Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-10-07
By JOEL F. OvERHOLsER


The sign of the Vigilantes was
quite well known throughout Mon
tana before the territory became
a state. Therefore it was not sur
prising that, because it was so re-
spected by evildoers, it was used
at times by citizens of Montana as
a warning. The men that used it
were not always Vigilantes, but
they meant business.
In 1882 a general cleanup was being
made of the tougher element in Butte
and other southern mining commune
ties of the state, and riffraff of the
camps was drifting to Fort Benton
as a possible haven against the sud-
denly outraged law. The encroaching
viewed for a time with resignation,
but Fort Benton citizens soon grew
impatient, and as far as the tranpS
were concerned, the lid blew off with
a bang June is, 1882.
That morning the Daily River Press
carried, Immediately under its editor
the mystic sign, "3-7-77."
And the boys about Benton meant
business, even if there was no neck
stretching. There was scurry of &C
tivity by peace officers, and their &C
tiVitieS bore fruit in Judge Tattan'S
court during three or four hectic June
days while the roundup was on. The
general procedure was to fine the &C
cused Migrants and miscreants $50, to
be laid out in Jail, or get out. In the
case of some whose absence was spe-
cially desired, trampS were escorted to
steamships and sent down the river as
deckhandS under bucko mates, and
doubtless, upon arriving at Bismarck
or other places, were hurried along.
How They Did 1t
But the columns of the Fort Ben
ton River Press bore some interesting
accounts while the mavericks and
StrayS were being rounded up. as fol-
lows:
Thomas O'Gorman, more familiarly
known as Peg Leg, was the first to
break the monotony of the courtroom.
Thomas had been on one Of his fire.
quent riotouS racketS. He attempted to
intimidate everybody at the I. G. Baker
81 Co. store and made himself so dis
gushing and insulting that c. E. Con-
rad was compelled to forcibly GUST the
fellow, which he did in good style,
following up the proceedings with a
few merited and well applied laShes
with a horse whip.
Afterwards Peg was introduced to
Judge Tattan, and when the usual pre-
liminaries were gone through with,
fine of $50 was entered opposite Mr..
OGormans name on the docket Not
having the wherewithal to pay he was
given the choice OF going down on
the Benton (Steamboat) or taking up
quarters at Sheriff Healy's hotel But
Mr.. Peg Leg was 10th to do either.
AS a compromise, however, he offered
to start directly for Maiden as soon
as he could get his cayuse. The propo-
sition was accepted, and IN a short
time Benton will be happily rid of the
subject of this sketch; We understand
he will be escorted to the ferryboat
by brass band and given such send
off as the occasion requires.
Next on the list is Mr.. Millen He
seems to be an offshoot of the Butte
boom, and is on his muscle. He at
tempted Tuesday evening to clean out
a whole barber shop, but the swollen
condition of his c0untenance indicates
that he didn't get away with the job.
The judge looked upon him with pity
and concluding that the rarified afr
of Montana was not good for the
fellow, generously offered him an OPP
portunity to work his way to Bismarck
on the steamer Benton, and the favor
was accepted. 1t is to be hoped that
Mr. Millen will not find 1t necessary
at any time to return to the river
metropolis.
Some Of Them Moved Hard
tom Kelly, another segment of the
pilgrim boom, was also on the ram
page yesterday, and was arraigned be-
fore his honor for disturbing the usual
serenity of Benton. Tom was fined $50,
and when given the choice of going TO
iail or Bismarck, strange to tell, chose
the greater evil, and win go down on
the Benton"
Some Of these men moved hard, as
witness later Item additional details
peg Leg and William Lloyd took
a walk yesterday at the invitation OF
the vigilance committee. The former
went TO Maiden and the latter to
Barker and win doubtless soon develop
into bonanza kings. Since writing the