The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-03-29
A yIGILANTE's DEATH.
Laid Away in eight Of One Of tas Most
Eventfui seems Of His vigilant Career
His Funeral Large One, solsma and I'm
presxiva

We told In these columns few days
ago the story OF the early career la
Montana OF Colonel Wilbur Fisle San
ders. says the n. Y. Sun. whom the
republican legislature OF the new state
has elected as United States senator.
Since the appearance OF that narrative.
there has died in Montana the man
who, next TO Colonel Sanders himself,
was the most conspicuous figure Ia the
remarkable secret organization which
look the law into It's own hands Ia the
winter OF 1861. exterminaled Plum
mer's band OF road agents aud MUIR
derers. and for more than twenty
years ruled the Territory In the Inter-
est OF peace aud order by the terrorism
Of mask and rope.
John X. Beidler was universally
known In the west as ''X," and for
years that letter was odious TO the viii
lains OF the frontier. IL meant 10 them
the crossbones under the skull. In this
form. along with the mysterious num-
erals 3-7-77. IL was frequently visi-
bic In very black ink on piece of
white cardboard, measuring exactly
seven inches by nine, tackled TO the
door OF "A house or cabin. pinned To the
canvas OF a tent or nailed TO stake in
front of a ranch or wakiup In the will
dcrness. The desperate who found in
the morning that he had been served
with this dreaded notice know that
Colonel Sanders Vigilantes had been
considering his case. The warning
meant: "Pack up and leave within
twenty-four hours, or swing on the sec
ond nightr'
There was no nonsense about the
placard. IL a mistake had been made,
as happened perhaps once in hum
bred times the victim OF unjust sus
picion sought out Colonel Sanders or
X. Beidler; or some other prominent
citizen generally believed to be iniu-
entail with the Nigilantes. and laid the
case before him. speaking as neighbor
20 neighbour. If the plea OF the accus-
ed seemed good il was kindly he ,rd
and passed along TO the midnight tri-
bunal TO be investigated further Per-
haps the sentence was reversed aud the
accused notified Informally TO that ef-
feet. Perhaps il was reaffirmed by "a
second placard. Then there was no
appeal.
On the other hand, IL tho gentleman
whose presence la the territory was
regarded as undesirable. was so fool
hardy as TO disregard the notice and
defy the vigilantes. he found himself
on the second night ia the hands OF
Il score or more OF masked men, all
in dead earnest; and In countless cases
Of the sort the man who adjusted the
moose and gave the signal for the pull
that ran the wretch up into eternity
was Crossbones Beidler. Probably no
other individual on this continent ever
assisted at so many hangings. Ger
tainly no citizen ever acted as execu-
TONER with stcrner sense OF duty TO
the public.
y. Beidler was an early settler OF
Virginia City. town originally nam
cd Varina In honor OF the wife OF JEFF
fcrson Davis. lie was one OF the
originators OF the Vigilante movement
and one OF the principal actors in the
tragic events narrated in Professor
Thomas j. Dimsdalc's" had al
most said Colonel Wilbur 4. Sanders
valuable historical monograph. His
rugged personality. his incorruptible
integrity and sense OF right and
wrong and his dauntlcss courage made
him ~ notable figure Ia the organiza-
ton. and 10 his sinewy hands, oftener
than TO those of any other Vigilante.
was entrusted the unpleasant task OF
actual execution. He was widely
feared and universally respected.
The first Nigilanto execution I'm the
new metropolis OF Helena was con-
Quoted by Mr. j. X. Beidler. and. says
the cmineat historian who thinly dis.
guises his identity under the pseudonym
OF Professor Dimsdale. everything
went oil in quiet aud orderly Manner
Harry slater was "A professional gam
bier, who months before. ut Salt Lake
City. had attempted 10 shoot Colonel
Sanders In the back when that states
mar was on his way to the diggings
Slater had cmigrated % Last Chance
Gulch, whore he was murdered In cold
blood by the celebrated highwayman.
Bob Black, whose real name was John
keenc. Keene was caught red-handcd
by &. j. ID Curtis and Y. Beidler.
There was short trial ia "A lumber
yard. The execution took place on
the hill just north OF the present. town
OF Helena. and 10 was witnessed by n
ihrong OF people. including not small
OF ladies'. Y. Bsidler found
tho gallows ready made. "a large
pine tree. with stout limbs
standing almost alone. Keene
was transported 10 the hill ia a lumber
wagon accompanied by the Rev. Mr..
Under the gallows tree
a plank was arranged with one end
on dry good. box and the other rest.
ing upon an upright stick. keene
stood upon this frail platform. the
moose around his neck. and the othe. |