The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-21

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IL{lk ~ when that state
sfyaks.fS1s was but frontier
Slf1t,GlrL mining camp. For
Iel(lsR sometime" be said,
Nt9 'lawlessnoss had
run riot and life
and property appeared 10 have a better
chance to be sacrificed than to be pre-
served. There were signs Of a coming
storm manifested by the law-abiding
portion OF the community. which stead
lly grew until Il wac only a question Of
some aggravated case coming up 70
cause II TO break out. II was not long
waiting for an opportunity. An limo
cent German went down the gulch
from Virginia City TO look for a mule
which was missing. and which had evil
IDENTIFY been stolen. He found the mule,
but Il cost him his life.
The finding OF the dead body Of the
German was the sign OF the breaking
out OF the storm, and the now thor
oughly aroused citizens soon traced the
crime to a rough character named
George Ives. He was captured. aud
then tn question rose ag 10 what meth
cd should be adopted 20 dispose OF him.
There we're two factions. one Of which
proposed that he should be tried by
what Is known as a miners court. the
verdict OF which was arrived At by TAX
Ing a vote OF the entire number pres
eat The more conservative faction
proposed TO give the accused as near a
legal trial as was possible under the
existing conditions. They finally pre-
vailed and a jury was empaneled and
a judge appointed. A wagon box served
as a dock. and another for the Judge
and jury. w. r. Sanders. who was
afterwards senator from Montana. was
appointed a. the prosecuting attorney.
and a young Kentuckinn named Thur
man was designated 10 defend Ives. and
right royalty ala he stand by his client
The pleas Of both OF the attorneys
gero able efforts. but the evidence was
% conclusive that the efforts OF law
yers on either side were supernuous
md were only brought into play that
Inc forms OF law mlsh, be observed.
"a verdict OF guilty as charged was
promptly rendered. and az promptly
,arrlcd into effect There was no ap-
zeal to the supreme court and no plead
ngs for executive clemoney. This hang
.ng quieied the lawloss element for a
lime. but they soon resumed their old
ways. Horses were stolen. men who
we're out on the many trails leading
from the mining camps 70 the larger
settlements were held mp and robbed
md II they offered any resistance we're
murdered Finally some papers fcll
into the hands Of the iaw-abidlng ele-
ment which showed that there was !
regularly organized gang Of road agents
regular accounts OF their dolngs were
kept and a divide OF the proceeds OF the
forays made. The gang was shown "a
number AZ loast eighty. and Henry
Plummer. the sheriff OF the county. wa
ascertalned 10 be Ia leader.
"Tsas discovery led to the formation
o. a regularly organized vigilance com.
mittee. and the members OF the com
miiiee waited until they could catch a
many Of the gane In town as possible
before making any move. when n,
time for action came they quleill
placed a guard around the camp n
nlght In order 10 prevent the escape o
any OF their intended victims. Some o
them got wind Of the raid In com,
manner and did make their escape. bu
Eve OF the most notorious Of them wcrl
captured. A prompt trial and read
rope we're provided. and the Eve werl
hanged before the setting OF the sul
next day. Three Of these were Boone
Helmm. Jack Gallagher (Who was
resident OF Omaha before he went int
that country and Big Foot George
The names Of the other two have es
capped me.
zone OF those who escaped was caugh
some time after over near Hellgate
which is In the vicinity Of where IN
city OF Helena nov stands. lie had SUI
fered greatly from the cold. and hi
feet were foEen. His condition. how
ever. did not save him. One difficulty
IN disposlng Of the victim was enooun
tered. There was not a tree. Wagon
tongue or anything else In the neigh
borhood to which he could be hanged
The problem was finally solved BY Get
ting him on a horse behind one OF tn
vigllantes. tying his feet and hands &c
eurely. placing one cad Of the rop
around his neck and tying the Othe
end TO the pummel Of the saddle. Tn
horse was given a vigorous application
Of the whip and spur. and tho vietln
slid on behind and hlo neck was broker
by a sudden Jerk.
Henry Plummer. the leader OF IN
sang. was tried by the vigllantes owe
az Bannoek City and hanged. othe
members were caught and executed a
various places. and altogether thirty
Ave paid the penalties OF the crime
through the fundamentally OF the viz
ilantes.
"The most notorious man who eve
infested the border also met his dealt
al the hands Of the vigilantos Of Wiz
ginia City. but Il was Tor no connection
with this band OF road agenta Thi
was slade. who. before coming to vir
ginia City, had left a bloody tran be
hind him on the great overland trail
He was engaged In irelghting from
Salt Lake 10 Virginia City. and also RAJ
a dairy just outside OF the camp AM
sold milk 10 the miners. when eobc
be was gentlemanly and peaccahle. bu
when In his cups be possessed the Eplrl
Of fend Sometimes his disposition