The Washington times., 1905-07-08
SENATOR SANDERS
DEAD IN MONTANA
Presided at Hanging of
Sixty-two Outlaws.
POPULAR AND BRAVE MAN
Was, King Among Western Pioneers,
United States Senator, Descendant
of Aaron Burr.
POPULAR AND BRAVE MAN

HELENA. Mont, July S.-Wilbur
Fiske Sanders. whose career in Montana
from the time he was a leader of the
vigilantes, back in the COS, until he took
his seat in the United States Senate in
1890 covered every successive phase in
THAI States development, died here yes
terGay, aged seventy-one years. He was
one of the most interesting figures in
public life at Washington.
1t was said of him in his own State
that he was the best beloved and the
most thoroughly hated man in the West.
Senator Sanders was credited with
presiding at the hanging of sixty-two
outlaws condemned to death by Judge
Lynch IN the name of law and order.
His breezy fearlessness was still I'M
dimmed when liz later years he was dig
nified by high positions. In the Senate.
where he served three years, his COM
mand of vituperative and maddening
language eXcelled that of John j. In
gals, but lacked the latter's polish.
Aaron Burr's Descendant.
Although a typical Westerner. San
ders was born in New York State, in
Leon, Cattaraugus county, on May 2
1884 His mother was a lneal descend
ant of Aaron Burr. His father was a
ne'er-do-well. Young Sanders gradual
ed from the common schools. and he
himself was teacher until 1854. when
he moved to Akron. Ohio where he was
admitted to the bar
At the outbreak of the civil war he
recruited a company and went to the
front as a first lieutenant Promotion
came rapidly. and in the latter part OF
1862, when he was compelled to resign
because of ill-health, he was assistant
acknowledgement on the staff of Gen
James w. Forsyth 4,
His uncle. Sydney Edgerton was gov.
ernor of Idaho, which then included
Montana, and in 1864, when Edgerton be-
came governor of the newly created
territory OF Montana, Sanders settled
In Virginia City and became the lead
Ing lawyer of the mininp camp.
Those were the days of unbridled law.
1essness, and Sanders was chief OF the
vigilance committee as well as prose
cutting attorney. His mfnistration OF III.
former Office has outliyed his record q,
prosecuting attorney. His nerve had al
Z, ready been tested. In one of his fire.
cases he was opposed by a certain Col
voolfolk, who drew his gun" ant
standing just back OF young Sander.
said:
His Nerve Proven.
If you put that question again Z,
the witness will shoot you Sa nder
turned until he faced the Ieveiled pisto
and replied with contemptuous cool
ness:
man in the back
Then he turned calmly to the wit
ness and repeated the question witt
added emphasis
Senator Sanders occasionally told hi
conreIes In Washington when the,
of Montana vigiIantes always acted wit,
discretion and caution and with reea r,
TO the terrible responsibility they as
sumed.
narration of the wiping out of twenty
Two or Henry Plummer's gang of roa,
iaaas iagen.s and murderers @ Sanders vigi
Fort Owens on January rs. 1864. and wifi
ms death this particular series of hang
ings was successfully concluded.
How Slade Died.
Senator Sanders was not averss ;,
telling of; the aling off of the notori
Gus outlaw. Slade, who made tro,,bl
for the vigilantes in Virginia CITY
Slade and Sanders were good friend
except when Slade was on his bad he
hayior. Sanders had imposed on Slad
2 sliding scale of fines until the las
offense cost $500. Slade wouldn't nav
His action was construed as higl
treason.
We sentenced him to death for in
citing others TO rebellion and afte
placing nim on barrel with a noos
around his neck started TO kick owe
the barrel Senator Sanders said
Just as he was about to swing
woman appeared in the distance comfnj
at breakneck speed on horseback. 1t wa
Slade's wife, but by the time she arrive,
the barrel had been kicked and ii wa
all over with Slade.''
Sanders was appointed United State
attorney for Montana by Presiden
Grant in 1872. but declined the office III
was delegate TO four Republican nationa
conventions and member of the Legs
lative assembly of Montana from I87
TO 1880 inclusive. He married in 1858 Har
riet r Fem He was recognized lead
fer twenty-five years