The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-10-12

correspondent of the LeavenwortI
(Kan,) Commercial gives the follow
ing graphic account OF an old.tim
gaIlows scene in the Territory
few rods south of Helena, and jus
west Of the present overland stag,
road whore il crosses Dry Gulch
and directly in the gulch, thor,
stands II venerable pine, who's,
massive towering branches of weirC
and fantastic growth extend twenty
feet or more from the gnarled an(
moss covered trunk, Years since il
lost its foliage, and now it is grad
uaIIy yieldingto decay, and ere Ions
Il clod of vegetable mould will alon,
remain TO mark the site of the fam
Gus hangman's tree. Could the ole
pine speak, what tales IT could tell
But perhaps It's best that speech il
not given, and that with the life Of
the tree should pass the recollection
ofthose early days when torbearanc(
having ceased to be virtue,a shorI
shrift and hempen cord became
necessary to rid the country of the
desperadoes that infested it, and
thus secure long needed protection
to life and property of honest citi-
zens. Now law and order reign
throughout the Territory, and jus
tlce is attained and administered
through regular channels, and it is
to be hoped that never again will
circumstances call tor or justify the
formation of such IN organization
as was that of the vigilants of Mon
tana. In 1862, 1863 and 1864
Virginia City and Bannock were the
headquarters of Henry Plummer's
noted band Of highwaymen and cut
throats. Plummer secured an
appointment as sheriff, and then
made his cut throat lieutenants his
deputies. For II time this arrange.
ment worked admirably for the
roughs, as they could rob and muir
dor with impunity. After they had
killed over one hundred and twenty
citizens, and plundered stages, eX.
press shipments and private in
dividuals until no one felt safe or
dared TO leave with or send money
or dust out of the country--and any
one who dared to demure to this
order of things or suggest that the
robbers were other than honest and
perfect gentlemen, did 80 at the i'm.
minent peril of his life---it occurred
to u few resOlute men that it was
time for change, and quietly con-
ferring with each other, an organ
ization was soon effected, including
several hundred of the best men Of
Virginia, Bannock and Belena.
Laying their plans cautiously, but
well, and executing them promptly,
they melted out mcrited justice to
twenty nine Of the ruflians, inclu.
ding Plummer aud all known mem
bers of his band, all of whom were
made to "dancc upon nothing ut the
end of II rope" Five of then were
hanged at one time from cross
beam in an unfinished storeroom
adjoining the building in which
your correspondent writes this com.
munication, These executions
ended the reign Of terror, and since
then peace and quiet has been the
rule in Montana, The dying
speeches of some Of the desperadoes
were peculiarly characteristic and
worthy Of note. Erastus Wager,
generally known as Red said 10
his captors, "You have treated me
like II gentleman, and | know | am
going to die; am going to be
hungcd. It's pretty though, but |
merted this years ago" And with
the rope around his neck, his last
words were, Good bye, boys; God
bless you! You are en- goo
undertaking" Henry Plummer
begged hard for his life, asked to be
chained down, offered to leave the
country forever, and declared that
he was too wicked to die. Another,
John Wagner, said, "Cut off my
arms aud legs and lot me go, you
know | could do nothing then Jack
Gallagher said, IL hope that forked
lightning will strike every strang.
ling one Of you" Ben Helm said,
"Kick away, old fellow I'll be with
you in minute. Every man for
his principles. Hurrah for Jcff-
Davis Let her rip" George
Shears, when arrested, said, ~ know
| should have to 90 up some time,
but | thought | could run another
season." When told to mount tho
ladder, which served for The time
ben Z rs II scafio!d, he made use of
the following language Gentle
men, | am not used to this business,
never having been hung before.
Shall jump off or slide OFF, Being
directed what to do, he said, GAN
right goodbye" and leaped into
eternity. From the confessions of
the felons it is concluslvely shown
that the vigilants acted with such
l,.oc, -, I ~ 4, -, tk.-t nat ~, ,noon .