The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-02-18

entrance to this apartment, and that was
by a door opening into the back room
ofan adjoining building which was occu-
pied by N old Jew named Jacob Smart,
whose cheap sign on the front door in
Dictated that his business was that of q
gold dust buyer and money broker, but
who in reality was the agent of the
Thugs in disposing of their stolen goods,
and in giving them the tip whenever u
rich customer presented himself at his
counter to dispose of his treasure. 1t
was never clearly ascertained that old
Jacob ever directly assisted in robbery,
but by his management many unsus-
pecting miners were relieved of their
%plethoric bags of dust, the profits of
which Jacob participated in. His mode
OF procedure was, after wheedling all
he could out of his customer (Which in
those early times vas not difficult, for
the miner had not then learned to keep
his business to himself, but was rather
disposed to confide in his fellow-man,
especially when that nan was profuse
in his professions of friendship to ell
tice him into his back parlor, where
over a social glass and cigar he gained
his entire confidence and the consent of
his dupe to spend the night in sport and
revelry at the "Balaklava" next door.
His ~lifeless body iloated among the piles
next day, or he found himself wander
ing about the street crazcd, almost des-
titute OF clothing and without a cent Of
money TO purchase q meal.
This man Jenkins had been arrested
early in the evening Of the day named
by the officers of the Vigilance Commit
tee, which fact was speedily made known
to the leaders of the gang. Il hasty
summons to meet ut the den was circu-
lated, and while the Committee on Bat
terry Street was celebrating his case,
his friends o Pacific Street had assem-
bled in council for the purpose of devils
ing mean for his release. What the
deliberations of this conclave was is not
known, but it a resolved that Jenkins
must he rescued from the hands of the
people at all hazards, and as the COM
mittee could not be manipulated as the
courts had been, the hope of effeeting
their object by false swearing and
corruption could not be indulged
in the least. Stronger measures must
therefore be reSorted to, and every
member in the city was ordered to hold
himself in readiness for immediate ac-
ton, and if it became necessary force
would be used, which. in the opinion Of
the leaders, could notfail to be effective,
for they, as well as Il large portion of
the inhabitants Of the city, were ig-
norant of the strength and temper of
the committee. Although ''Thugs"
mustered in strong force, and were
ready to perform any deed, however
desperate, and counted on an easy vic
tory in u collision with the impromptu
authorities, they were not prepared for
the power manifested by the committee
when its battalions of determined men
FULLY armed and equipped marched
forth to carry out their resolve Of hang
ing John Jenkins then and there, and
of following up in rapid succession I'M
til the town was purged of every muir
derer, house-burner or robber that could
be found.
The bell continued to toll the death
knell of the doomed man as the prepa-
~rations for the execution went steadily
forward. twas known to the commit
tee through their agents in the enemies
camp that a rescue Of the prisoner was
contemplated, and they were fully pre-
pared. The friends Of the culprit, on
the other hand, dared not force the issue
in the face OF so great odds, and while
the rays of the full moon mellowed the
hazy atmosphere OF this midsummer
night, and all inanimate nature seemed
at peace, they were compelled to remain
inactive while one of their band paid
the penalty of his misdeeds. But they
were marked, every nan of them. A
power had arisen in the land too mighty
for their resistance, andwhich was soon
to manifest that power more forcibly
among their ranks. Others were doomed
to follow their comrade in his dance OF
death, and the rest expelled from the
city and the organization broken up.
At 2 O'Clock the signal was given, and
a score of men seized the rope already
adjusted to the neck of the trembling
wretch and ran towards the adobe build
ing at the north side of the Plaza, drag
ging him along the ground until the
end of the building was reached. oyer