Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-11
A Thrilling Bit Of Montana History
Enacted in the Old Days Of Al.
der Gulch.
DURING VGILANTEs' REGIME
Montana Pioneer Tells Of the Late
Colonel Sanders Campaign
Against Lawlessness.

LOIs VI VIC cat AOl III WSot. AlSl
met him at Virginia City in the fall
of the year 1863 says w. Y. Pember-
ton in the Anaconda Standard AL
der Gulch was then in the early days
of its glory. 1t was the Mecca of
the fortune seeker. 1t was also the
rendezvous of a band of robbers as
infamous as Alder was famous. These
pests and criminals We're daily en-
gagged in highway robberies that had
created a condition of terror among
the honest people. Their dastardly
acts of vandalism and murder at last
eliminated in the assassination OF a
young German by George Ives and
Alex. Carter. two of teh noted out
laws. George Ives was arrested and
brought to trial for murder before
Judge Don L. Byam, the miners
judge.
1t was then that | came to know
Colonel Sanders intimately. He pros
ecuted that celebrated case, assisted
by Major Charles S. Basgs. Judge
Alexander Davis, J. NJ. Thurmond and
H. p. A. Smith defended Ives. The
trial was not by the vigilance COM
mittee, as has been enormously sup
posed by many people. The trial was
open, before the miners court and
Jury of "a men. 1t took place in the
streets of the little mining town OF
Nevada, one mile below Virginia City.
1t was in the dead of winter, around
a big log fire in the street.
| and w. Patton were selected TO
write down the testimony which We
did with gloves on our hands, sitting
around the fire. All around the court
stood hundreds of sturdy miners dur
ing the days the trial progressed.
The picture of that court scene was
as grand as unique The trial was
as orderly and fair as ever occurred
in any court, however diSnlfled.
Closing Argument.
The evidence against Ives was CON
elusive. as we'll as against Carter,
who had temporarily escaped. New
err have | forgotten the closing ar
gument of Colonel Sanders in that
eventful trial. | can never forget his
lOTc6lul, ltdIltSS, tloiuChe sthht toh
yincing appeal for the enforcement
of the law for the protection OF lie
and property in this then new and
wild country. His fierce eXXcorlatlon
of the lawless element then practical-
ly in control of the country was alb
solutely terrible 1t may be remark
ed here that Henry Plummer, the
leader of the robber band was the
sheriff and nearly all the others his
deputies. 1t is needless to say that
Colonel Sanders speech had the de-
sired effect. TIL jury retired and
soon returned a verdict of guilty and
fixed the death penalty upon Ives.
He was hung a few hours afterWard
on an improvised scaffold. Then
got an idea of the fearless character
of Colonel Sanders. All his future
acts and history have but confirmed
me in the opinion | then formed OF
him. An incident occurred that night
in the streets of Nevada that illus
trates this feature in his character
Just after Ives had been hung the
people were standing about in the
streets in little squads, talking OF the
tragic ending of the trial and the day
Standing diagonally across the street
from me were three men, talking
loudly of the Ives trial and using pro
fame and very threatening language
toward Colonel Sanders who, witt
some friends, was standing in diff
ferent direction from me.
Propose to Kill the Colonel.
Directly | heard one of them say
Lets get him around behind these
houses and kill him." using the mos
vile and obscene language and threats
Immediately one of the trio called
Colonel Sanders. He started TOWARD
them. l Immediately intercepted hin
and told him what l had heard ant
urged him not to go with these meI
to the rear of the buildings. The
buildings were of logs and set apar
so as to leave passageWay between
them. Colonel Sanders replied tina
he was not afraid and would go. The!
at once commenced the march to thu
rear of the buildings, filing through
the dark passageway. 1t took m'
but a moment to decide to follow
believing that the colonel would b.
murdered, and not sure of my owl
fate. Just before | got to the en'
of the passageway through which the.
had gone l heard a pistol shot.
got through as quickly as possible
and imagine my surprise to see tn
three rascals running rapidly ava,
and Colonel Sanders standing Their
cody with his coat on fire. 1t seem
that just as they came out of tn
passageway Colonel Sanders pistC
was accidentally discharged and tn
scamps ran. | assisted in putting ou
the fire in his coat pocket and W
returned to the street.
A Reckless Act.
In all this the colonel did not e2
hibit the least excitement, and We
| think it was one of the most reel
less acts | ever knew a man to con
nit In all his conduct immedatel
succeeding this event he dsplaye
the same fearless determination t
eXterminate this band of robber!
He was the inspiration and sword c
the vigilance committee that was in
mediately formed and which ran dow
and rid the country of the Plumme
gang of robbers. He was everywhere
He did not sleep. He was at vi
ginia City when Boone Helm, JAG
Gallagher, Hays Lyons. Frank Paris
and ClubfoOt George were hanget
He directed affairs when Plummer an
others were hanged at Bannack. H
directed operations when Alexande
Carter, Skinner and others were ham
ed at He'll Gate. He was there whe
Slade was hanged afterward at vi