The Morning herald., 1875-09-17
Hanglnan's Tree.

iVJSAASA AHAA SAA w SfSssNSSSHs
Hangman's Tree. jr'.
I Hangman's tree is situated near Helena
Montana and figured in those early day,
when forbearance ceased to be virtue, anc
a short, swift and hempen cord became nee.
essary to rid the country of the deapera;
does who infested ii, and thus the old tree
4 upon which they were hung is surrounded
by considerable of that interest, which usul
ally attaches to those things which are as,
sociated in any way with. tragical events,
A correspondent of the Leayenworth,
Kansas Commercial gives the following as
some Of the "reminiscences Of the old tree:
In 1862, 1868 and 1864 Virginia City
and Bannock were the headquarters of
Henry Plulnlner's noted band Of highway
men and cutthroats. Plummer secured an
appointment as Sheriff and then made his
cutthroat lieutenants his deputies. For a
time this arrangement worked admirably
for the roughs, as they could rob and mur-
der with impunity. After they had killed
over 1920 citizens, and plundered stages, ex-
press shipments andprivate individuals un-
til no one felt safe or dared to leave with
or send money or dust out Of the country7-7
and any one who dared to demur to this
order of things or suggest that the robbers
were Others than honest and perfect gentle
men did so at the imminent peril Of his
life-it occurred to a few resolute men that
it was time for a change, and, quietly con-
ferrlng with each other, an organization
was soon effected, including several hun
dredIof the best men in Virginia, Bamock
and Helena. Laying their plans cautious
y, but we'll, aad executing them promptly,
they flesed out merited justice to twenty
nine Of the ruffians, including PIummer
and all known members Of his, band, all of
whom were made to "dance Upon nothing
at the end Of a rope" Five Of them were
hanged at one time from a cross beam in
an unfinished storeroom, dioining the
building in which your correspondent
writes '! this communication, These execu-
Il tons ended the reissil Of terror, and since
ttsn peace and quiet has been The rule ain
Montana, !, The dying speeches Of some Of
the desperaloes were peculiarly character
lstic and worthy Of note. Erastus Wager
generally known as ''Red,D said, to his can.
tors "9ou have treated me like a gentle
man. and know Lana going to- die; / a11
going to be hanged; it's prettyrough, but
l mefited this. Years ago" And with the
rope around Hi, neck his last words were.
"sG3ooodfby, boys; God Bless .yoHf! YOU are
on g good undertaking" :" J''7, ',. -, ,94j 5
Henry Plummer Begged 4 1.arJl" ,tJl"lEa isr }is1
liee, asked to be chained down. offered to
ls leaye the country foreveg and Ideclansd9|
mat ne was too wicked to desauAnotlteY,
John Wagner, ,sdd, Cutoff m yIa1ms and
legs and ret me go;you LkaoMYto otuYYd do
nothipng then!'' Jack GtliaEher 4utlh 80
that f0fked lightning HkkfHloN r9k eo1verv
atrahgfng sop III aa4ibo1Sa u fav,ou, tmf Ben
j GallagherS saa, Ii FiSF SHsA a
III b 81 ir hsl 5yitA you in Eyery1
Davis! Let her rip!' Gsoree, 'Sbears,L
when arrested said, Il kneWrIThouid have
to 60 up some time. but 1T itimtsht 1 could
run another season." WhBnfhld tomo,nt
the ladder, which served TO, etime being
as ,scafold, he made ase Of me fofl,wins.f
Gentlemen; FarS Tot S;used S t6|
this business, never bayiis0 s0beeh5 hnhg hs.,E
fore, Shall jump ST 9rhfay o87S Bed,
ing directed what, to rdo,n' donlh. b. sid, sMMa ,"AnI
righ; good BY" and leapsead iftto 1Taernitv,
From the confessions tof the ,1elepsnit y u
eonc!usiyely shown that; Tie yis;lan7tkaas4i
acted with such Discrimination that hpt -shp|l
innocent man suffered at tlleir HANDS, ,niel