Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-10-25
THE VIGILANTES,

The early history of California and
Nevada was filled with tragic deeds.
From the spring of 1850 until long af-
ter the WaShoe excitement, the entire
Pacific coast north of Lower CallfOr-
MIA was filled with wild and advt ntur-
Gus spirits, all searching after gold.
Every mining camp of any note had
its roughs, all well armed, we'll drilled
in the use Of weapons, and as reckless
of life as any bandit who ever cat a
throat. These dare-devils were fire.
quently employed by mining compa-
MES to drive off miners and hold
mining property. in order to save the
trouble of appealing to the courts to
adjust their difficulties.
The writer arrived in the Wild
mining town of Aurora, Nevada, in
the spring of 1862, when the Wide
West" and Real del Monte" mines
were at war over supposed valuable
mining ground. Each company, act
ing upon the claim that might makes
right, imported from Washoe lot of
the most villainous and reckless roughs
to be found in Nevada After a num-
Der Of fights between the two factions
employed by the Wide West owners on
the one side, and the Real del Monte
on the other, the adjustment of the
disputed ground was finally left to the
courts, and the roughs, being thrown
out of employment in their legitimate
business of throat-cutting, went to
work at a trade which, one of them
said, would pay better-highway rob-
berry. After robbing number of
persons, four of the worst Villains
murdered and robbed, in the public
streets of Aurora, kind hearted old
man by the name of Johnson, who had
fed them in his hotel without receiv-
ing any pay. The names of the mur-
derers were Masterson, Daily, Buckley,
and Three-fngered Jack. The four
ssassins, after doing their bloody
work, left town at once, and started
for Mono Lake, all well mounted, and
each heavily armed The sheriff, Mr.
Francis, with about ten picked men
well armed, started in hot pursuit.
The cut-throats were overtaken the
second day out, about twenty miles
south of Mono Lake, Inyo county, in
he lava beds of that volcanic country.
They were surrounded and captured
without shot being fired. Sheriff
Francis, one Of the bravest and coolest
men in Nevada, was asked the next
day, when he brought his prisoners in
town, heavily ironed:
"How did you do it ?"
He answered in his quiet way:
eve had the drop on them. They
knew we were thar; and, when we
covered 'em with ten Sharp's rifles,
said: Boys, throw up your hands, and
they did it quick as lightning. When
/ was putting the handouts on Three
fingered Jack, he laughed and said.
Francis, old man, you did it mighty
quick
The following day vigilance COM
mittee of about seven hundred men
was organized, well armed and ready
for work. A large, solid scaffold was
hastily erected on the sidehiu above the
jail where the murderers were con-
fined. Promptly at twelve o'clock, on
the fourth day after the murder, a
little band Of about thirty picked men.
headed by Captain Palmer, commander
of the vigilante forces, with a twelve
FOUNDER loaded with grape and scrap
iron, marched down in front of the
jail.
Sheriff Francis, cool and deliberate,
with about half dozen picked depu-
ties, each armed with Sharp's rife,
stood in front of the Jail door.
Captain Palmer, as he drew up his
little force in front, said, as he raised
his hat:
Sheriff Francis, / demand from you
four murderers, whom you hold as
risonerA"