Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-10-24


an Hour.
The following narrative published
in recent number Of the Denver
News, is one of the few authentic
stories published of early life in the
northwest The article is one Of a
local nature and will be read with in
terest by all old-timers. Henry Plum
mer, one Of the characters of this
sketch, is known personally to a few
of the TRIBUNE's old time readers, and
by reputation to them all. His career
of crime was short but bloody. Robt.
Ellis, of Carterville, who was person
ally acquainted with Plummer, says
he was one Of the most gentiemanly
fellows he ever met, and was as cour-
ageous as lion In the early days
of Bannack, Plummer was elected
sheriff, and was a good officer. But
ctllSi LIS ietl4 elISl1t iIOlH oLto O1liSS
he went to the bad, and at last was
hung by the yigilantes, in company
with Buck Stimson and Ned Ray
Just previous to his death he sent his
wife to the States and had planned
a daring robbery which would have
been consummated on the night he
was hung, as was learned subse
quently:
In the spring Of 1862 the writer
started from Minnesota to Colorado
to seek his fortune. Across Iowa,
through Omaha, by Shinn's Ferry to
south side of Platte, with mules for
motive power, a long and tedious trip,
the jayhawkers and Indians on the
plains furnishing scarcely excitement
enough to break the monotony This
was twenty-three years ago, and the
population which has since poured
into the country, and from its mex
haustible resources have won wealth
and luxury, will be interested to know
that upon arriving in the Denver Of
that day we found the opinion preva-
lent that Colorado was overdone, sur
face mining about played out, no more
chance for poor devil, and talk of
that of that kind. These depressing
reports We're soon dissipated by ru-
mors from the Northwest. There had
been new discoveries which promised
to rival California in its best days.
There was no telegraph then, but that
did not prevent news from
THIS FAR-oFF LAND OF RICHES
Reaching Denver every hour in the
day. Doubt resolved itself into GER
tainty; hope banished discourage
ment. Here was a chance for fell
low. Here was country where every
thing worth having wouldn't be COB
bled up. Men congratulated each
other on their luck, and already laid
plans for spending the wealth almost
within reach; thought Of the magnifi-
cent residences they would build,
pondered on the various styles Of ar
chitecture, made horticulture and
landscape gardening study, and
gave the subject Of blooded horses
and fine turnouts proper considera
ton. Old-timers, reference is now
made to the Salmon River excitement.
Nearly every man that was foot
loose and could scare up an outfit got
ready to turn his back on old, worn
out Colorado and start for a sure
thing The writer of this sketch had
no intention to let such a chance slip
through his fingers. Mules were
traded for cattle, as safer for trip
SO distant and dangerous, and early
in June our train of about one hun
dred wagons took formal leave Of
Denver We crossed the Cache Ie
Poudre, after quarreling and compro-
missing with some F'renchmen, who |
wanted nearly all the money we had |
left for ferrying us over, we then fol- |
lowed
THE OLD CHEROKEE TRAIL,
Without incident worth mentioning, |
to Green River; thence to Fort Bridg-
er. Here we camped for rest, some
cattle-shoeing, &c, and here
an incident occurred which may be
noted as Illustrating life and manners
on the plains in that day. Before
breaking camp at Bridger train
overlook US, and the news soon spread
that they were about to hang one of
their number for stealing. An express
agent had brace of fine pistols..taken
from his saddle-bags while camped on
Green River, and a search being made |
through the train, then close by, the
pistols were found in a pair Of boots
belonging to the condemned man. |
This was a clear case, and in the alb
sence Of Court and lawyers, with their
interminable delays, it was decided to
hang him on reaching Fort Bridger.
The writer had talk with the poor
fellow and was told that he was the |
e