River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-04
MY FIRST NIGHT In MONTANA.

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 had spent year
in Colorado, another in Arizona, six
months in California, and about as
much more in Oregon. Now, in the
regular order of peregrination which
young man once fairly afoat in the
far West, is apt to follow out, 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, l was
rather too innocent" for that place, as
my story will show. Montana was
''bard country" then | may say so now,
with no offence to it's good citizens of
to-day. They will agree with me l
think The Henry PIummer "gang"
was not then all cleared out, though
most determined vigilance commit
tee," composed of the ''best men" in the
Territory, had already hanged a score
OF 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 of 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
were none.
This condition of things lasted for
wear or two Then the honest element
rallied and formed a secret league,
sworn to establish order, or die in the
attempt.
From 1867 to 1880 the vigilants some
times had peculiar symbol which
rogue sometimes found affixed to his
cabin door on 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 "go," and if he was 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, [ will speak of it IN that
connection.
On the afternoon in question l was
jogging forward, perched on a mule,
with my outfit lashed and cinched to
the back of another, expecting to get to
"Bannock" by sunset and should have
done so but for taking 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 copse of diamond will
lows, rode in to inquire my way.
A lank, quick-eyed man of twenty
two or three appeared at the door as 1
came through the willows; and 1 noticed
that he seemed to regard my approach
very sharply, not to say suspiciously.
But 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, placard of white paper, about
seven inches square, pinned to the trunk
of a cottonwood ten or twelve feet from
Che cabin door. On this placard,
roughly drawn with very black pencil,
was a most truculently grinning skull
with crossbones, underneath which
were the large figures, SIT"
At that time / knew nothing what
ever of the Interpretation of this ca
balistic inscription; had never even
heard of it. merely glanced at it,
then addressed myself to the occupant
of the shanty and asked my way to Ban
mock Meantime 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 at that
/ time.
"You are matter of eleven miles out
of the city" he continued, regarding
me closely as he spoke, II doubt if you
| could get in there tonight The trail
! IS blind one. But" Che went on in a
! tone that seemed to convey to me some
occult signifcance) 81 am rather look
ing for a party of old acquaintance
over tonight, after the moon rises, and
[ NAV go back with them. You are
welcome to stop and go along with us,
if 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 a sinister impression. Yet the
! cr- 1, ~ lNo -,
my present situation. So | expressed
my thanks, dismounted, and hobbling
out my two mules, took my pack inside
the shantv and began CONVEX sation.
Like m yself, my host was young
man and of about my own size, build
and complexion He told me that he
had been in Montana three months
prospecting" and elk hunting; that he
managed to get living by the sale of
buffalo and elk hides. In q general
way he talked of the prospects for find
ing gold; and he told me one or two
anecdotes of his experience hunting
buffaloes, and also his name, -Albert
Fairbanks.
The squaw soon prepared dinner, and
gave us fine roast of buffalo meat,
along with a sauce from some kind of
wild plums which she had gathered.
We pan took bountifullv. But once, as
we sat eating, noticed that a slight
noise outside the cabin, made by one of
my mules, caused my host to start uneas-
ily, and that he went hastily to the
door for a look about.
As soon as we had fairly finished eat
ing, he observed to me, confidentially,
that he had promised "Maggy" (the
squaw) to set her on her way to her
folks" that evening, she being DESTROYS
of returning to her tribe; and he asked
me if l would mind Sitting by" in the
shanty. to look out for things, for an
hour and half, possibly, while he start
ed the Indian woman on her way.
Such request, involving no service
or trouble on my part, was not easily
refused to a man who had just furnished
me with a good dinner. | assented,
made myself comfortable before the fire
in the shantv, for the night was rather
chilly; and Immediately Fairbanks, &C
companied by the squaw, set off on foot,
An hour passed, perhaps more; night
had fallen, and it was quite dark out
side, the moon not having risen yet. ]
had hitched up my mules to tree out
side, when my ear caught the gallop Of
horses feet coming momentarily nearer,
evidently a numerous party. Its Far
banks friends" | thought to myself,