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 32
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 32
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 32
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 32
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 32
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The examination being over, preparations were made for the execution of the convicts. These were very simple. The central cross-beam of an unfinished log store, cornering upon two of the principal streets, was selected for a scaffold. The building was roofless, and its spacious open front exposed the interior to the full view of the crowd. The ropes, five in number, were drawn across the beam to a proper length, and fastened firmly to the logs in the rear basement. Under each noose was placed a large, empty dry-goods box, with cord attached, for the drops.
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Beside the large body of armed Vigilantes, a great number of eager spectators had assembled from all parts of the gulch to witness the execu- tion. Six or eight thousand persons, comprehend- ing the larger portion of the population of the Territory, gathered into a compact mass when the prisoners, with their armed escort, marched from the committee-rooms into the street, and were ranged in front of the guard.
" You are now," said the president, addressing them, " to be conducted to the scaffold. An op- portunity is given you to make your last requests and communications. You will do well to improve it by making a confession of your own crimes, and putting the Committee in possession of information as to the crimes of others."
The prisoners separately declined to make any communication. When the guard were about to fasten their arms, Jack Gallagher, with an oath, exclaimed, -
" I will not be hung in public," and, drawing his pocket-knife, he applied the blade to his throat, saying : "I will cut my throat first."
The executive officer instantly cocked and pre- sented his pistol.
" If you make another move of your arm," said he, " I will shoot you like a dog. Take the
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knife from him, and pinion him at once," he con- tinued, addressing the guard. The ruffian cursed horribly, all the while his arms were being tied.
Boone Helm, with customary adjective pro- fanity, said to Gallagher in a consolatory tone, -- " Don't make a fool of yourself, Jack. There's no use or sense in being afraid to die."
After the process of binding was completed, each prisoner was seized by the arm on either side, by a Vigilante who held in the hand not thus employed a navy revolver, ready for instant use. The large body of armed Vigilantes were then formed around the prisoners, into a hollow square, four abreast on each side, and a column in front and rear. A few men with pistols were dispersed among the crowd of spectators, to guard against any possible attempt at rescue. Thus formed, the procession marched in the direction of the scaffold with slow and solemn pace. The silence of the great throng was unbroken by a whisper, and, more eloquently than language could have done, declared the feelings of anxiety and suspense by which all were animated. Some little delay being necessary to complete the prep- arations at the scaffold, the procession halted in front of the Virginia Hotel, on the corner diagonally from it across Main street. While
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waiting there, "Clubfoot George" called to his side Judge Dance, and said to him, -
"You have known me ever since I came to Virginia City, more intimately than any other man. We have had dealings together. Can you not in this hour of extremity say a good word for my character ? "
" It would be of no use, George. Your deal- ings with me have always been fair and honorable ; but what you have done outside, I only know from the evidence, and that is very strong against you. I can do you no good."
" Well, then," said the penitent ruffian, " will you pray with me ?"
" Willingly, George ; most willingly," and, suit- ing the action to the word, the judge dropped upon his knees, and, with George and Gallagher kneeling beside him, offered up a fervent petition in behalf of the doomed men. Boone Helm was irritated at this request, and, raising his sore finger, exclaimed, -
"For God's sake, if you're going to hang me, I want you to do it, and get through with it; if not, I want you to tie a bandage on my finger."
While the prayer was in progress, Hayes Lyons requested that his hat should be removed. Frank Parish gave abundant evidence of deep contrition,
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but Boone Helm continued, as from the first, to treat all the proceedings with profane and reckless levity.
Gallagher, at one moment cursing, and at the next crying, seemed the least composed of any of the prisoners. He wore a handsome cavalry overcoat, trimmed with beaver.
" Give me that coat, Jack," said Helm, as Gallagher rose from his knees. " You never yet gave me anything."
" It's little use you'll make of it now," re- sponded Gallagher with an oath, and, catching at the moment the eye of an acquaintance, who was regarding him from a window of the hotel, he called to him in a loud tone, -
"Say, old fellow, I'm going to heaven. I'll be there in time to open the gate for you."
" Halloo, Bill !" said Boone Helm to one in the crowd, " they've got me this time ; got me, sure, and no mistake."
Hayes Lyons begged of his captors the privi- lege of seeing his mistress. " Let me bid her good-by and restore this watch to her, which is her property." The request was refused, only to be repeated, and on being made a third time he received for answer, -
" Hayes ! bringing women to the place of exe-
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cution 'played out ' in '63, when they interfered with your trial for killing Dillingham."
The unhappy wretch ceased further impor- tunity.
When the arrangements at the scaffold were completed, the guard crossed the street, opened ranks, and the prisoners were conducted through into the building, each as he entered stepping upon one of the dry-goods boxes. Ranged side by side, "Clubfoot George" was first on the east side of the room; next to him was Hayes Lyons, then Jack Gallagher, then Boone Helm, and near the west wall Frank Parish. The area in front of them was occupied by the guard and the members of the Executive Committee. The two streets in front and at the side of the building were crowded with armed Vigilantes and specta- tors. The order being given to remove the hats of the prisoners, Clubfoot George, whose hands were loosely fastened, contrived to reach his hat, which he threw spitefully on the floor, the hats of the others being at the same time removed by the guard.
After the nooses were adjusted, the chief of the Committee said to the prisoners, -
" You are now about to be executed. If you have any dying requests to make, this is your last
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opportunity. You may be assured they shall be carefully heeded."
Jack Gallagher broke in upon the closing part of this address with a leer, -
" How do I look, boys," he asked, "with a halter around my neck?" The grim effort failed to elicit a smile.
" Your time is very short," said the chief, again reminding them that their requests would be listened to.
" Well, then," said Gallagher, "I want one more drink of whiskey before I die."
The loathing which this request excited was apparent in the expression of the countenances of all who heard it. Some men exchanged meaning glances, revealing thereby the shock their sensibilities had received by this exhibition of depravity. Others craned their necks over the crowd, as if they had not heard aright. For a few minutes no one seemed to know what answer to make to a man whose last moments were given to the gratification of his evil appe- tites. This silence was soon broken, however, by an old miner.
" We told 'em," said he, " that we'd do what- ever they asked. Give him the liquor."
A man appeared in a moment with a tumbler
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nearly full. Raising it as high as he could, the prisoner bent his head, but was restrained by the rope from touching the glass with his lips. Throwing his head back, he turned on the box, and, looking back upon the fastenings of the rope to the basement log at the rear of the building, in a loud and imperious tone he launched a pro- fane and vulgar epithet at the guard, saying, -
" Slacken that rope, quick, and let a man take a parting drink, won't you ?"
The rope was loosed, while the depraved wretch drained the tumbler at a draught. While the guard was refastening it, he exclaimed, -
" I hope Almighty God will curse every one of you, and that I shall meet you all in the lowest pit of hell."
The Committee decided that the executions should be single, commencing with "Clubfoot George," and concluding with Hayes Lyons, who stood next to him in order. At the words " Men, do your duty," the men holding the cords attached to the box on which the prisoner in turn stood, were by a sudden jerk to pull the footing from under him. A fall of three feet was deemed sufficient to dislocate the neck, and avoid the torture of protracted strangulation.
No more requests being made, the men laid
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hold of the cords attached to the box occupied by George Lane. Just at that moment the unhappy wretch descried an old friend clinging to the logs of the building, to obtain sight of the execution.
" Good-by, old fellow," said he. "I'm gone," and, without waiting for the box to be removed, he leaped from it, and died with hardly a struggle.
" There goes one to hell," muttered Boone Helm.
Hayes Lyons, who stood next, was talking all the while, telling of his kind mother; that he had been well brought up, but evil associations had brought him to the scaffold.
Gallagher cried and swore by turns.
" I hope," said he, " that forked lightning will strike every strangling villain of you." The box, flying from under his feet, stopped an oath in its utterance, and the quivering of his muscles showed that his guilty career was terminated.
" Kick away, old fellow," said Boone Helm, calmly surveying the struggles of the dying wretch. "My turn comes next. I'll be in hell with you in a minute." Shouting in a loud voice, " Every man for his principles ! Hurrah for Jeff Davis ! Let her rip," his body fell with a twang that killed him almost instantly.
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Frank Parish maintained a serious deportment from the moment of his arrest until his execution. At his request his black necktie was dropped like a veil over his face. He " died and made no sign."
Hayes Lyons was the only one remaining. Looking right and left at the swaying bodies of his companions, his anxious face indicated a hope of pardon. His entreaties were incessant, but when he found them unavailing, he requested that his mistress might have the disposition of his body ; that the watch of hers which he wore might be restored to her, and that he might not be left hanging for an unseemly time. He died out a struggle.
Two hours after the execution the bodies were cut down, and taken by friends to Cemetery Hill for burial.
X. Beidler officiated as adjuster of the ropes at this execution. Jack Gallagher had killed a friend of his. Some time afterwards, when he was relating the circumstances attending the exe- cution, in a mixed crowd, a gentleman present who was greatly interested in the narrative, and whose sympathy for the ruffians was very appar- ent, asked, at the close of the narrative, in a lachrymose tone, -
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" Well, now, when you came to hang that poor fellow, didn't you sympathize with him, didn't you feel for him ?"
Beidler regarded the man for a moment with great disgust, and, imitating his tone, replied slowly, -
" Yes, I did. I felt for him a little, I felt for his left ear."
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CHAPTER XIV.
PURSUIT OF ROAD AGENTS.
PURSUIT, CAPTURE, AND EXECUTION OF STEVE MARSH- LAND, BILL BUNTON, CYRUS SKINNER, ALEX CAR- TER, JOHNNY COOPER, GEORGE SHEARS, AND BOB ZACHARY -INCIDENTS BY THE WAY.
THE work so well begun was prosecuted with great energy. The ruffians had fled from Virginia City and Bannack, over the range to Deer Lodge and Bitter Root, intending gradually to return to their old haunts in Idaho. The Vigilantes, resolved that they should not escape, took up the pursuit. A company of twenty-one, under the command of a competent leader, left Nevada on the fifteenth of January. Arriving at Big Hole in the evening, they sent a detachment to Clark's ranche to arrest the bandit Steve Marshland, who was laid up with frozen feet, and the wound which he received in the breast while attacking Moody's train. Receiving no response to their repeated raps at the door of the cabin, one of the
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party entered, and, lighting a wisp of straw, found Marshland in bed.
" Hands up, if you please," said he, pointing his revolver at the head of the prostrate robber, who obeyed the command as well as circum- stances would admit.
" Are you sick, Steve?" queried the Vigi- lante.
" Yes - very," faintly responded Marshland.
" No one with you ?"
" No one, - no living thing but the dog."
" What is the matter ?"
" I've got the chills."
"Strange ! New kind of sickness for winter ! Nothing else the matter ?"
" Yes. I froze my feet while prospecting at the head of Rattlesnake creek."
" Did you raise the color ? "
" No. The water prevented me from going to bed-rock."
While this conversation was in progress, the party had built a fire and commenced cooking supper. Removing from beside the bed two double-barrelled shotguns, a yager, and another rifle, they invited Marshland to get up and take supper with them. During the meal all engaged in merry conversation. After it was over, the
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leader informed Marshland that he was arrested for the robbery of Moody's train.
" You received," said he, "while engaged in that robbery, a bullet wound in the breast, by which we shall be able to identify you."
"I received no such wound," said he; and, striking his breast several times, he continued, " My breast is as sound as a dollar."
" You can have no objection, then, to submit- ting to our examination."
"None in the least, gentlemen. Look for yourselves."
The leader threw open his shirt. The mark of the recent wound confirmed the guilt of the robber. He could give no explanation of the manner in which he received it.
"The evidence is satisfactory to us," said the leader. " We have made no mistake in arresting you. You must die."
" For God's sake do not hang mne. Let me go, and I will trouble you no more."
" It cannot be. We shall certainly execute every one of Plummer's infamous band that falls into our hands, and we hope to catch them all."
Finding importunity of no avail, he made a full and frank confession of all his crimes. A scaffold was improvised by sticking into the ground
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a pole, the end of which projected over the cor- ral fence, upon which the pole rested. A box taken from the cabin was placed under it, for the prisoner to stand upon. When all was ready, and the fatal noose was adjusted, the prisoner once more appealed to his captors.
"Have mercy on me for my youth!" he exclaimed.
" You should have thought of it before," replied the leader, as he gave the fatal order, and the poor wretch was launched into eternity.
The scent of his frozen feet attracted the wolves, and the party were obliged to watch both him and the horses, to prevent an attack by these animals. He was buried near the place of execu- tion. The detachment found the main party the next morning, having been absent only one night.
The Vigilantes resumed their march, beginning at this point the ascent of the Deer Lodge divide. Not knowing how soon or where they might overtake others of the gang, they rode forward in double file at the rate of sixty miles a day. They divided their company into four messes, each of which being supplied plentifully with food already cooked, they lighted no large camp- fires, lest the smoke therefrom should betray them. A double watch was kept over the horses
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while in camp. Each man was armed with at least one, some with two revolvers, and a shot- gun or rifle. While on the march, the captain was in the van. After they descended into the valley of Deer Lodge, a spy was sent forward to reconnoitre the town of Cottonwood, with instruc- tions to meet the party at Cottonwood creek.
At four o'clock P.M. they halted at Smith's ranche, seventeen miles from Cottonwood, until after dark, when they rode cautiously forward until within a short distance of the town. Learn- ing from their spy that all the robbers except Bunton and "Tex " had gone, they rode hastily into the town and surrounded the saloon of the former. Bunton refused to open the door. Three men detailed to arrest him called to him and expressed a wish to see him. He persisted in denying them admittance, until convinced that they would effect an entrance by force ; and he then told a man and boy in his employ to let them in. The door was opened, but, as the lights within had been extinguished, the men declined to enter until a candle was lighted. As soon as light was furnished, they rushed in, and the leader exclaimed, -
" Bill, you are my prisoner !"
"For what ?" inquired Bunton.
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"Come with us at once, and you'll find out."
Observing that he made signs of resistance, a Vigilante, whose courage exceeded his strength, seized the ruffian and attempted to drag him out. Finding himself overmatched, he called to his as- sistance a comrade, who soon succeeded in bind- ing the hands of the desperado behind him. In this condition he was conducted by a guard to the cabin of Peter Martin.
"Tex," who was in the saloon, was conquered in much the same manner, and forced to follow his companion.
Martin, who knew nothing of the arrest, was seated at a table playing a game at cards with some friends. Hearing that the Vigilantes were surrounding his house, he dropped his cards, and started with great affright for the door. For a long time he refused to obey their summons to come out, but, on being assured that he " wasn't charged with nothin'," he opened the door and returned to his game.
After breakfast the next morning a person who had been conversing with Bunton informed the Vigilantes that he had said to him that he would "get one of them yet," on learning whereof they searched him a second time. They found a der-
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ringer in his vest-pocket, which had evidently been placed there by some sympathizer during the night.
Bunton refused to make any answer to the charges made against him. No doubt was enter- tained of his guilt. The vote on his case, taken by the uplifted hand, was unanimous for his exe- cution. The captain informed him of it.
" If you have any business to attend to, you had better intrust it to some one, as we cannot be delayed here."
Bunton immediately gave his gold watch to his partner Cooke, and appropriated his other prop- erty to the payment of his debts. He had gam- bled for and won the interest in the saloon from its former owner a fortnight before this time. Having thus disposed of his affairs, he was con- ducted to the gate of a corral near, surmounted by a gallows-frame, beneath which a board laid upon two boxes served the purpose of a drop. While the hangman was adjusting the rope, he gave him particular instructions about the exact situation of the knot. This being fixed to suit him, he said to the captain, -
" May I jump off myself ?"
" You can if you wish," was the reply.
"I care no more for hanging," said Bunton,
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"than I do for taking a drink of water; but I should like to have my neck broken."
On being asked if he had anything further to say, he replied, -
" Nothing, except that I have done nothing to deserve death. I am innocent. All I want is a mountain three hundred feet high to jump from. And now I will give you the time ; one - two - three." The men were prepared to pull the plank from under him should he fail to jump, but he anticipated them, and, adding the words, "Here goes," he leaped and fell with a loud thud, dying without a struggle.
" Tex" was separately tried. The evidence being insufficient to convict him, he was liberated, and left immediately for the Kootenai mines.
Mrs. Demorest, the wife of the owner of the corral, was so greatly outraged by the use made of the gate frame that she gave her husband no peace until the poles were cut down, and the frame entirely unfitted for further use as a gallows.
After the execution of Bunton, the Vigilantes, in company with Jemmy Allen, a rancheman, left Cottonwood for Hell Gate, a little settlement ninety miles down the river, in the vicinity of Bitter Root valley. Snow covered the ground to the depth of two feet, and the weather was in-
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tensely cold. It was after dark when the com- pany arrived at one of the crossings of the Deer Lodge. The river, being a rapid mountain stream, seldom freezes sufficiently solid to bear a horseman ; but, no other mode of transit presenting itself, the Vigilantes drove hurriedly upon the frozen sur- face, and, before they were half-way across, the ice gave way, precipitating their horses into the water. Had the stream been wide, all must have perished. As it was, after much floundering and considerable exertion, all were landed safely on the opposite bank. One of the party barely es- caped drowning, and his horse was dragged from the stream by a lariat around his neck. At eleven o'clock the company arrived at Allen's ranche, where they passed the remainder of the night in blankets.
The next day, accompanied by Charles Eaton, who was familiar with the country, they rode on in the direction of Hell Gate, but, owing to the great depth of the snow, progressed only fifteen miles. They made a camp in the snow. Their horses, being accustomed to the mountains, pawed in the snow to find the bunch-grass. The ride of the following day terminated at the workmen's quar- ters on the Mullen wagon-road. One of the ponies broke his leg by stepping into a badger hole while
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they were going into camp, and another, by a similar accident, stripped the skin from his hind- legs. They were obliged to shoot the former, and turn the latter loose to await their return.
The troop were in their saddles at daylight, on the route to the settlement, which they approached to within six miles, and went into camp until after nightfall. Then they resumed their ride, stopping a short distance outside of the town. The scout they had sent to reconnoitre brought them all needful information, and, mounting their horses, they entered the town on a keen run. Skinner was standing in the doorway of his saloon, when they rode up, surrounded the build- ing, and ordered him to " throw up his hands."
" You must have learned that from the Ban- nack stage folks," said his chère amie, Nelly, who was an observer of the scene.
Two men dismounted, and, seizing Skinner, bound him immediately. Meantime two or three Vigilantes threw open the door of Miller's cabin, which was next to Skinner's, and Dan Harding, the foremost among them, levelling his gun, shouted to some person lying upon a lounge, -
" Alex, is that you ?"
" Yes," replied the man, " what do you want ?"
"We want you," was the reply, as the men
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rushed in, took his pistol, and bound the robber before he was thoroughly aroused from sleep.
" These are rather tight papers - ain't they, boys ?" said Carter. "Give me something to smoke and tell me the news." On being told the names of those who had been executed, he quietly remarked, -
"That's all right; not an innocent man hung yet."
He and Skinner were conducted down to Higgins's store, and their examination immediately commenced. Three hours were occupied in the investigation, during which Nelly came down, with the intention of interfering in Skinner's behalf. She was sent home under guard; and her escort, on searching her premises, found Johnny Cooper prostrated by three pistol shots, received in a quarrel with Carter the previous day, but for which it had been the intention of Carter and Cooper to leave for Kootenai. The baggage and provisions they had procured for the journey, worth a hundred and thirty dollars, together with the pack-animal, were taken for the use of the expedition, and were paid for by M. W. Tipton, whom Carter and Cooper had persuaded to become their surety for the amount.
During the trial of Carter, he confessed his
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complicity as accessory, both before and after the fact, to the murder of Tiebalt. It was proven also that he was concerned in the coach robbery. Skinner made no confession, nor was it necessary, as his criminal character and acts were suscepti- ble of abundant proof.
Cooper was tried separately. He was one of the lieutenants of the band. A Vigilante by the name of President testified to his having mur- dered a man in Idaho, for which he was arrested by the people. While being conducted to the place of trial, he broke from his captors, leaped with a bound upon a horse standing near, and, amid a hundred shots, escaped uninjured, and came to Montana.
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