The Bozeman courier., 1927-07-15

the Missouri which was navigable as far
as Fort Benton.
Along the banks of the river were
few venturesome men who welded the
axe and pulled the cross cut saw, piling
their wood along the panKS OF the river.
This wood was sold to the boats whose
engines were wood burners These men
were commonly called "woodchoppers.
At various points along the river were
trading posts where few of the neces-
saries Of life were kept and sold. Among
them was one located at Rocky Point,
which is nearly due south Of Malta about
sixty miles. This trading point was con-
Quoted by the firm Of Marshall and
Ritchie.
Among the possessions of this firm was
a small gray mare, used more for the
children's pleasure than anything else.
She was usually close to the ranch and
easily caught. Sam McKinzie having
drunk too much "frewater' as many
breeds of his kind did in those days,
wanted to 60 to Fort McGinniS and he
had gambled away his outfit and was
afOOt. Not wishing to tarry longer at
Rocky Point and not wishing to walk, he
appropriated the little gray mare and by
the afternoon Of the next day he rode in
to Fort McGinnis, or rather the DIS
ranch which was close by the fort. The
DIS ranch was a big outfit and the
initials are those Of the names of the
three owners, namely Dancer, HOuser and
Stewart. The DHS trail is one of the
main thOrOughfareS now leading south
from Malta. The junior member Of this
firm was Granville Stewart, a very tall
man with light brown hair and blue
eyes 1t was he who is reported to have
become the leading spirit of this second
so-called Vigilante body. To distinguish
between the two organizations, this lat
ter one was commonly known as the
strangers"
The birth of the Strangers took place
shortly after a couple Of riders from the
Marshall and Ritchie trading post
reached the DIS ranch at Fort McGinnis
and found the little gray mare and the
then thoroughly sobered Sam McKinzie.
A general discussion as to what should
be done with McKinzie took place, in
which it is reported Granville Stewart
took an active part. At the conclusion
of the discussion McKinzie was advised
on the morrow he was to be hung by
the neck until he was dead
McKinzie was placed in one Of the
guard houses of the soldiers barracks
at the fort for safe keeping. He found
the four log walls OF his Jail too dark
and requested the loan of violin. Some
one at the fort had one, and loaned it
to poor McKinzie who began fiddling and
dancing. First, he would play for time
and then he would dance. He was a good
clog dancer, and so it was that he wore
away the hours of the long dark night.
All night long you could hear the shuf-
fling Of tired feet and the pIaintive song
Of the old violin as McKinZie tried to
keep up his courage.
At last the sun appeared in the east.
The call Of grub pile" came from the
DIS ranch. But the old violin still
sounded its pleading notes for forgive
ness, and still the weary feet of the con-
demned man Shuf1ed and shuff1ed. His
! brain tried to fathom by what means of
! fate he, among all the thousands Of men
I W
should be singled out to be victim.
! The COW outfit rode over to the bar
racks, the door opened, letting in a flood
| Of bright June sunshine, the strains of
the violin ceased, the tired feet stopped
their shuff1ing and stepped out into the
/ light of early day. A lariat was thrown
over his head and he steadily walked to
the foot Of a convenient cottonwood tree.
/ The other end of the rope was thrown
over a limb, many hands gave a heave
on the loose end of the rope and poor
! Sam McKinZie was hoiSted from the
/ ground, and so the name Of Stranger
came to be applied.
Lally Doney was freighting by bull cart
from Rocky Point to Fort McGinnis. He
knew poor McKinZie. He had pulled
into the fort after dark when the night
air was laden with the tang of sage and
the sweet OdOr Of the wild rose. He had
listened to the plaintive appeal Of the
violin and the shuttle Of the tired feet
He rested a day before returning tc
Rocky Point. Poor McKinzie's body was
still swinging at the end Of the rope
while a chorus of meadow larkS was
performing the only funeral rite.
LaIIy reached Rocky Point in due time
turned his horses loose and rested for {
few days with his family. 1t was early
one morning a few days later, when {
band Of grim riders rode into his place
He was questioned as to his vocation anC
lube hi ,1aTa