Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-01-19
NEVADA VIGILANTES.

!
and professional men. Everybody who
possessed any activity or had suffered any
grievance was counted among those re-
tributors. They had signs-a codo Of tel
egraph signals-passwords and vouchers
as to each others taithfulness. The
whole order-loving community recogniz-
ed the necessity of their terrible venge-
ance, and supported them in sympathy il
not in deed. In general the members of
the committee were not known and dc.
tails, chosen by the general body, were
assigned to tho making of certain arrests
and conducting the inevitable execution
in as quiet and disguised "A manner as
possible. The effort usually was to hang
their captive before he knew he was a
prisoner, allowing no time for any plan
of rescue or escape to mature. II their
justice had the terror and swift surprise
Of lightning-stroke, their work was
guided by fair judgment and restraint on
the whole and, when one thinks how
many lives were at their mercy, and rich
ly deserving their punishment, and con-
siders how few comparatively were sacri-
feed he will believe that moro modera-
tion than could DO expected characterized
their proceedings.
When the hands of the Vigilantos be-
gan to be felt in Virginia City, the des-
peradoes were alarmed. Hero was n de-
termined check OF their lawlessness,
against which their fury was wasted.--
They fled, and the news came out OF the
plague of their presence in other camps.
The Vigilantes wore not thus to be foiled,
and "sconts " of determined men started
in all directions after tho miscreants. An
armed police patrollod tho Territory, and
no mining camp or isolated ranch 'or
mountain cabin was obscurcd enough to
hide these wolves of society. They sus-
pected evory man to be Vigilanter,
were always prepared, and often were
shot dead at last in defending thom selves.
But, if possible, the pursuer captured and
hung them-hung them from limbs of
trees, all seizng tho ropo together and
running the condemned man twice their
height OIL tho ground ; standing them on
barrels and kicking the barrels from un-
der them the instant the moose was ad-
justed balancing plank over stone
and playing n short game of sec-saw, with
Il road agent for countor-poso suspend.
ing them four or five at time from tho
raiters OF new cabins, the gato-posts of
corrals and the wheels of hugo freight
wagons standing them on the tail board
Of wagon and driving out from under
seating them behind II Viglonter on
horseback and putting spurs to tho po-
ny, who sprang away with but one rider
holding them high in their arms and let
ting them drop as the hemp would allow.
Such were somc OF the methods Of hang
ing, but the same irrcvocablo fate result
cd from all
Sometimes the rulllans would tremble
and plead and threaten in crazod and in
coherent despair. Prayer and menace
were unheeded by their storm captors.-
But ordinarily they died as they had iy-
ed, reckless Of present or future, and pro-
laning every sentiment which men deem.
ed worthy OF respect. Launch you
blamed old boat it's only II mudscow
anyway" ordered one as no stood on the
shore Of eternity. Gentlemen, | nm
green at this business, never having been
hung before. Shall jump OFF or slide
off" Being told to jump he leaped into
the air, rs ono steps from his carriage af-
tor morning ride.
Tho road agents rarely buried their
murdered victims tho Vigilantes usually
let the malefactors hanging whore they
left them, allowing friends to bury thom
where they pleased. Usually quiet and
seriousness attended all executions
Spectators were always many, and symp-
athzor not a few but guard OF Vigi-
antes stood about the gallows with cock
ed reyolyers, and u movement in tho
crowd met instant death. Once nm out
slider pressed against the guard. at the
same time putting his hard in tho bosom
Of his shirt. "Tako away your hand,
please" remarked the Vigilantor, pleas
antly, want to shoot just through that
middle button" Tho hand came down,
and the man kept his distance very care.
fully.
On one occasion, however, the hing
men were enraged beyond control. They
went to the cabin al Mexican named
Joe Pizantha, known and feared every.
where a., "The Groaser." His crimes
we're numborless and bloody. Conceal
ing himself in his hut, he shot the two
men who first entered the door, killing
one-a very popular citizen instantly
The Vigilautes rotreated. They could
see no mark, and were sure of death if
they approached. A mountain howtzer
was not far away, and while some guard
ed, the rest brought tho cannon, and with
shells and round shot soon demolished
the building-no reply coming from the
concealed foe all this time. Two men
yenturod near, aud at last inside the
house. From under the ruins of the
chimney, knocked to pieces by cannon
bail, peered the Greaser's boots, and by
these they pulled him out. lie was fatally
hurt, but his six-shooter was by his side,
and as soon as no was free from the de-
bris of masonry he reached for it. Itwas
his last move. The man whom he had
wounded at the door sat there waiting for
him, and the Greaser's body was filed
with hnllnfs hnfnrn Lie hnnh Enl hnnn