Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-09-20

guilty designs. Murder with them wal
resorted to as the most available means
of concealing robbery. aud the two crimes
were generally coincident. The country
filled with canyons, gulches. and mountain
passes, was especially adapted to their
purposes. and the unpeopled distances he
tween mining camps afforded ample OPP
portunity for carrying them into esecu-
ton. Pack trains and companies, stage
coaches and express messengers. were as
much exposed as the SOLITARY traveller. and
| often selected as objects OF attack. Miners
who had spent months OF hard labor In
the p~lacers In the accumulation of a few
hundreds Of dollars, were never heard of
after they left the mines to return 10
their distant homes. Men were daily and
nightly robbed aud murdered In the camps.
There was no limit to this system OF or
ganixed brigandage."
Here are extracts, from n chapter on
"virginia City Executions which give a
vivid picture OF how the Nigilantes did
their work:
Having ascertaIned that six of the rob
Der band were still remaining In Virginia
City, the executive committee (of the Vigil.
iautes) decided upon effectual means for
their immediate arrest. An order was
quietly made for the vigilantes TO assem-
BILE at night In sufficient force TO surround
the city. The city was encircled after
nightfall, by more than 800 armed men. so
quietly that none within, except the vigil
lantes, knew OF II until morning. All that
long winter night, while that Gordon of
iron men was quietly stretching along the
heights overlooking the city. the execu-
tive committee sat In council, celebrating
upon the evidences OF guilt against the
men enmeshed In their tolls.
Carrying out the Sentence
Morning broke, cold and cloudy, dis
covering to the eyes OF the citizens the
pickets OF the vigilantes. The city was
like an intrenched camp. Hundreds OF men
with guns at the shoulder were marching
through the snow on all the surrounding
hillsldes, with military regularity and
precision.
,Nessengers were sent TO the different
towns In the gulch 10 summon the Nigi-
lantes TO appear forthwith, and take part
In the trial OF the rnffians. At the same
time parties were detailed 70 arrest and
bring the criminals before the committee.
Boone Helm. Jack Gallagher, Frank Par
IRISH. Hayes Lyons. George Lane. and Bill
Hunter were known TO be In the city at the
time the picket guard was stationed. OF
these, Hunter had escaped.
1.-THE examination being over, the prep.
a~rations were made for the execution OF
the ~convicts. These were very simple. The
cross beam OF an unfinished log
store. cornering upon two Of the principal
streets, was selected for a scaffold. The
was roofless. aud it's spacious
front exposed the interior to the full
view of the crowd. The ropes. five in
number, were drawn across the beam 10
a proper length, and fastened firmly 10
he logs in the rear basement. Under each
moose was placed a large. empty dryFoods
box. with cord attached. for the drops.
"'you are now said the president. adj
dressing them. to be conducted TO the
An opportunity is given you 10
your last requests and c%ommunica
ions
'The prisoners separately declined 10
make any communication. when the guards
we're about TO fasten their arms. Jack
with an oath, exclaimed
~ will not he hung Ia public. and.
his pocket knife. he applied the
to his throat, saying. ! will cut my
hroat first
'.rhe executive officer instantly cooked
ndpresented HIS pistol.
His Last Request
"If you make another move Of your
Irln.' he said. ! viii shoot you like a
Take the knife from him. and pinion
i'm at once he continued. addressing the
The ruffian cursed horribly all the
While bis arms were being tied.
Boone Helm, with customary profanity
aid to Gallagher 10 a consoIatory tone:
Don't make a fool Of yourself. Jack
here's no use or sense In being afraid
o die
gallagher. catching the eye Of an ac-
called to him In a loud tone:
. Gay, old fellow. I'm going to heaven. {
II be there 10 time 10 open the gate for {
II
F." 'HsiIoo. Bllr said Boone Helm 10 one ]
the crowd, they've got me this time
OF me, sure, and no mistake
After the nooses we're adjusted, the
OF the committee said 10 the prison '
NJ: b
" " 8tR1' ~ "
Do have any dying requests TO make. this
your last opportunity. You may be as t
,red they shall be carefully beeded.' 2
Jack Gallagher broke 10 with a leer: 4
How dc ] look. boys. with a halter n
my ncckf' the grim effort failed Z
elicit q smile. q
q Your time IL very short. sold the chief 2
rain reminding them that their requests
ouid be listened TO. II
Z" Well, then. said Gallagher. 7 want q
le more drink Of whiskey before ] die. II
% We told 'epi.' said an old miner. that u
do whateyer. they asked. Give him u
e iquor.' IA
man appeared IN y moment with a
nsbi~r nearly full. Raising IL as high as u
could. the prisoner bent bis head, but o.
restrained by the rope from touching al
. glass with bis lips. Throwing bis "a
sd back. be farned on the box. ADD look CT
< back upon the fasteHingz Of the rope
the basement los At the rear Of the n