The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-07-01
''The Banditti of the Rocky Noun.
talns and the Vigilance COMMITTEES
of Idaho, etc.,,

This precious literary treasure lies before
us, and we are in doubt on two points con-
cerning it: first, whether there ever was a
work SO replete with falsehood
Travels and the history of Baron Munchau-
sen included in the catalogue-and second,
whether there ever was so impudent an
attempt to gull the public, and to make
money under false pretences. Without copy
ing the whole book it would be impossible
to notice all the falsehoods contained in it.
A few specimens mus suffice. The letter said
to have been received by Col. Sanders is an
invention. Itresembles the original about
= -i"-~1s- Rritish hall -dno docs n Nav
York latch-key. The robbing of the Ban
mack coach on the 10th of October, 1868, is
simply an unpleasing fiction from beginning
to end. The birth, place of nativity, and
career Of Henry Plummer, are as ike the
truth as Cooper's ssUncas'' is to.the history
of chief of the Platte Sioux, with this
difference, that the tale of the great novel
ist is fascinating, while the other is vulgar
and disgusting. The place, the particulars
and the names of the FIVE men executed in
Virginia are simply imaginary. Red was
hung near Stinkingwater; Skinner was exc
cuted many weary league from Virginia:
Ives was hung in an unfinished house in Ne
vada; j. A. Slade was not member of
Plummer's gang, or ever accused of robbery.
The charges AGAINST him were of totally
different character, as will hereafter appear
when history of the Vigilance Committee
is given to the public, and as for the attack
on his widow, a man who admits having
dined at her house several times, and been
well treated, never made meaner or more
dastardly attack on one of womankind. 1t
is an outrage on common decency, and the
statements, mere rumors, ,are not whit nearer
the truth than the rest of the book is.
The story that the captain in command of
the He'll Gate and Deer Lodge scouts reported
sixteen desperadoes executed or frozen is
entirely imaginary. The sensation para
graph about Ssinson's begging for mercy
when swinging with the knot under his chin
is another impossible falsehood, as is also
the poke in the ribs with the Irishman's cane,
and the so-called witty remark accompany
ing it. The style of the book is vulgar and
ridiculous, and the horrible destruction of
timber intended for wood-cuts is something
the fair fellow of which was never seen in
anything beyond the role of Jack the Giant
Killer, or some FIVE cent squib, with a title
after the fashion of ssThe Bleeding Bug, or
the Bloodstained Bed Wrench" An account
of these matters will be published in short
time, and there is enough of real interest in
the exact and impartial record of the reign
of terror in this Territory, and in the history
of the celebrated body whose whispered
name would to-day blanch the cheek of
murderer or road agent, though hundreds
Of miles from Alder Gulch, the vale of death
to the blood-thirsty marauders who strewed
our plains and mountains with the bodies of
the innocent victims Of their cupidity and
brutality.
The Vigilance Committee of this Territory
have a case to make, which must not only
exonerate them from guilt in the eyes of all
good men, but must entitle them to the
thanks of the civilized world. One hundred
and two individuals were the acknowledged
victims of the monsters whose career of
guilt was cut short by necessary and retri-
butive vengeance, besides scores of un-
known unfortunates, and that the Territory
is to day as safe to live in as New York, is
entirely owing to the action of those brave
men. Lib. .-..... ... :.. ...