Sun River sun., 1884-08-21
MONTANA MAN-hUNTERs,
twenty Three Stock Thieves Hunted
Oown and Hung This Summertime
Territory Infested with Dcsp-
eradoes---A Pioneer Press
Regulators Melange.

ing melange concerning the doings
OF the Montana Vigilantcs, being II
moro OF less truthful chronicle of tho
capitalization Of sundry horse
thieves: Between the Muscelshell
and the Judith rivers are the most
daring and powerful band of horse
thieves, regularly organized and cap.
tained, that have over existed in Mon.
tana. For tho past month horse
thieves have been having things all
their own way. In The Yellowstone
country no less than twenty-threc
have been lynched during that time.
| Numerous steamboat wood yards all
along the Missouri river arc nothing
more than nests and hiding for the
robbers, who are now known to be
both white and red. Vigilance and
safety committees are ut last being
organized to hunt the rascals down,
and from the reports coming in much
good work is being done. Many
telegraph poles and trees bear The
we'll ventilated bodies Of either white
mon, Indians, or half-breeds. Mr..
Reece Anderson was the first citizen
to open the campaign, and with TWEEN
ty-five cowboys belonging to Stuart l.
kohrs' Cattle compuny cleaned out in
short order nest Of horse thieves
who infested tho Muscelshcll and
Lower judith basin. Thirteen in all,
including two half-breeds, were round
ed up and hung. Anderson's party
then pursued and overlook on July 2s
number Of horse thieves who were
attempting to drive Il large band of
horses across the line into British
territory. All Of the stock was re-
covered, but the eight thieves escaped
into the Canadian possessions. An
other band of cowboys captured at
Rocky Point, Il few days ago, a gang
Of five horse thieves, recovering from
them thirty two head of horses. The
five outlaws were then suspended from
the nearest trees.
Granville Stuart's party, after clean
ing out the Downe and Felix gang Of
desporadces, a week OF SO ago, started
of on raid toward Woody mount
ain. Last Tuesday they came up
with gang Of thieves and had n run
ming fight with thcm. A few animals
were recovered and two mounted ras-
calls wounded, the latter were prompt
ly set to stretching hemp. Crossing
the Missouri at Fort Hawley, the
vigilantes arrived at Batoman's wood
yard, where they had a fight with an
other band OF rnscals which lasted
two hours. Bender and Galbra;th
are in pursuit of large gang Of horse
thieves, who it seems have commeced
operations in the Teton and Mirias
countries, making tho Sweet Grass
hills their rendezvous. Their first
work was TO hang "Dutch Louis" who
had ranch on Crooked creek,
who was strongly suspected Of keep
ing n rendezvous for horse thieves
and other bad characters. He bore II
bad name, and suspicion had been
resting on him Of being in league
with the outlaws. The pursucrs af-
terwards struck the trail of another
band who had been marauding on the
Teton. 1t was discovered that six
teen horses with eight drivers had
crossed at Three Islands, and nearly
one hundred animals were crossed ut
the mouth of the Mirias.
Last Friday night some half breed
freighters camped on Arrow creek had
all Of their horses. fifteen head stolen,
they say by Grow or Cree Indians,
who had at the time over 100 head,
which they were driving toward the
Missouri. A few hours later sixteen
Cree In dians crossed with eighteen
head of stock at Eagle creek, making
all possible speed to oycrtake the
former, These Indians We're probab-
ly the same thieves who have been
working the Teton, The red rascals
have two days start of tho pursuing
party. Mr.. G. Wegner of Wolf creek,
another outraged citizen, has also
commenced war ON the outlaws.
forty three head were run off from his
ranch, July 20, He at once organized
a small well-armed detachment Of de-
termined men, who have been scout
ing the country in every direction for
the past five days. Word has just
come in that his horses were found
south Of Highwood mountains; whore
tho thieves, becoming scared, had left
them and made good their escape.
There seems TO be a general uprising
of horse thieves, road agents. and des-
peradocs in the Missouri river country,
not only in this part of Montana but
also throughout the length and
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