The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-20
Their Necks Were Dislocated and
All Died Easily and With
out Suffering.
The End at Last Of Series Of
Cruel and Causeless
Tragedies.
They Met Death Without Finch
ing, but with Full Appreoia-
tion of Their Fate.
A Remarkable observation-disclosures and In
cidents Before tho Drop Fell ON
tho 0uartette.

Cldents before tho Drop Fell on
tho nuartette.
M1ssouLA, Dec. 19.-[Special.-
Jail Of Missoula county is square
structure Of brick built on the open ground
near al unsightly court house. The in
terror is divided into the sheriff's office,
apartments for his associates and corridors
and cells for the prisoners. The latter
room is quite in the ordinary line. There
is stone floor and between whitewashed
walls there is q square of iron-covered cells
divided in lower and an upper section.
There are no features of special attraction
and yet last evening this little building was
made n place Of Tasting interest to the people
of M,ssoula county, and many strangers
from various sections of the state. Within
the four walls were found four Indian muir
derers who were to die on the morrow.
Thew we're of the usual type among the
criminals of their race. fends whose only
life. They were ignorant, cruel
and despicable wretohes. and yet
there was n pathetic side to the
picture. This was suggested by the loneli-
ness of their condition and in tho certainty
that they were to die. Otherwise they were
without even semblance of sympathy
from the outside world.
They passed the night in fairly COM
Portable way. Part of the time they con-
versed i'll their native tongues and chatted
with tha guards. Young Antley, the Koot-
enai boy, Rrinned and chartered to Pascal,
his brother in the tribe. The others were
sullen, morose and silent during the greater
part Of the night. They moved about i'll a
common cell with perfect freedom. though
ever under tho watchful eyes Of the two
guards. The priest visited them early in
the evening and administered the sacra-
ment and all showed the greatest interest
in the consolation offered by the good
father. The sherif's office near by was
visited during the early hours by the news
paper men and guests who had been
invited TO witness the execution. Among
these were Sheritfs Halford of Jefferson
county, Templeton of Park, Quigley of
Deer Lodge, Hamilton of Cascade, Jones
of Custer. Robertson of Gallatin; Deputy
Sheriffs Hansen, Robertson, Miller, Wheeler.
ANlVu0tN6s SlUy hAuloAu4 SAOul1lD OA-NAdIbuUA
Hard of Helena, Wardens Tom McTague
and Frank Conley of Deer Lodge peniten-
tiary, United States Marshal w. f. Furay.
Detective James Conley of Deer
Lodge, Col. John Worth and 9TH
ers. The only object of interest in the
Office was little pile of four black bundles.
Each contained a cheap black suit in which
murderer would die. At midnight the
Office was deserted save by deputy, while
within the jail all were sleeping except the
Indians and their guards. The fear of
the morrow apparently did not dis
turb these Indians at 2:3O o'clock. That
hour found Antley and Ia La-See asleep in
the little canvas cots swung between the
walls of the cell. Pierre Paul, In Indian
fashion, dropped flat on the floor and there
found rest. Pascale whiled away an hour
or SO playing solitaire and then threw him.
self ON the stone floor to sleep. Thus the
ley and Pascale a woke and chatted with the
guard about their death. When told that
they would certainly die, both expressed
their gratitude to the guard for telling tho
truth, and then they returned to sleep.
When they again awoke at 7:30 they were
met by the priests. Each was taken to
cell where the sacrament was administered.
.
chilly and damp atmosphere. The sun
hung back in the gray clouds and refused
to shine SO that it was hard to tell when the
shadows of night were fully broken. With
the good people of Misssnla time was of
small consideration. There was a 'hang-
gathered in hordes about the Jail hours be-
fore the time and fought for places on the
outside. The place of execution WAS within
A high board fence built for the occasion in
the rear of the Jail. On one side of the
fence was pile OF wood reaching almost to
the gallows within. This wood pile was
black with people scrambling for a good
seat. But all spectators were permitted to
at least view the Indians, for the pissed
from the jail within full sight of all, though
n small fence was the dividing line between.
Behind the jail were two poplar trees with
b. b'anches hanging almost over the fence.
several small boys. Perched on the Jail fence
were four men. each with a loaded Win
their presence was quite unnec-
essary though they killed time by swearing
at the spectators on the outside while the
execution was in progress. They were
there to prevent any possible outbreak
from the friends Of the four wretches with
in. This WAS not anticipated, but the
sheriff plans were made with view to
safety. The only Indians in town save two
were scattered about on the corners OUT
side. Two or three squaws dressed in
many colored blankets were among them,
and one was seen crying bitterly at corner
about twenty rods from the jail. While
the crowd was waiting the finishing touches
were being made in preparation for the
final scene. The last tests of the gallows
were satisfactory. though no one could an
ticipate results. It was q grim-looking
death machine. Two upright beams were
at the end of platform standing seven
feet from the ground and reached by a
stairs at one corner. Between the beams
was cross piece from which were sus-
pended fiye-eighths hemp ropes ending
in carefully splioed moose. Each
rope was exactlv as long as the man it wa 9
to hang. 30 that the drops differed in |
length. The platform on which the mon
stood was novelty. II was so arranged that
that by cutting small rope the whole thlng
would gave way. thus making four traps in
one and exposing the bodies to view until
removed. The gallows was the only piece
Of furniture on the frozen ground Of the
little jail yard. Four walls OF pine boards