The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-26

shadow behind it. The clock struck three:
the voices OF the guards in the next room
became hushed; the light that streamed un-
der the prisoners door from the lanterns
without became DINNER; the head of the
sentry's shadow began to poke itself into
the lower windows of the houses on
the east side of the square. And at
last the moon dropped behind the
town, and the great shadow of night
came over everything, and the brass SOL
dier's head alone became distinctly visible
against the sky. Perhaps the prisoner won
dered why that Waterman hadn't come back.
That Waterman was tied hand and foot be-
fore the clock struck four, and its tones had
not died away before the prisoners heart
must nave leaped into his mouth with fear.
The alley in rear of the court house was
echoing the solid tramp of an organized
band OF men. Before the guards
were awakened from their dozs the
vigilants were at the door below-32
white mask led. Six carried heavy oaken
beam. I'VE want the prisoner" said the
White Mask, through a speaking trumpet.
No answer. Numbers One, Two, Three,
-FOUR, Five and Six, step to the front" or
dered the White Mask. The battering ram
was carried to the door, and the prisoner
again demanded in vain. Then the door
was driven in, with its frame, by one vigor-
Gus blow; and Is maskers went up stairs, TO
encounter the guards. They were
overpowered and bound almost in
stantly, and the leader called again:
NUMBER sEvENI"
Number seven Immediately placed a cold
chisel against the outer lock of the prisoners
cell. Then number eight was called, and
stepped out with sledge. In five minutes
the prisoner was dragged out of his cell,
bound aud carried down stairs. He uttered
but one hideous, lOng-drawn groan of fear
when they dragged him out OF the cage
Meantime number of the band had posted
themselves as guards at all the entrances to
the courtyard One ran across the road to
the hat store, and returned with a dry
goods box, which be placed under
a magnolia tree in front OF the
court house, being the second tree to the left
OF the entrance, on North Main street. To
this the prisoner was brought and placed
standing upon 1t with the moose round his
neck, while the leader pulled out his watch,
a handsome gold time-piece, which cleaned
in the light of the lantern be bore. and ex-
claimed, prisoner, you have two minutes
TO pray" Then Number Nine climbed the
tree. fastened the other end of the rope to
moaned out, "Oh, Jesus, have pity on
my SOUL" and relapsed into silence.
Then the six men reappeared with the
batterlng-rsm: the leader gave the signal.
zone, two, three;" the box was knocked
from beneath the wretch's feet; the BODY
turned round once or twice in the air, and
the word was morally clearer than it had
been sixsy seconds previously. To enter the
yard; burst in the Jail gate and cell doors;
overpower and bind the guards; bind the
prisoner and hang, occupied only thirteen
minutes. showing what an excellent thing a
Montana education is. A crowd had
by this time collected, and attempted
TO enter, but were driven 10 the
other side of the street at the muzzle of 80
revolvers. Fifteen minutes later the leader
called the roll by numbers, to which every
man answered, Here" and the band
marched off, two by two, with the white
mask at their head, the same way they had
come. None dared to follow them. About
two O'Clock the body was buried, the AFTER
noon inquest having resulted in a satisfac-
tory verdict of "death by hanging, at the
hands OF parties unknown" IT is said that
several OF the vigilants were themselves on
the coroner's jury.