act proved to be a good marketing decision because by the time Molly and her two charges arrived in Murray, her story was widely known. Promptly on arrival, Molly ordered a cabin and food for the mother and child — all on her.

If there was any doubt why Molly came to Murray, she removed all doubt when she declined a hotel room in favor of “Cabin No. 1.”  By doing so, she was staking out her own claim as Murray’s new Madam. Silent approval of her claim on her own version of a “gold mine,” was immediately granted due to Molly’s first impression on the townsfolk. Even the women of the town voiced little objection.

Over the years, her service to the town, in the form of feeding the down and out, giving money to the impoverished and nursing the ill back to health, made her a “pillar” (like Kitty in Gunsmoke). Plus, it was not a surprise to see Molly at Sunday church services (unlike Kitty).  However, in recognition of her excommunication years previously, she never attended Mass.  

Molly had a talent for expanding her “product line.” The surrounding mines would periodically have big cleanup days to clean out the sluice boxes. When this happened, all the miners would be paid, and with cash in their pockets, they’d head for town. Molly would coordinate with the mines to have her own very public “Big Cleanup Bath” in the alley behind her bordello.  

The bath would be advertised and require attendees to pay an admission fee. The event had much pomp and ceremony and would only continue until Molly was satisfied that enough gold nuggets had been tossed into the portable bathtub she had dragged into the alley.  

—Reviewed by Dave Miller of Murray 

Part 3 of the story of Molly B’Damn will touch on her later days in Murray as a continuing legend in progress and how the town has continued to capitalize on her contributions to the town.

Richard Sheldon is a member of the Museum of North Idaho Board of Directors.