New-York tribune., 1867-08-21
THE MINING REGIONS.
MONTANA.


THE FIRST EXECUTION.
1,rep Our Special Correspondent 49,. Y,,,,o 1897
VIRGINIA CITY, Montana Territory, IDy NJ.'
Tho term "Vigilance Committee is I'iiliii"l
a. all Eastern readers, but there are lcW ".o -
~ a,oosions of crime as it cOmpassed the lsoia'eu
'i'' regions or of its inevitable mercl-
.+i,,,tion- California tolerated the RUE OF
80 -. ord desperadOes for years, but Ihahy !
49, 81 orconization founded on the maxim safes
-, s,,e,,o Ter and the leaders OF disorder ana
,.,os,ess were executed or banished But Caillor-
i. ten had large cities vast commerce. easy acceSs
20 tho great business centcrs of trade ana socia
1,,,,gars TO strengthen the harsh but imperative
reclamation Not so with the Territories OF the
Rocky Mountains. Their wealth was uscoVereu
5pst when the golden slopes of the Paclhc had DC
come intoerabe for those who preferred any crime
on the decaloguo to honest industry. Colorado,
Idaho ana Montana were isolated from the civilized
world Hundreds or thousands of miles had to be
Travelled over mountain passes and almost trackleSS
plains. unpeopled save by the pitilcSs savage ana
Jbe populaion was Of necessity rude, without sOcla
restraints and naturally tended to sem-barbarlSn.
There was no government, no law, no access 10 the
protecting force of the national authority for years
and here were most inviting fields for the banlshed
esperadoes of other lands and every incentive toead
the upright down through the tempting, but uItl-
mately fatal, labyrnths OF crime Few families were
among the carly settlers and the happy influences oI
faithful wives and virtuouS daughters were unknown
The influence of woman, so far as felt, came from
the hopelessy fallen and like all perverted angels OF
light thew but hastened the mastery OF wrong and
led the way. Gamblers piled their vocation without
blush or restraint on the most public places. Muir
derers infested every locality where there was the
least ducement to take life for gold and organized
thieves ramfed into every settlement 1t is tradl-
fion of Denver that Mr.. Greeley was so highly re-
spected when visiting that place in 1852 that as he
mounted box to address the citizens near the Ee-
phant Canal" the dealer of three card monte on the
sidewalk close 10y suspended his game until the speech
was concluded. This was considered most marked
lefcrence to the public appreciation of the man. and
tribute that few Bishops could have now. So COM
mon was this fearful vice there and in all the other
Territories as they were first settled that every pub
lie place on the streets and sidewalks but too success
fully invited the miner to be defrauded Of his earn
ingS
l have. in previous letter referred IN general
Terms TO the reign and decline of crime in Colorado,
and the stern retrbuton the Denver Vigilanters
visited upon some of the most desperate leaders IN
Iawessncss but it was reserved for Montana to or
ganise and maintain the most efficient combination
of orler-loyng men that this country has ever Wit
messed just as Colorado had become strong enough
10 enforce some measure of public order and safety
In Idaho and Montana and there was general exo
Illus of thieves and murderers from sall the other
mining regions and also from the haunts of evil in
the Eastern cities to inaugurate the supremacy of
rrime in this new Eldorado -Four years ago lin June
1861 the surprising richness of Alden Gulch was
discovered With the lucky adventures who opened
its glittering wealth came
"The first low wash Of waves, where soon
Shall roll human sea"
Nevada was the first mining camp established. 1t is
down near the extremity of the guleh but as its
wonderful deposits Of the precious metals were
opened up the stream Virginia City was founded. 1t
was called Yarna, in honor of the then Rebel chief
tains wife and two-thirds of its inhabitants were
jubiant with the hope to be subjects of the no
torious heroes Of treason. Antietam, Gettysburg,
YcksbuTg, Atlanta Nashville Five Forks, and Appo-
mattox were then unknown to fame, and the fitting
representatives Of unhOly rebellion in these noun
tain fasnesses had forgotten that there is One high
over all whose justice sleeps not. Little did they
dream that, like the name they fondly cherished
rs to thereto city they must soon live only in
the history of the overthrow of wrong in Montana.
Judge BiSSel Indignantly and arbitrarily expunged
the name and substituted Virginia his first legal
record, informing the bewildered audience, in Ian
Vuage more emphatic than polite that no such blot
should mar the records of Justice in this court. A
yearbcfore heseement of Virginia the rich placers
IN of Beaver Head and Deer Lodge had been discov-
" ered and in these localities that the most per
fecty Oreanizedand best appointed band of despera
does known the continent had its origin. Its
system perfect its plans devised and executed
with consummae skill, and ii reached into every
camp close upon the footsteps of the miners. While
Bannock City was its original center, as Virginia
grew importance and surpassed all other camps in
wealth and population, il promptly extended its op-
eratiOns until its chief field was here 1t was no
loose aggregation of independent thieves and cut
fhrOats. 1t had a commander, subordinate executive
officers, secretaries agents stoolpigeons signs and
10y hierogyphics could so mark a man. a coach, or
train as TO make them innOcently invite their OWL
destruction the way. Certain of the leaders ever
wore their necktes in peculiar knot and by day o
night whether visible shrouded in darkness they
could communicate with and aid each other. They
were not as in California and Colorado the Stunned
and abandoned men of the communities in which
they lived, they were the most wealthy influential
and by many at first believed to be useful citizens
The leader of the band, Henry Plmnmer, was one OF
in the application and government of men, so
slircwdly did he direct his operations, that
he was chosen sheriff of both Madison and
Beaver Head Counties, and his deputies were
selected from the most trusted and expert
of his band. The counties had no legal
organization; no authority was known other than
the regulations adopted by the settlers, and might
made right. With the power Of the people in the
two richest and most populous counties in his keep
ing il is not wonderful that for nearly two years the
band prospcred and defed detection. So completely
did the organization compass everything relating TO
their interests that every placer was watched, its
yield traced 10 the time of shipment, and it was
rarely. indeed that any could get safely to the