The Ronan pioneer., 1917-08-17
Wilhelm COL SANDERS WENT TO FIGHT H1GAYM0EM WHO HAD
THREATENED HIS LIFE; JUDGE PEMBERT0M TO THE RESCUE

Judge William Y. Pemberton, dean
of the Montana bar, executive head OF
the Montana Historical society, tells
an interesting story of an incident in
connection with Colonel William F.
Sanders prosecution of George Ives,
in the days when law and order in
Montana was on trial, and which re-
fleets the wonderful courage of San
ders.
Ives body had just been cut down
from the improvised scaffold. The
feeling was tense. The brave men
who had forced the execution of this
arch criminal had won signal VIC
tory, but hundreds of brigands of the
boldest and most ferocious type were
at large, thoroughly organized, fat
with the plunder of hundreds of rob-
berries, commanded clandestinely by
man who was high in recognized
authority, while the devoted band
who were later to reform conditions
by more than half a hundred sum-
mary executions were loosely organ
lied, did not know their strength,
and unless the men who were for a
law abiding community could be i'm
mediately knit into compact and
strong organization, bloody reprisals
on the part of the highwaymen might
follow. If reprisals came the men
who had figured prominently in the
Ives trial and had brought about the
death of this popular highwayman,
would be the first to feel the aveng
ing action of Plummer and his men.
Sanders, of course, was marked for
death. His stern order, "Men do
your duty!" had sent Ives into eter-
nifty. He was the leader around
whom was crystalized the sentiment
of the new order. Ives was not cold
in death before the highwaymen be-
gan to plot his death. Rumors of
their intentions reached Sanders
friends from several sources.
An hour after Ives body had been
cut down, in the gathering dusk,
Judge Pemberton happened to be
standing in the shadow back of one
of the miners cabins at Nevada City.
A group of men, whose actions dur
ing the execution of Ives demonstrate
ed their sympathy for the first Vigil
ante victim and marked them as
Plummer's men were nearby. They
could not see Pemberton. They were
discussing the execution OF Ives. They
were half full of barbed-wire whisky,
and talking Unfortunately. San
ders' name was mentioned.
Threatened Sanders Life.
1--WE must get rid of that -
Sanders" said one. He is the leader
of these devils. But for him George
Ives would be alive this minute. If he
lives the lives of every one of our
gang is in danger"
Eyes, and we must do it right
away" said another. "He is alto
gether too keen on this hanging
stuff. We will have to put him out
of the way"
Pemberton, unnoticed, slipped
around the cabin and ran into San
ders. He told Sanders of the con-
versation he had overheard, and
warned him of his danger.
1--WE will have to put up the bold
front to these fellows" said Sanders.
"The slightest weakening would en-
reprisal. I'll see what they have to
say to my face
He rushed around the cabin. Penn
DoTLOn IOllOWcU nlul. AS 0duu6IS
turned the corner Pemberton heard
the report of a pistol. He felt sure
the highwaymen had carried out their
threat and had killed Sanders. But
he kept going.
He found Sanders calmly taking
off his coat which was on fire. In
the near distance he saw three men
running as for dear life. Sanders
smilingly explained:
Nothing to it, Penn. These fell
lows have no real courage. AS came
around the corner had my hand on
my cooked pistol in my pocket. In
some way the pistol was discharged.
That is what set my coat tail
on fire. But what is coat tail
more or less, to the subjugation of
these murderers. They saw me, heard
the shot, and thought was attacking
them. They Immediately broke for
the tall timber. We should take cour-
age from this exhibition of cowar-
dice. Some speed, Penn" And he
pointed to the rapidly disappearing
figures of the men who would put
him away.
Judge Pemberton says it was the
greatest exhibition of speed occurring