Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-22
Of
MEETING OF WILLIAM
THOMPSON AND A M. HOTTER
AT VIRGINIA CITY.
attended THE EXECUTION
OF FIVE HlGHWAYMEN.
They Pulled the Rope Which Swung
Gallagher Into Eternity-A
Deal in lsails.

Gallagher Into Eternity-A
Deal in walls.
Helena Independent: A.. NJ. Hotter who
returned Saturday from Butte, where he
went to attend the funeral of ex-Mayor
William Thompson, of thai city, which
occurred Friday afternoon. voiced the
sentiment of the dead pioneers friend in
Helena, when he said yesterday that for
.tenacity OF purpose, pure grit and sturdy
honesty Mr.. Thompson's life was a rare
example.
II never knew a better man." said Mr..
Hotter yesterday to a small group Of old
timers 1t the Montana club. IT knew
him more than a third of a century, was
associated in business with him the last
II years, and in all that time I never
knew him to depart from his IDEAS of
what was right. His tenacity Of purpose
would have been called stubbornness in
some men at some times; he had to be
convinced that his views were wrong be
fore he would change a course once out
lined. There was a no more upright man
in the state than William Thompson.
III met Thompson under rather peculiar
circumstances" continued Mr.. Hotter. 1T
was more than 36 years ago when I first
saw him.. We We're connected in q way
"lS oAAS - LAAS IAAocL
IN the history of the state-the execution
Of five murderers and highwaymen, which
took place in Virginia City, ian. IA, 1864.
1t was there that T first saw William
Thompson, although I did not know who
1t was | met there until a long time af-
forwards.
The ~vigilantes had arrested Boon
Helm, Club Foot George Lane, Hayes
Lyons, Frank Parish and Tack Gallagher.
No man who was in Virginia City that
day will ever forget the events hi fol
lowed. 1t was at a time when the vigil
lantes and he outlaws were opposed to
each other and the law and order element,
which had been suppressed so long, was
then in the ~ascendency. Some of the lead
ers Of the bold rang Of cutthroats that
had infested the territory had already
been hanged and it only remained to clear
the camps Of those remaining to make
the territory safe for homes men. The
viglante committee decided upon drastic
measures, and lost no time in putting
them into execution. The night Of Jan. Is,
1864, armed men surrounded Virginia City
the Intention being to arrest and execute
SIX deSperadOeS who were known to have
been members of Plummer's gang OF
murderers, who were then in camp. When
morning came, the residents Of the camp
saw armed pickets patrolling the town
and at once knew hat something was up.
During the night of the men wanted
by the vigilantes escaped, but the other
nVe We're arrested and taken before the
committee to receive their sentence.
Their records were we'll known and their
examination by the tribunal was brief.
All five men pleaded for their lives, but
in air The committee was firm and af-
ter a few hours preparation, the execu-
ton took place.
The men, under a heavy guard. were
led to an unfinished store building at
the corner of the two principal streets
OF the camp where the preparations
been made for the wholesale angine
From the cross-beam overhead hung
nve ropes, each with a moose at the
End. n other ends of these ropes
were fastened at the back of the build
ing. n each moose was an empty box
to which was attached a rope leading out
side of the building.
A I said, it was a scene not to he f,r-
gotten. The five condemned murderers
We're marched upon the five boxes. each
haltlng beside a waiting moose. The
men We're in plain sight of the crowds
surrounding the building. 1t was a. great
throng, for all the miners Of the camp
and for miles around We're there. Hun
dreds OF armed men surrounded the
cabin, for 1t was determined to forestaU
any possible attempt at rescue.
The unfortunate Wretches under the
beam appreciated the fact that their
SANAo vSAS AAS~As = III "oo SIdte dHC
calm. He had said but little from the
time of his arrest. He seemed to appre-
ciate his position more thar any of the
others. Boon Helm was defiant and pro.
fame. He TESTED to the last and cursec
the men who had brought him to the gal.
lows. Hayes Lyons continued to entrea1
the committee to saw him. Club Foot
George was prayerful, while Gallagher
cried and cursed by turns.
The leader of The vigilantes, when al
preparations had been completed, aid.
dressing the five men, told them hat ii
they had any last request to make it anc
i that 1t would be regarded. Gallagher
was the only man to speak.
II want another drink of whisky be.
fore I die he exclaimed.
ri "The liquor was brought to him in q
itnmbler. He tried to raise it to his lips
but his hands We're tied and there wa!
not slack enough in the rope around hi.
neck to permit him to reach 1t. Turnins
and looking back at the men surrounding
the rope, Gallagher. with an oath, ex
] claimed:
"sslacken that rope and let a man taks
a drink, will YOU?
"It happened that | a made my wa
into the building and was standing Wher,
the rope on which Gallagher was t.
swing was tied. Crowded in to the RICH
Of me was a man with a rifle. 'Dutcl
:. Charley who was in charge, called bael
to us to Stacker the rope. and I started
to unite it. At the same time the mai
with the rifle stopped to dc the sam,
thing but as my hands were free and hi
We're not, he Strengthened up again. Il
a I had the rope united, and Gal
lagher was then able to swallow hi
whisky, which he took at a single gulr
With a string of oaths, Gallagher ex
! claimed as he Strengthened up:
g. .I hone to meet YOU all in the loves