USA > Idaho > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 15
USA > Montana > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 15
USA > Oregon > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 15
USA > Washington > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 15
USA > Wyoming > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
" Well, I can't imagine what it can be," Craw- ford laughingly replied. "I'm not aware of hav- ing said or done anything concerning you, that should excite your anger or call for a settlement."
" Oh, you needn't laugh," responded Plummer with an oath. " It's got to be settled ; " and turn- ing to Perkins he continued, "you and Crawford have been telling around through the camp, that I was trying to court the squaw Catherine." Then applying to Perkins a disgraceful epithet, he said, " You are a coward. I can whip you and Hank Crawford both, and if you are anything of a man, you will just step out of doors and fight me."
" I am, as you say," said Perkins, " a coward, and no fighting man when I've got nothing to fight for. I would not go out of doors to fight with anybody."
275
Crawford and Phleger.
"Crawford won't admit that," said Plummer, " and if you refuse the challenge, I ask the same satisfaction of him. Let him go out with me if he dares."
" Plummer," replied Crawford, " I neither know what cause there is for fighting you, nor why I should fear to go out of doors on your challenge. I do not believe that one man was made to scare another."
" Come on, then," said Plummer, passing into the street, closely followed by Crawford. When they had walked a few steps, -
" Now pull your pistol," said Plummer.
Crawford was standing close beside Plummer.
" I'll pull no pistol," he replied. "I never pulled a pistol on a man yet, and you'll not be the first."
" Pull your pistol," persisted Plummer. " You may draw it and cock it, and I'll not go for mine until you have done so, and uttered the word to fire."
"I'm no pistol shot," said Crawford, "and you know it, - and you wouldn't make me a proposition of this kind if you hadn't the ad- vantage."
" Pull your pistol," retorted Plummer, with an oath, " and fight me like a man, or I'll give you
276
Crawford and Phleger.
but two hours to live, and then I'll shoot you down like a dog."
" If that's your game, Plummer," said Crawford laying his hand on his shoulder, and looking him steadily in the eye, " the quicker you do it, the worse for you. I'll present you a fair target."
Turning upon his heel Crawford walked delib- erately away, well knowing that fear of conse- quences would prevent Plummer from firing at him, without some plausible excuse. This con- versation occurred at a late hour in the afternoon. Harry Phleger came into town early in the even- ing. Crawford sent a message to him, requesting him to come at once to Peabody's saloon. As he entered, Crawford told him that Plummer had given him two hours to live, and the time had nearly expired.
" I expect," said Crawford, " he will keep his word."
" If he attempts it," replied Phleger, " we will try and give him as good as he sends. It's clever at any rate to inform one of his intentions. He will expect you to be prepared."
In a few minutes five or six men, armed with revolvers, entered the saloon, followed by Plum- mer. He had remained long enough outside to deposit a double-barrelled gun over the door.
277
Crawford and Phleger.
" Deaf Diek," who accompanied the crowd, was unarmed.
"Come on, boys," said Phleger, " let's take a drink."
All stepped back in refusal of the invitation.
" Well, Dick," said Crawford, addressing him in a key that he could hear, "you'll drink any- how."
"Not I," said Dick with an oath. "I drink with no coward such as you have proved yourself to be by refusing to fight Plummer."
" You're the wrong man to brand me as a coward, at any rate," said Crawford, advancing toward him as if with the intention of striking.
Plummer at once stepped up and handed Dick his revolver, and the crowd gathered around him and Crawford. Harry Phleger at this moment drew his pistol, and Crawford said to him, -
"Harry, I suppose these men have come to kill me. You are my only friend, and I'll make you a present of my six-shooter. I suppose I've got to die."
" Who will kill you ? " asked Phleger.
" Plummer, I suppose. He threatened it," was the reply.
" Not a man here dare shoot you," said Phleger, at the same time looking around upon the
278
Crawford and Phleger.
crowd, and characterizing it by a degrading epithet.
Plummer at this jumped forward, and seizing Phleger's revolver, tried to wrest it from him. In the grapple Plummer was thrown, when Phle- ger drawing another pistol from his belt, presented both ready cocked to the crowd, which was now pressing threateningly towards him, and calling to Crawford, said, -
"Come on, Hank, let's get out of this," and both backed out into the street facing their assail- ants, who did not follow them.
Phleger and Crawford started for the lodgings of the latter, passing on the way the meat mar- ket, where they were joined by Johnny Shepard and another man, who, taking all the arms they could find, went with them. As soon as they ar- rived at the room, Crawford, completely unnerved, lay down and cried himself to sleep. Plleger was made of sterner stuff, and watched all night. Some one rapped at the door at midnight, but was told by Phleger that if he attempted to enter, he would shoot him " on sight."
On the morning of the second day after this occurrence, Plummer came up the street, gun in hand, peeping by the way into the saloons and market for Crawford. Not finding him, he as-
279
Crawford and Phleger.
sumed a watchful attitude, and stood leaning on his gun, twenty steps distant from the door of the market. Crawford not appearing, after half an hour he walked on with " Deaf Dick " to Phleger's room. Phleger met him at the door, and invited him in.
" No," said Plummer, "you've set yourself up for a game-cock, and to let you know that I hold you in no fear, I've come up to give you a chance to display your skill. Get your gun and we'll try an exchange of shots at ten paces." This invita- tion was interlarded with the usual complement of oaths and epithets. Harry felt the abuse of Plummer keenly, but knew too well his skill with fire-arms to consent to the murderous proposition.
" No, thank you, Plummer," he replied, laugh- ing, "I'm not looking around for any one to shoot this morning, and have no special regard for any one who is. If you are, and you really want to shoot, you'd better turn loose."
It so happened that at the time of this eonver- sation, Crawford, armed for the purpose, was searching for Plummer, with the intention of shooting him. As is usual on all such occasions, friends interfered to prevent a collision, but Craw- ford, believing that either he or Plummer must die on their next meeting, gave no heed to their
280
Crawford and Phleger.
advice. When this was understood by Plummer's friends, they resorted to various devices to throw Crawford off his guard. At one time they told him that Plummer was about to leave town. This only made him the more watchful. Plum- mer, meantime, was careful to have one or more friends constantly in his company, so that Craw- ford could not fire at him without endangering the lives of others. This situation of affairs be- tween the two men continued for several days. The entire community was prepared to hear of the death of one or both at any moment, and each was now encouraged in his purpose by his friends. Plummer was frequently seen near the butcher shop, but never alone. He finally disap- peared, and sent a friend to Crawford with the proposition that they should drop all hostile in- tentions and meet as strangers.
" Tell Plummer," said Crawford, "that the trick is too shallow. I know him. His word of honor, so repeatedly broken, I regard no more than the wind. He or I must die or leave the camp."
Soon after this, one of Crawford's friends dis- covered that Plummer and his friends had laid a plan to shoot him in his own doorway, under cover of a house directly opposite, and told Craw-
281
Crawford and Phleger.
ford of it. While Crawford was on the lookout, a lady living in a cabin in the rear of the Bannack Restaurant called to him to come and get a cup of coffee. While he was drinking it, Frank Ray approached him, and telling him that Plummer was searching for him, placed in his hands Buz Cavan's double-barrelled rifle. At this moment, Plummer, armed with a similar weapon, came up on the opposite side of the street, and stopping in front of the door, with one foot elevated and rest- ing upon a spoke of a wagon-wheel, placed his rifle across his knee, his right fore-arm lying hori- zontally along the stock, which he grasped as if prepared to fire at a moment's notice. Crawford's friends urged him to improve that opportunity to shoot him. He went out quickly, and resting the rifle across a log projecting from the corner of the cabin, shot Plummer in the right arm, the ball entering at the elbow, and lodging in the wrist.
" Fire away, you cowardly ruffian," shouted Plummer, straightening himself and facing Crawford.
Crawford fired a second time, but the ball missed ; and Plummer walked down to his cabin, carrying his gun, and followed by several of his friends.
Crawford knew that Plummer's friends would
282
Crawford and Phleger.
kill him, unless he outwitted them on his escape from the country. He left for Fort Benton immediately, travelling the entire distance of two hundred and eighty miles by a trail that only those who had passed over it could trace. He was followed by three roughs, but arrived at the Fort in advance of them, where he was protected by Mr. Dawson, the factor at the post. He remained there until spring, and then took pas- sage on a Mackinaw boat to the States.
Crawford's friends, and the miners generally, who had regarded this quarrel as a personal difficulty between him and Plummer, rejoiced at his escape. It had terminated injuriously as they felt, to the party who was most in fault, and they were glad the result was no worse. Few knew or ever suspected that it had any deeper origin than the frequent collisions incident to Crawford's attendance upon Cleveland, after he was shot, and his action as sheriff at the trial of Moore and Reeves. Had it been understood at this time that the roughs had not only decreed the death of Crawford, but of every other man who partici- pated in that trial, the people would have placed themselves on a war footing, and organized them- selves to resist the encroachments of the ruffians, which finally left them no other alternative. So
283
Crawford and Phleger.
fully did they carry out their avowed purposes, that, within five months after the trial, not more than seven of the twenty-seven men who partici- pated in it as judge, prosecutor, sheriff, witnesses, and jurors, were left alive in the territory. Eight or nine are known to have been killed by some of the band, and others fled to avoid a like fate.
Plummer's wound was very severe. The ball entered at the elbow. Passing down the arm, it broke each bone in two places. Dr. Glick, the surgeon in attendance upon him, after a careful examination of the wound, was of the opinion that amputation alone could save his life. The ball could not be found, and the arm swelled to thrice its natural size, and the passage made by the ball was filled for its entire length with bony spiculæ.
Plummer had in a previous affray lost the ready use of his other hand, and knowing that the loss of this arm would necessarily deprive him of his position of chief among the roughs, and that his life depended upon his skill in drawing his revolver, - as he had numerous enemies, who would endeavor to kill him but for the advantage which this skill gave him, -declared that he might as well die as lose his arm, and peremptorily
284
Crawford and Phleger.
refused to consent to the operation, but insisted that the ball must be found and removed.
Dr. Glick, who was highly accomplished in surgery, explained to him the danger of such an operation, but Plummer said he would rather die in the effort to cure the arm than live without it. With great reluctance, and little faith in his ability to save the arm, the doctor undertook the thankless task, and made preparations to operate accordingly. When the arm was bared, and the doctor was about to commence, " Old Tex " and Bill Hunter entered the room, the latter armed with a double-barrelled shot-gun,
" I just thought," said he to the doctor, " that I'd tell you, that if you cut an artery, or Plum- mer dies from the operation you are going to per- form, I'm going to shoot the top of your head off."
The operation was successfully performed, and a large amount of spiculæ and disorganized tis- sue removed, - but the bullet could not be found. For several days the result was uncertain. Dr. Glick gave to the wound, which was terribly inflamed, his unremitting attention. He had incurred the hatred of Plummer's friends because of his active support of law and order. They pretended to believe that he did not wish for
285
Crawford and Phleger.
Plummer's recovery, and told him that they would hold him responsible with his life, for the safety of his patient. What was to be done ? Escape from the country in the midst of an inclement season seemed impossible. In order to effect it, he must follow Crawford over an unknown trail to Fort Benton or to the Bitter Root valley, or run the gantlet of the hostile Indians at Bear river over a route of four hundred miles to Salt Lake. Plummer's wound was daily getting worse. The doctor, well knowing that the ruffians would put their threat into execution, prepared for his escape. Suspecting his intention, the friends of Plummer kept a close watch upon him. Despite their vigilance, however, a trusty friend secured his horse, saddled and bridled, in the bushes behind his cabin on the night that the crisis in the inflammation arrived. The doctor instructed Plummer's attendants to awaken him, in order that he might make his escape, if the swelling did not begin to abate by midnight, and lay down, booted and spurred, to get a little rest. But the favorable change which took place, while it saved to Montana one of her best citizens in Dr. Glick, lengthened out for a darker fate than that which had threatened it, the guilty life of Henry Plummer.
286
Crawford and Phleger.
Dr. Glick came to Bannack with a party of emigrants of which he was captain, in 1862. The company were bound for Salmon river, but were arrested in their progress by the reputed richness of the Grasshopper mines. Glick had lost a handsome property in the early part of the war, and came to the gold mines to replenish his broken fortunes. He was accomplished in his profession, especially in surgery, and was the only physician in practice who had the confidence of the people, - Dr. Leavitt, also an able practitioner, - being, at the time, engaged in mining.
His services were in almost daily demand by the road agents, to dress wounds received in broils among themselves, or while engaged in the commission of robbery. It was impossible, from his frequent contact with them, and the circum- stances with which ofttimes he found them sur- rounded, for him to avoid a knowledge of their guilty enterprises. But he neither dared to de- cline to serve them, nor to divulge their villany, well knowing that in either case, he would fall a victim to that summary vengeance, so promptly and fearlessly exercised in the case of Dillingham. He foresaw also, that a time must come, when all · the guilty misdeeds which he had been obliged to conceal, would be revealed, and that then the
287
Crawford and Phleger.
lovers of law and order would suspect the integ- rity of his motives, and possibly class him among the men of whom he justly stood so much in fear. But there was no remedy. He knew that his actions were narrowly watched, and that a word or glance indicating his suspicions would cost him his life. It was a happy day for him when, by the death of Plummer, his lips were unsealed.
The robbers, in other instances than the one recorded of his attendance upon Plummer, were in the habit of using threats to control the doc- tor's conduct. On one occasion in July, 1863, Plummer invited him to accompany him on a horseback excursion to his ranche on the Rattle- snake. Finding no one at the cabin on their ar- rival, Plummer asked the doctor to go with him down the creek and pick some berries. They soon came upon a large clump of birch bushes. Pulling them aside, Plummer disclosed an open space cut within the clump, in which were seated several men, seeing whom Glick drew back, but
was told
by
Plummer to come in.
He entered,
and found himself amid five or six men with masked or blackened faces, of whom he recog- nized Moore and Billy Terwiliger. The latter was lying on a blanket, wounded in the leg by a bullet received in some affray.
288
Crawford and Phleger.
After dressing the wound, the doctor started with Plummer on the return to Bannack. While crossing the plateau between Rattlesnake and Bannack, Plummer suddenly wheeled in front of the doctor, and, cocking his pistol, thrust it into his face, saying, -
" Now you know These are my men. I'm their chief. If you ever breathe a word of what you've seen, I'll murder you."
Under this kind of surveillance, the doctor lived until the robber band was destroyed. His discretion, only equalled by his kindness of heart, saved both his life from destruction by the rob- bers, and his good name from the public odium of the people. Montana has had no worthier or more useful citizen.
Henry Plummer was a man of wonderful ex- ecutive ability. He was well educated. In stat- ure he was about five feet ten inches, and in weight, one hundred and sixty pounds. His fore- head was partially concealed by the rim of the hat which he rarely removed from his head, and his eyes were mild and expressive. In demeanor he was quiet and modest, free from swagger and bluster, dignified and graceful. He was intelli- gent and brilliant in conversation, a good judge of men, and his manners were those of a polished
289
Crawford and Phleger.
gentleman. To his enemies his magnanimity was more seeming than real. He always proffered them the advantage in drawing the pistol, but he knew that the instance would be very rare, where, even thus favored, his antagonist could anticipate him in its deadly use.
Hon. Wm. C. Rheem, in a letter to the Helena (Montana) Herald, writes of Henry Plummer as follows : -
" I remember Plummer very well. He was fre- quently in my cabin, and I often came in contact with him while he was exercising the office of sheriff. His form and face were familiar to the first settlers in Bannack. He was about five feet eleven inches in height, and weighed a hundred and fifty pounds. He was straight, slender, spare, agile, and what Western men call withy. He was a quiet man and talked but little; when he did speak, it was always in a low tone and with a good choice of language. He never grew bois- terous, even in his cups, and no impulse of anger or surprise ever raised his voice above that of . wary monotone. His countenance was in perfect keeping with his utterance. Both were under the same vigilant command. If one was like the low, continuous purr of the crouching tiger, the mus- cles of the other were as rigid as those of the
290
Crawford and Phleger.
beast before he springs. Affection, fear, hate, grief, remorse, or any passion or emotion, found no expression in his immovable face. No color ever flushed his cheeks. With mobile and ex- pressive features, he would have been handsome - all except the forehead ; this, with the con- formation of the skull, betrayed the murderer, and Plummer knew it. The observer beheld a well- cut mouth, indicating decision, firmness, and in- telligence ; but not a line expressive of sensuality ; a straight nose and well-shaped chin, and cheeks rather narrow and fleshless, still, in their outlines, not unhandsome. But one might as well have looked into the eyes of the dead for some token of a human soul as to have sought it in the light gray orbs of Plummer. Their cold, glassy stare defied inquisition. They seemed to be gazing through you at some object beyond, as though you were transparent. While other men laughed or pitied or threatened with their eyes, his had the same half-vacant stare, no matter how moving the story or tragic the spectacle.
"I have said that Plummer knew he had a bad front : he therefore kept it jealously covered with the turn-down rim of his slouch hat. When not in the mood or act of slaughter or rapine, his politeness was notable and well timed in demon-
291
Crawford and Phleger.
stration. He understood the formulas of courtesy, but the one of uncovering his head he failed to observe."
An examination of Plummer's arm after his death, disclosed the fact that the lower fracture of the radius never united, but formed a false joint. The bullet passed into the marrow of the lower end of the bone, and was stopped in its progress by the bones of the hand. From sub- sequent use of the hand, while Plummer was sheriff, the bullet became worn as smooth as polished silver.
292
Broadwater's Stratagem.
CHAPTER XXI.
BROADWATER'S STRATAGEM.
DEPARTURE OF MOORE AND REEVES TO DEER LODGE BROADWATER'S AND PEMBERTON'S IMPROVEMENTS - MOORE SICK - BROADWATER'S KINDNESS - MOORE'S GRATITUDE - BROADWATER'S RIDE TO DEER LODGE -NIGHT AT BIG HOLE - SHOOTS AN INDIAN MEETS IVES AND COOPER - IS PURSUED BY THEM ARRIVES IN SAFETY AT CONTWAY'S RANCHE - LEAVES THERE BY A RUSE, AND COMPLETES THE TRIP TO DEER LODGE.
AFTER sentence of banishment was pronounced upon them, Moore and Reeves went to the mining camp in Deer Lodge valley, located near the present site of Deer Lodge City. Messrs. Broad- water and Pemberton, two young men who came into the territory a few weeks before, had selected this spot as an eligible location for a town, and were engaged in laying it out at the time the guilty exiles arrived. They had already erected two cabins, one of which they occupied, the other being vacant. It was the middle of February, and the weather was intensely cold. Moore and
293
Broadwater's Stratayem.
Reeves made their camp in a clump of willows upon the bank of the Deer Lodge river. With no better protection than their blankets, against the wintry blasts which swept down the valley and the frequent storms that gathered in the lofty ranges overhanging it, and with no food except beef and coffee, these men suffered severely. Moore soon fell sick of mountain fever, and would probably have died had not Broadwater caused his removal to the vacant cabin, and sup- plied him with food and medicines necessary to his recovery. Soon after he had sufficiently recovered to leave his bed, a messenger from Ban- nack brought the intelligence that the miners, at a recent meeting, had revoked the sentence of banishment against him and Reeves, and that they were at liberty to return. During his illness the Indians had stolen Moore's horse. Broadwater placed one at his disposal, and Moore rejoined his comrades at Bannack.
In the following spring, Broadwater engaged in the cattle business, - buying in Deer Lodge and selling his herds at Bannack. The proceeds of these sales often amounted to thousands of dollars in gold dust. On one of these occasions he was preparing to return to Deer Lodge with six thousand dollars in gold. Moore called upon
294
Broadwater's Stratagem.
him, with a request for a few moments' confiden- tial conversation.
" Make a free breast of anything you have to communicate," said Broad water. " I will listen and be silent."
"It's for your own safety, Broad," replied Moore, " and there is not another man in the country for whom I'd take the risk; but you were my friend when I needed friendship : you saved my life, gave me food and shelter and care; and I can never forget to be grateful - but you must pledge your honor not to betray me."
" Freely, freely, Moore ; I would lose my life first."
" Then," said Moore, "I give you friendly warning, that there is a band of road agents here, that know of your having received a large quantity of gold dust during the past three days. They are informed of the time of your intended departure for Deer Lodge, and intend to waylay and murder you on the way, and corral your gold. You are 'spotted' for slaughter. My advice to you is to leave town secretly, and to be constantly on your guard, and under no circumstances let any one, not even your most intimate friend, know when you will leave."
" I intended going to-morrow morning," replied
295
Broadwater's Stratagem.
Broadwater, " but if matters are as you tell me, I think I'll start to-night."
At this Moore exclaimed, "Why, you fool ! there you go, shooting off your mouth to me the first thing. Didn't I caution you not to tell any one ? And in less than a minute you tell me just what you're going to do."
It would be curious to know by what system of ethics Moore was governed in this strange admo- nition ; whether it was to impress upon Broad- water the necessity of a caution which should withhold confidence even from the person who warned him of a danger, or whether there was a conflict between gratitude to Broadwater and fidelity to his confederates. It is not improbable that he was bound by strong obligations to com- municate to his associates the very information which Broadwater had given him.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.