The Mineral argus., 1885-07-09
M FIRST NIGHT N MONTANA.

The first night which I spent in Mon
tana Territory came so near being my
last one on earth, that to this day the
recollection of it sends thrill along
my nerves. 1t was sixteen years ago. in
1869. and Twas by no means tender
foot" even then, for i had spent a year
in Colorado, another in Arizona, six
months in California, and about az
much more in Oregon. Now, in the
regular order of Reorganization which
. young man once fairly afoat in the
far West, is apt TO follow out, l Swung
round" into Idaho and thence headed
for Virginia City, Bannack City and
Miles City.
Why was going there? Gold, and
as a miner and an honest one; can
honestly claim so much; in fact, was
rather too innocent" for that place, as
my story will show. Montana was a
"hard country" then; I may say so now.
with no offence to its good citizens OF
to-day. They will agree with me I
think. The Henry Plummer gang"
was not then all ''cleaicd out" though
o most determined vigilance commit
tee," composed of the ''best men" in the
Territory, had already hanged a score
or two of them, without judge or jury
process.
Such rude acts Of justice are apt to
make eastern people shudder. But
really, Montana could never have been
settled without its "vigilants" and the
aid If lynch law. The Plummer gang"
of "road agents" and robbers had pre-
viously terrorized everybody. and had
brought all business to standstill. 1t
was impossible to possess any property
of value and live. Court and law there
we're none.
This condition of things lasted for q
year or two THIN the honest element
rallied and formed o secret league,
sworn to establish order, or die in the
attempt.
From 1867 to 1880 the vigilants some.
times had a peculiar symbol which
rogue sometimes found affixed to his
cabin door on q morning, or otherwise
posted where he could not fail to see it.
II signified that his further residence in
the territory was not desired; in word
il meant go" and if he Vas wise man
he obeyed the hint thus conveyed some-
time that day, and did not return.
But a. this mystic symbol has to do
with my story, will speak of it IN that
connection.
On the afternoon in question I was
jogging forward, perched ON Q mule,
with my outfit dashed and cinched to
the back Of another, expecting to get TO
"Bannock" by sunset and should have
done 20 but for taking q wrong trail,
eight miles back, and going OF 10 the
east Of the town. Al length, seeing
shanty with . smoke, down beside .
creek among Q copse Of diamond vii.
lows, I rode in to inquire my way.
A lank, quick-eyed man OF twenty.
two or three appeared at the door a. I
came through the willows; and ! noticed
that he seemed to regard my approach
very sharply, not to say suspiciously.
But did not much wonder at that, for
oukcIB SuSkiCAOuo OAAoA oOSCAO
in these settlements.
l noticed, too, what did arouse in me
o certain queer feeling of curiosity.
namely, o placard of white paper, about
seven inches square, pinned to the trunk
OF Q cotton wood ten or twelve feet from
the cabin door. On this placard,
roughly drawn with very black pencil,
was q most truculently grinning skull
with crOssbones, underneath which
were the large figures, "3-7-77."
At that time l knew nothing what
ever of the Interpretation of this ca
balistic inscription; had never even
heard Of it. l merely glanced at 1t,
then addressed myself to the occupant
Of the shanty and asked my way to Ban
mock. Meantime a Grow Indian squaw
made her appearance at the door.
"Well. you have missed your way"
replied the man, in exceptionally good
English; not at all of the frontier sort,
nor were his tone and infection what
We usually heard in those parts ct that
time.
"YOu are matter OF eleven miles out
of the city," he continued, regarding
me closely as he spoke, "Idoubt If you
could get in there tonight. The trail
is blind one. But" (he went on in .
tone that seemed to convey to me some
occult signifi cancel Il am rather look
ing for . party of odd acquaintance
over tonight. after the moon rises, and
may 90 back with them. You are
welcome to stop and go along with us,
II you like. We have half buffalo
hump roasting inside, and there is grass
for your mules along the creek"
Something in the mans manner and
the way in which his eyes sized me up,
gave me sinister impression. Yet the