The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-01-03

M
ing actuated by the mob spiri
which leads men to commit atroci
ties when in the company of Others
which they would never dream o
committing as individuals. Their
was no torturing of the condemne'
such as attends lynching in TIL
south today, according to press re
ports. There was not even tn
long period of waiting between TIL
date of being sentenced to deatl
and its execution, that frequently
attends, or follows, a so-callec
legal prosecution.
Those who were highest in the
councils of the Vigilantes were mel
of vision, like Colonel Sanders anC
Mr.. Creighton, who were not gov
erned by the impulse of the mo-
ment, knowing their acts must
stand the test of time. Colonel
Sanders, as a lawyer, thoroughly
understood the danger of condon-
ing lynching and MI. Creighton
who held the title of prince" from
Rome, was far too shrewd a bust
ness mar to encourage mob action.
The hanging of George Ives was
actuated to a certain extent by a
desire for revenge; but there was
a semblance of a trial in that case;
the sentence being rendered in the
form of a resolution voicing the
conviction of the many, instead of
merely that of a judge.
1t was different, however, with
what t%ranspired on the day follow
ing Plummer's execution. The
morning was unusually quiet, Civ
ing no warning of what happened
later. Everyone went about their
business as on ordinary occasions.
except those who wasted a half
hour or SO in satisfying their NOR
bid curiosity by visiting the store
room where the bodies of the road
agents lay and the committee that
was holding a conference to deter
mine how to rid the town of its
remaining undesirable citizens. One
of these, particularly, claimed at
tention. This was a Mexican by
the name of Pizanthia, who was
not known to belong to Plummer's
but who had the reputation
of being a robber and a murderer.
1t was decided to bring him to trial
before the committee, and some
members of this body volunteered
or were detailed to arrest him.
The ease with which the arrests
Of the previous night had been
led these men to believe that
there was little danger in what they
we're about to undertake. They
lid not realize that it would be
harder to capture a criminal by day
han by night. The Mexican, un-
ess taken by surprise, would GER
.ainly defend himself. Knowing
veil that a trial before the commit
meant death for him, he was not
likely to meet such a fate, while
here was a possibility of escaping
t.
He lived in a small cabin on the
lat below the town, and it was
here he was sought. His would-be
:aptors found the door closed, as it
be expected when the ground
vas covered with snow and the
nercury frozen in the thermome-
ers, and there was no sign of life
bout the premises, although they
lad been reliably informed that
oizanthia was at home.
They demanded entrance only to
answered by shots from within
hat wounded two of the men-one
George Copley, the man
Tho was killed, had many friends.
IN hearing of his death the town
yent wild, and had but one thought
revenge. The murderer must 4,
lie. Men rushed to the spot from !
Il quarters, actuated by a fierce de- !
ire to storm the cabin and take
'izanthia, preferably alive, to be
ealt with by the mob later-but t
} take him, dead or alive. t
In "Vigilante Days and Ways" l
is said hat a small howitzer was +
ound lying nearby. 1t was not t
earby, but, together with a box a
shells, was stored under my mo-
bed, where it had laid since t
lie remnant of the Fisk expedition S
ltered Bannack with the flag fly Y
lg = the Star Spangled Banner a
lie first appearance of our national i
nblem in Bannack, but not the c
st. u