Silverbow-Deer Lodge County MT Archives Obituaries.....Switzer, William February 1912
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Teresa Taramasso califiadesigns@yahoo.com April 28, 2008, 9:58 am

The Anaconda Standard -- February 28, 1912
PIONEER DIES AFTER TRIP TO ASYLUM --

William Switzer may lie in a pauper's grave --

Was Hero in the Civil War --

At battle of Antietam he was sole survivor of ten who manned a battery--Was 
offered half million for mine--His mitigation famous.

-- Five hours after he reached the insane asylum at Warm Springs and 24 hours 
after he was adjudged insane, William Switzer, hero of a score of civil war 
battles, pioneer of Montana and the mining industry and at one time worth 
$500,000, died last evening. It was a shell of the man, whose extensive 
holdings caused famous litigation in Silver Bow courts, that was carried 
tenderly by deputy sheriffs, after the trip from Butte yesterday morning. His 
mind gone, his strength exhausted, he laid down and welcomed the death that 
closed a life of ups and downs. Switzer was supposed to be about 80 years of 
age. He probably will be buried in a pauper's grave.

His last words were concerning his "mine", from which he hoped to get 
his "million". Switzer owned until six years ago the Butte Monitor Mining 
company in Park canyon, near Elk Park. He was offered $300,000 for an outright 
sale. Determined to make his million or nothing at all, the pioneer held out. A 
few months later the bottom went out of the copper market and Switzer was 
compelled to sell shares to keep the mine. He had capitalized the mine at 
3,750,000 shares. He was successful in selling 14,000 shares at $1 a share 
immediately, and was able to continue development work for several months. 
After hard work he sold 800,000 shares in the East. This amount he sank in 
driving a tunnel 2,000 feet long into the mountain. It is estimated that this 
cost $200,000. With copper stocks demoralized, the old man was unable to meet 
notes. He borrowed money and efforts to sell the mine failed. The property was 
forfeited to the person from whom the money was borrowed for the redemption of 
the stock.

Switzer was penniless, but was able for a time to live on his pension money. 
Then the failure preyed on his mind and he was committed to the county 
hospital. During the last five months he sank rapidly. He was under various 
delusions. One was that he had been dead three times. To friends he asserted 
that Theodore Roosevelt was going to see that he was given a fortune for 
injuries he received in the civil war. He even wrote to Washington for funds.

Switzer's mental failings, it is said, can be traced to his civil war career. 
When a young man he enlisted in an eastern regiment. At the battle of Antietam 
he was manning a battery. A flying projectile from a mortar burst over the 
heads of the 10 union men. Every man was killed outright except Switzer, who 
lingered between life and death for days. He confided to old soldiers that he 
feared the blow on his head would affect his reason. He served until the end of 
the war and figured in many stirring engagements, which he delighted to recount.

Switzer was a native of New York state. He went to Nevada after the civil war, 
during the mining boom. When in Pine county, where extensive copper interest 
later have been incorporated, he made a strike and had considerable money. In 
the 1870s he came to Meagher county. In 1875 he came to Butte and was active in 
prospecting. He was unsuccessful until he opened up the Butte Monitor Tunnel 
company.

Switzer was examined on a sanity charge Monday morning. During the proceedings 
he sat with eyes closed and appeared to be dying. When told to leave the room 
he was unable to rise. His condition was pitiful and he was taken to the 
emergency hospital. Yesterday morning it was thought he was able to make the 
journey.

The authorities at Warm Springs will hold the body until inquiry for relatives 
has been made in the East. It is thought that Glass Bros. of St. Louis, who had 
a leasing bond on the Clifton mine, are distantly related to him. He was unable 
after his commitment to the poor farm to tell anything concerning his relatives.



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