Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-10-01
Hangman's Tree In Montana.

Auc NlISiHla SilJ
SpOudent of the LeavenwOrth lkan.) CONNER
cidi gives the following graphic account of an
old-time gallOws scene in the Territory: A
few rods south of Helena, and just west of the
present overland stage read where 1t crosses
Dry Gulch, and directly in the gulch, there
stands a venerable pine, whose massive tower
branches OF weird and fantastic growth eX-
tend twenty feet or more from The gnarled
and moss-covered trunk, Years since it lost
its 70 iage, and now il is gradually yielding TO
decay, and ere long q clod OF vegetable mould
will alone remain to mark the size of the
famous hangman's tree. Could the old pine
speak, what tales II could tell, but perhaps
'tis best that speech is not given, ana that
with the life of the tree should pass the rscOl-
lection of those early days when fOrbeaTance
having ceased to be a virtue,a short shrift and
hempen cord became nece saTy 10 rid tHe
country Of the desperadoes that Infested II,
and thus secure long needed protection to lie
and property OF honest citlZens. Now law
and order reign throughout the Terri
tory, and justice is attained and ad-
mi3lstered through regular channels,
circumstances call for or justify the forma-
ton of such an organ ZattOn as was that of
the vigilants OF Montana. IN 1862, 1858 and
1864 Virginia City and Bannock were the
headquarters of Henry PIummer's noted
band of hlghwaymen and cut-throats. Plum
mer secured an appointment rs sheriff, and
then made his cut-throat lieutenants his
deputies. For time this arrangement work ed
admirably for the Toughs, as they could rob
and murder with impunity. Alter they had
killed over one hundred and twenty citizens,
and plundered stages, express shipments aid
private ind VlduaiS until no one felt safe or
dared 10 leave with or send money or dust
out of IL e cOuntTy-and any one who dared to
demur 10 this order of things or suggest that
the robbers were other than honest and per-
feet gentlemen, did so at the imminent peril
of MS lite-it occurred TO few resOiute men
that it was time for q change, and quietly
comforting with each other, an organization
was soon Effected, including several hundrtd d
of the best IN of Virginia, Bannock and
-.elenR. Laying their plans cautiously but
well and executing them promptly, they
Pt
the rufiians, 1ucluning Plummer and all
known members of his band, all Of whom
were made to "dance upon nothing at the end
II a rope" Five of them were hanged at one
time from crOss-besm iu an unfinished
storeroom adjoining the building in which
your correspono ent writes this communlca-
tion. Thess 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 we're
peculiarly characf eristic and worthy of
note. Erastus wager, generally Known as
"He1,' said 10 his captors, You have treated
me like q gentleman and know am going
TO die; arn goiug to be hanged. It's pretty
tough, but / meIited this years ago" And
v ith the rope around his neck, his last words
were, Goodbye, boys; God bless you! You
are on good undertaking" Henry Plummer
uegged hard for Lis life, asked 10 oe chained
down, offered TO leave the country forever,
and decia. ed that he wa too wicked TO die
Another, John Wagner said, "Cut off my
arms and legs and let me go; you know |
could do nothing then Jack Gallagher Sai0-
al hope that 1orKed lightning Will strlk every
straug ling one fynu." Ben Hem SAID, "Kick
away, old fellow; IN be with you in min
ute. Every man for his principles. Hurrah
for JEFF Davis! Let her ripW George Shear,
when ARE sted, said, 81 knew should have TO
90 up some time, but l thought could run
another season. When told to mount the
ladder, which served for the time being as a
scaffold, he made use of the following IAN
guage: "Gentlemen, / am not used 10 this
business, never having been hung before.
Shall Jump off or slide H." Being directed
what to do, he said, "All right; goodbye"
and leaped into eternity. From the con
fesStons of the felons II is concluslvely shown
that the vglisntes acted with such discrim
naiicn that not an innocent man suffered CT
their hands,