The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-06-19
MY FIRST NIGHT IN MONTANA.

> ~ c>%0 Ay
last n on earth, that to this day the
recollection of it sends a thrill along
my nerves. 1t was sixteen years ago, in
1869, and I was by no means a tender
foot" even then, for I had spent agar
in Colorado, another in Arizona, six
months in California, and about as
much more in Oregon. Now, in the
regular order of peregrination which
a young man once fairly afoat in the
far West, is apt tn follow out, I "swung
round" into Idaho and thence headed
for Virginia City, Bannack City and
Miles City.
Why was I going there? Gold, and
as a miner and an honest one; I can
honestly claim so much; in fact, I was
rather too innocent" for that place, as
my story will show. Montana was a
hard country then l 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 cleared out" though
Z 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
rao11x N11n{anr ao,,1 z,a Io,S l.--
settled without its "vigilants" and the
aid of lynch law. The Plummer gang"
of "road agents" and robbers had pre-
viously terrorized everybody, and had
brought all business to a ~standstill. It
wa impossible to possess any property
of value and live. Court and law there
We're none
This condition of things lasted for a
year or two. Then tue honest element
rallied and formed a secret league,
sworn to establish order. or die in the
attempt.
From ls67.to 1880 the vigilants
times had q peculiar symbol which a
rogue sometimes found affixed to his
CABIN door on a morning, or otherwise
posted where he could not fail to see it.
1t signified that his further residence in
the territory was not desired; in a word
it meant Ego" and if he was a wise man
he obeyed the hint thus conveyed some
time that day, and did not return.
But as this mystic symbol has to do
with my story, 1 will speak of it III that
connection.
On the afternoon in question I was
Jogging forward, perchea on a mule,
with my outfit dashed and cinched to
the back of another, expecting to get to
"Bannock" by sunset; and I should have
done so but for taking a wrong trail,
eight miles back, and going off to the
east of the town. At length, seeing a
shanty with a smoke, down beside q
creek among a copse of diamond will
lows, I rode in to inquire my way.
A lank, quick-eyed man of twenty
two or three appeared at the door as I
came through the willows and 1 noticed
that he seemed to regard my approach
very sharply, not to say suspiciously.
But l did not much wonder at that, for
all strangers" are suspicious characters
in these settlements.
| noticed, too, what did arouse in me
a certain queer feeling of curiosity,
namely, a placard of white paper. about
seven inches square, pinned to the trunk
of a cottonwood ten or twelve feet from
the cabin door. On this placard,
roughly drawn with a very black pencil,
was a most truculently grinning skull
with c~rossbones, underneath which
were the large figures, "3-7-77."
AT that time l knew nothing what
even of the Interpretation of this ca
balistic inscription; had never ever
heard of it. l merely glanced at it,
then addressed myself to the occupant
of the shanty and asked my way to Ban
mock. Meantime a Crow 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 we're his tone and infection what
we usually heard in those parts at that
time.
"You are a matter of eleven miles out
of the city," he continued, regarding
me closely as he spoke, "Idoubtif you
could get in there tonight. The trail
is a blind one. But" Che went on in
tone that seemed to convey to me some
occult signifcance) II am rather look.
ing for a party of old acquaintance
over tonight, after the noon rises, and
1 may go back with them. You are
welcome to stop and go along with us,
if you like. We have half a buffalo
hump roasting inside, and there is grass
for your mules along the creek"
Something in the mans amer and
the way in which his eyes sized me up,
gave me a sinister impression. Yet the
offer was hardly one to be refused il
my present situation. So I expressed
my thanks, dismounted, and hobblinq
out my two mules, took my pack inside
the shanty and began conversation.
Like myself, my host was a young
man and of about my own size, build
and complexion. He told me that HI
had been in Montana three month.
prospecting" and elk. hunting; that he
managed to get a living by the sale O.
buffalo and elk hides. In q genera
way he talked Of the prospects for find
ing gold; and he told me one or two
anecdotes of his experience hunting
bu%ffaloes, and also his name,-Alber'
Fairbanks.
The squaw 500 prepared dinner, anc
gave us q fine roast of buffalo meat
along with a sauce from some kind o.
wild plums which she had gathered
We paltook beautifully. But once, a
we sat eating, l noticed that a Sigh
noise outside the cabin, made by one O.
my mules, caused my host to start uneas
lily, and that he went hastily to tn,
door for a look about.
AS 500 as we had fairly finished eat
ing, he observed to me, confidentially.
that he had promised "Maggy" (th'
squaw) to set her on her way to hel
folks" that evening, she being DESTROYS
of returning to her tribe; and he asket
me- If wnnld mind "sittinr by" in fh,