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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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On the evening of the day these trials were in progress, a detachment of eight men left Hell Gate in pursuit of Bob Zachary, whom they found seated in bed, in the cabin of Hon. Barney O'Keefe, known throughout Bitter Root valley as " the Baron." One of the party, on entering, pushed him over, upon his back, taking from him, at the same time, his pistol and knife. While on their return with him to Hell Gate, O'Keefe unintentionally mentioned that a stranger was stopping at Van Dorn's cabin, in the Bitter Root valley. A company of three Vigilantes, sus-
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Pursuit of Road Agents.
pecting by the description given that he was none other than George Shears, another of the band, started at once in pursuit.
Riding up in front of the cabin, Thomas Pitt, their leader, inquired of the man who met them at the door, if George Shears was in.
" Yes," said Van Dorn. "He is in the inner room."
" Any objection to our entering ?" inquired Pitt.
Van Dorn replied by opening the door of the room, where George was discovered, knife in hand. He surrendered without resistance, aston- ishing his captors by the utter indifference he manifested to the near approach of death. Walk- ing with Pitt to the corral, he designated the horses he had stolen, and confessed his guilt.
"I knew," said he, " I should have to come to this sometime, but I thought I could run another season."
" There is no help for you, George," said Pitt. " You must suffer the same fate as your compan- ions in crime."
"I suppose I should be satisfied," replied the ruffian, " that it is no worse."
He was conducted to the barn, where, a rope being cast over a beam, he was requested, in order
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to save the trouble of procuring a drop, to ascend the ladder. He complied without the least reluc- tance. After the preparations were completed, he said to his captors, -
" Gentlemen, I am not used to this business, never having been hung before. Shall I jump off, or slide off ?"
" Jump off, of course," was the reply.
" All right," he exclaimed, "good-by !" and leaped from the ladder, with the utmost sang froid. The drop was long, and the rope tender. As the strands untwisted, they parted, until finally one alone remained.
Soon after the party which captured Zachary and Shears had left Hell Gate, intelligence was received there that William Graves (Whiskey Bill) was at Fort Owen in the Bitter Root valley. Three men were sent immediately to arrest and execute him. He was armed and on the lookout, and had repeatedly sworn that he would shoot any Vigilante that came in his way. The party was too wary for him. He was first made aware of their presence, by a stern command to sur- render, and a pistol at his heart. He made no resistance, and refused all confession. A rope was tied to the convenient limb of a tree, and the drop extemporized by placing the culprit
.
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astride of a strong horse, behind a Vigilante. When all was ready, the rider, exclaiming " Good- by, Bill," plunged the rowels into the sides of the horse, which madly leaping forward, the fatal noose swept the robber from his seat, break- ing his neck by the shock, and killing him instantly.
In the mean time, the trials of Carter, Skinner, and Cooper had resulted in the conviction of those ruffians, and they were severally condemned to die. Scaffolds were hastily prepared by placing poles over the fence of Higgins's corral. Carter and Skinner were conducted to execution by torchlight, a little after the midnight succeeding their trial. Dry-goods boxes were used for drops. On their march to the place of execution, Skinner suddenly broke from his guard. and ran off. shout- ing, "Shoot! Shoot!" Not a gun was raised, but after a short chase in the snow the prisoner was secured, and led up to the scaffold. He made a second attempt to get away while standing on the box, but a rope was soon adjusted to his neck, and the leader said to him, -
" You may jump now, as soon as you please." Carter manifested great disgust at Skinner's at- tempt to run away. While he was standing on the drop, one of the Vigilantes requested him to
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confess that he participated in the murder of Tiebalt.
" If I had my hands free," he replied with an oath, "I'd make you take that back."
Skinner, who stood by his side, was talking violently at the time, and Carter was ordered to be quiet.
" Well, then, let's have a smoke," said he ; and, a lighted pipe being given him, he remained quiet. Both criminals, as they were launched from the platform, exclaimed, " I am innocent " - the pass- word of the band. They died apparently without pain.
The party that arrested Zachary arrived with him the next morning. He was tried and found guilty. By his directions a letter was written to his mother, in which he warned his brothers and sisters to avoid drinking, card-playing, and bad company - three evils which, he said, had brought him to the gallows. On the scaffold he prayed that God would forgive the Vigilantes for what they were doing, as it was the only way to clear the country of road agents. He died without apparent fear or suffering.
Johnny Cooper was drawn to the scaffold in a sleigh, his wounded leg rendering him unable to walk. He asked for his pipe.
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Pursuit of Road Agents.
" I want," said he, " a good smoke before I die. I always did enjoy a smoke." A letter had been written to his parents, who lived in the State of ยท New York. Several times, while a Vigilante was engaged in adjusting the rope, he dodged the noose, but, on being told to keep his head straight, he submitted. He died without a struggle.
Having finished their mission, the Vigilantes returned to Nevada.
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Execution of Hunter.
CHAPTER XV.
EXECUTION OF HUNTER.
SEARCH FOR BILL HUNTER - HIS PLACE OF CONCEAL MENT DISCOVERED - PARTY START IN PURSUIT - INCIDENTS BY THE WAY - ARRIVAL AT THE CABIN - ARREST -START FOR VIRGINIA CITY - CONSUL- TATION - EXECUTION - REFLECTIONS.
Soon after the transactions recorded in the last chapter, the Virginia City Vigilantes were informed that Bill Hunter had been seen in the Gallatin valley. It was reported that he sought a covert among the rocks and brush, where he remained during the day, stealing out at night and seeking food among the scattered settlers, as he could find it. His place of concealment was about twenty miles from the mouth of the Gallatin river. A number of the Vigilantes, under the pretence of joining the Barney Hughes stampede to a new placer discovery, left Virginia City, and scoured the country for a distance of sixty miles or more, in search of the missing ruffian. Hunter was dis- covered during this search.
As soon as it became known that he was at the
-
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spot indicated, four resolute men at once volun- teered to go in pursuit of, capture, and execute him. ' Their route lay across two heavy divides, and required about sixty miles of hurried travel- ling. The first day they crossed the divide be- tween the Pas-sam-a-ri and the Madison, camping that night on the bank of the latter river, which they had forded with great difficulty. The weather was intensely cold, and their blankets afforded but feeble protection against it. They built a large camp-fire, and lay down as near to it as safety would permit. One of their number spread his blankets on the slope of a little hillock next the fire, and during the night slipped down until his feet encountered the hot embers. The weather increased in severity the next day, during most of which the Vigilantes rode through a fierce moun- tain snow-storm, with the wind directly in their faces. At 2 o'clock P.M. they halted for supper at the Milk ranche, about twenty miles from the place where they expected to find the fugitive. Under the guidance of a man whom they em- ployed here, they then pushed on at a rapid pace, the storm gathering in fury as they progressed. At midnight they drew up near a lone cabin in the neighborhood of the rocky jungle where their game had taken cover.
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Execution of Hunter.
"This storm has certainly routed him," said one of the Vigilantes. "Ten to one, we bag him in the cabin."
" Very likely," replied another. "He would not suspect danger in such weather. It will save us a heap of trouble."
One of the men rapped loudly at the cabin door. Opening it slowly, a look of amazement stole over the features of the inmate, as he surveyed the company of six mounted armed men.
" Good-evening," said one, saluting him.
" Don't know whether it is or not," growled the man, evidently suspicious that a visit at so late an hour meant mischief.
" Build us a fire, man," said the Vigilante. " We are nearly frozen, and this is the only place of shelter from this storm for many miles. Surely you won't play the churl to a party of weather- bound prospectors."
Re-assured by this hearty reproof for his seeming unkindness, the man set to work with a will, and in a few moments a genial fire was blazing on the hearth, which the party enjoyed thoroughly. Glancing curiously around the little room, the Vigilantes discovered that it contained three occupants besides themselves. Placing their guns and pistols in convenient position, and
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Execution of Hunter.
stationing a sentinel to keep watch and feed the fire, the men spread their blankets on the clay surface of the enclosure, and in a few moments were locked in sleep; careful, however, first, to satisfy the eager curiosity of their entertainers, by a brief conversation about mining, stampeding, prospecting, etc., and leading them to believe that they were a party of miners, returning from an unsuccessful expedition.
Fatigued with the ride and exposure of the two previous days, the Vigilantes slept until a late hour the next morning. Two of the occupants of the cabin rose at the same time. The other, entirely enveloped in blankets, kept up a pro- longed snore, whose deep bass signified that he was wrapped in profound slumber. The Vigi- lantes, contriving to keep four of their number in the cabin, while making preparations to depart, soon had their horses saddled; but when all was ready, one of them inquired in a careless tone, -
" Who is the man that sleeps so soundly ?"
" I don't know him," said the host.
" When did he come here ?"
" At the beginning of the snow-storm, two days ago. He came in and asked permission to remain here until it was over."
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Execution of Hunter.
" Perhaps it's an acquaintance. Won't you describe him to us ?"
The man complied, by giving a most accurate description of Hunter. No longer in doubt, the Vigilante went up to the bedside, and, in a loud voice, called out, " Bill Hunter !"
Hastily drawing the blanket from his face, the occupant stared wildly out upon the six armed men, asking in the same breath, -
" Who's there ? "
Six shotguns levelled at his head answered the question.
" Give us your revolver, and get up," was the command. Hunter instantly complied.
" You are arrested as one of Plummer's band of road agents."
" I hope," said Hunter, " you will take me to Virginia City." A Vigilante assented.
" What conveyance have you for me ?"
" There," said one, pointing to a horse, "is the animal you must ride."
The prisoner put on his hat and overcoat, and mounted the horse. Just as he was about to seize the reins, a Vigilante took them from his hands, saying, with affected suavity, -
" If you please, I'll manage these for you. You've only to sit still and ride."
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Execution of Hunter.
After the company started, the robber cast a suspicious glance behind him, and saw one man following on foot. His countenance fell. The expression told, in stronger language than words, that the thought which harassed him was that he would not be taken to Virginia City. About two miles distant from the cabin, the company drew up and dismounted under a solitary tree. Scrap- ing away the snow, they kindled a fire, and prepared their breakfast, of which the robber partook with them, and seemed to forget his fears, and laughed and joked as if no danger were nigh. Breakfast over, the Vigilantes held a brief con- sultation as to the disposition which should be made of their prisoner. On putting the question to vote, it was decided by the votes of all but the person who had signified to Hunter that he was to be taken to Virginia City, that his execution should take place instantly.
The condemned wretch turned deadly pale, and in a faint voice asked for water. One of the Vigilantes related to him the crimes of which he had been guilty.
" Of course," said he, " you know that offences of this magnitude, in all civilized countries, are punished with death. The necessity for a rigid enforcement of this penalty, in a country which
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Execution of Hunter.
has no judiciary, is greater even than in one where these crimes are tried by courts of law. There is no escape for you. We are sorry that you have incurred this penalty, - sorry for you, but the blame is wholly yours."
Hunter made no reply to the justice in his case, but requested that his friends should not be informed of the manner of his death.
"I have," said he, "no property to pay the expense of a funeral, and my burial even must depend upon your charity. I hope you will give me a decent one."
" Every reasonable request shall be granted, Bill," said the Vigilante ; "but you know the ground is too hard for us to attempt your inter- ment without proper implements. We will inform your friends of your execution, and they will attend to your burial."
While this conversation was going on, some of the Vigilantes had prepared the noose, and passed the rope over a limb of the tree. The criminal shook hands with all, tearfully bidding each "good-by." After the rope was adjusted, several of the men took hold of it, and at a given signal, by a rapid pull, ran the prisoner up so sud- denly that he died without apparent suffering ; yet, strange to say, he reached as if for his pistol,
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Execution of Hunter.
and pantomimically cocked and discharged it six times. The "ruling passion was strong in death." Leaving the corpse suspended from the tree, the Vigilantes, now that their work was done, hurried homeward at a rapid pace.
Hunter was the last of Plummer's band that fell into the hands of the Vigilantes. The man was not destitute of redeeming qualities. He often worked hard in the mines for the money he lost at the gaming-table, but in an evil hour he joined Plummer's gang, and aided in the commission of many infamous crimes. In his personal inter- course he was known to perform many kind acts. He admitted, just before his death, the justice of his sentence. It is believed that in his escape through the pickets at Virginia City he was assisted by some of the Vigilantes, who did not credit his guilt.
The death of Hunter marked the bloody close of the reign of Plummer's band. He was the last of that terrible organization to fall a victim to Vigilante justice. The retribution, almost Dra- conic in severity, administered to these daring freebooters had in no respect exceeded the de- mands of absolute justice. If the many acts I have narrated of their villanies were not sufficient to justify the extreme course pursued in their ex-
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Execution of Hunter.
termination, surely the unrevealed history, greater in enormity, and stained with the blood of a hun- dred or more additional victims, must remove all prejudices from the public mind against the vol- untary tribunal of the Vigilantes. There was no other remedy. Practically, they had no law, but, if law had existed, it could not have afforded ade- quate redress. This was proven by the feeling of security consequent upon the destruction of the band. When the robbers were dead the people felt safe, not for themselves alone, but for their pursuits and their property. They could travel without fear. They had a reasonable assurance of safety in the transmission of money to the States, and in the arrival of property over the unguarded route from Salt Lake. The crack of pistols had ceased, and they could walk the streets without constant exposure to danger. There was an omni- present spirit of protection, akin to that omnipres- ent spirit of law which pervaded older civilized communities. Men of criminal instincts were cowed before the majesty of ar. outraged people's wrath, and the very thought of crime became a terror to them. Young men who had learned to believe that the roughs were destined to rule, and who, under the influence of that guilty faith, were fast drifting into crime, shrunk appalled before
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Execution of Hunter.
the thorough work of the Vigilantes. Fear, more potent than conscience, forced even the worst of men to observe the requirements of civilized soci- ety, and a feeling of comparative security among all classes was the result.
But the work was not all done. A few reck- less spirits remained, who, when the excitement was over, forgot the lesson it taught, and returned to their old vocation. The Vigilantes preserved their organization, and, as we shall see in the sub- sequent pages of this history, meted out the stern- est justice to all capital offenders.
This portion of my history would be incom- plete did I omit to mention that Smith and Thur- mond, the lawyers who had on several prominent occasions defended the bloodiest of the roughs, were both banished. The former of these was a man of remarkable ability in his profession, and of correct and generous impulses. To a clear, logical mind, and thorough knowledge of his pro- fession, he added fine powers as an orator ; and it was these qualities, more than any sympathy he indulged for his clients, that rendered him obnox- ious to public censure and suspicion. After an exile of two years he returned to the Territory, and resumed the practice of law, which he followed with success until his death, which occurred in
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Execution of Hunter.
Helena in 1870. He was greatly lamented by all who knew him.
Thurmond came from the " west side," with a reputation for being a friend of the roughs, - one not in complicity with them, but upon whom they could always depend for assistance in case of diffi- culty. After his banishment he went to Salt Lake City, where he associated himself with the Danites, or Destroying Angels of the Mormon church, whom he tried to induce to follow his leadership in an active crusade against all the members of the Montana Vigilance Committee who might pass through Utah on their way to the States. Fail- ing in this, he afterwards removed to Dallas, Texas, where he became involved in a quarrel with a noted desperado, by whom he was shot and instantly killed.
The administration of justice, and the peace and safety of the people, demanded the banishment of both these men, though many of worse charac- ter and more criminal nature but of less influence were permitted to remain.
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The Stranger's Story.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE STRANGER'S STORY.
PREPARATIONS FOR A HOME - DISASTERS - DISAP- POINTMENTS - HERMIT LIFE - BOONE HELM - HIS DEPARTURE - A STRANGE VISITANT - ROMANTIC HISTORY - RETURN OF HELM AND TWO COMPANIONS - HIS MURDEROUS DESIGNS THWARTED - RETURN TO CIVILIZATION - MEETING WITH BENEFACTRESS.
LATE in the fall of 1872, I spent a few days in Salt Lake City. One evening at the Townsend House, while conversing with Governor Woods and a few friends upon the events which had led to the organization of the Montana Vigilantes, I mentioned the name of Boone Helm.
"Boone Helm! I knew him well," was the abrupt exclamation of a stranger seated near, who had been quietly listening to our conversation. We were no less attracted by the singular appear- ance of the speaker, than the suddenness of the remark. Tall, slender, ungainly, awkward in manner, he yet possessed a pleasing, intellectual countenance, and a certain magnetism, which
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The Stranger's Story.
begat an instantaneous desire in all to hear his history.
" Excuse me, gentlemen," said he, drawing his chair nearer our circle, "for obtruding myself, but the mere utterance of the name of Boone Helm brings to memory the most thrilling episode of my life's history."
Assuring him that no apology was necessary, and that the recital of adventures was the order of the evening, we all united in the request that he should favor us with his narration.
" It's quite a long story," he resumed, lighting his meerschaum, " and you may tire of it before I close. Our individual experiences seldom inter- est listeners, but the subject of your conversation at this time affords a good place to slip in this single feature of a life not entirely void of ad- venture ; and I hope it will not detract from the entertainment of the evening. Truth obliges me to be the hero of my own tale."
Drawing his chair into the centre of our circle, he began, -
"I went to Oregon a mere boy, and grew to manhood there. My early education was neglected for want of opportunity, there being no schools in the country. I mention this to account for a fact which will become apparent hereafter. Our neigh-
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The Stranger's Story.
bors, in the dialect of the country, thought me a little 'luny,' and predicted for me an unhappy future. I certainly was eccentric, and when I recall many acts of my early life, I do not blame them for harshness of judgment.
" As I approached manhood, no text of the sacred volume exercised me more than that which declares it is not good for man to be alone. I set to work to make preparations for domestic life. I entered a quarter section of land, built a house, ploughed fields, planted an orchard, cultivated a garden, which I laid out with walks, adorning them with the choicest shrubs and flowers. My grounds and dwelling were as neat and comfort- able as the resources of a new country would per- mit. I stocked my farm with horses, cattle, sheep, and chickens-in brief, I lacked none of the essentials to a happy farm life.
" I had selected the fair one who was to share with me life's joys and sorrows, and obtained her promise to marry the following autumn. The world before me was roseate with beauty and hap- piness. My feelings were buoyant, unmingled with a single thought of disappointment or failure in the plans I had made. But alas ! in a few brief months all this dream was wretchedly dispelled. I learned the lesson taught in those simple words,
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The Stranger's Story.
' Man proposes, but God disposes.' When the products of my fields were teeming with their highest life, and the flowers and shrubs in my garden were blooming in their greatest beauty, and the sun shone brightest, and the birds sang sweetest, an angry cloud appeared, filled with myriads of those winged pests that have so often swept from the soil all the hopes and treasures of the husbandman. The destruction of the fields of Egypt under the curse of locusts was not more complete than that of the field and garden which, a few hours before, had been my greatest pride. They were thoroughly denuded - field, garden, yard, even the stately trees around my dwelling - all were naked, shaven, brown, and barren. A more perfect blight could not be conceived. My heart for the moment sank within me.
" But, being naturally of a hopeful disposition, I remembered that flocks and herds were still left, and I determined to look at the disaster with a strong heart, and try by renewed exertion to re- gain what had been lost. Alas ! troubles never come singly. I was obliged to postpone my mar- riage indefinitely. The coldest winter and heaviest snows ever known before or since in that country brought starvation to all my cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens, and when spring came I had noth-
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The Stranger's Story.
ing left but my dwelling. I became despondent, sulky, indifferent. My father, who dwelt in another part of the country, was wealthy. Generously sympathizing in my misfortunes, he offered to give me a fresh start, with three hundred head of cattle and the necessaries of life. I accepted, and deter- mined to plunge deeper into the wilds, away from civilization, and begin life anew, thinking to avenge myself upon the disappointments of the past by a solitary life, with nature and books as a solace.
" I bought a well-selected assortment of educa- tional volumes, ranging from a spelling-book to the Latin and Greek classics, and from Ray's Arithmetic to the higher branches of mathematics, and, employing three reliable men to drive the herd, picked my way over mountains and rivers to the Rogue River valley, a region then destitute of settlers, but the principal hunting-ground and home of the fiercest and most warlike tribe of Indians on the Pacific coast. Their hostility to the whites then, and for many years afterwards, was bloodthirsty and unappeasable. But I was accustomed to frontier life, familiar with the coun- try, and did not fear the Indians. The valley was full of game, and they would not kill my stock. My life, which they would destroy on the first op-
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portunity, I determined to look out for as best I might ; besides, there was an indescribable charm in the idea of such exposure as required a con- stant exercise of all the faculties. A man shows for all he is worth in a country filled with hostile Indians. He makes no mistakes there, and learns the value of gun, pistol, and hunting-knife.
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