Vigilantes of Montana - Chapters XX-XXII



CHAPTER XX
The Capture and Execution of Boone Helm, Jack Gallagher, Frank Parish, 
Haze Lyons and Club-Foot George (Lane).

"Tis joy to see the engineer hoist
With his own petard." -SHAKESPEARE.

The effect of the executions noticed in the foregoing chapters was both 
marked and beneficial. There was much to be done, however, to ensure 
anything like lasting peace to the community. Ives, Yager, Brown, Plummer, 
Stinson, Ray, Pizanthia and Wagner were dead; but the five villains whose 
names head this chapter, together with Bunton, Zachary, Marshland, Shears, 
Cooper, Carter, Graves, Hunter and others were still at large, and were 
supported by many others equally guilty, though less daring and formidable 
as individuals.

Threats of vengeance had been made, constantly, against the Vigilantes, 
and a plot to rob several stores in Virginia had nearly matured, when it 
was discovered and prevented. Every man who had taken part in the pursuit 
of the criminals whose fate had been recorded, was marked for slaughter by 
the desperadoes, and nothing remained but to carry out the good work so 
auspiciously begun, by a vigorous and unhesitating severity, which should 
show no relaxation until the last blood-stained miscreant that could be 
captured had met a felon's doom.

On the evening of the 18th of January, 1864, the Executive Committee, in 
solemn conclave assembled, determined on hanging six of them forthwith. 
One of the doomed men -Bill Hunter -suspecting danger, managed to crawl 
away, along a drain ditch, through the line of pickets that surrounded the 
town, and made his escape. He was badly frozen by exposure to the cold, 
and before his capture, was discovered by J. A. Slade, while lying 
concealed under a bed at a ranch, and told that the Vigilantes were after 
him, which information caused him to move his quarters to Gallatin Valley, 
where he was caught and executed soon after, as will appear in the course 
of this narrative.

While the Committee were deliberating in secret, a small party of men who 
were at that moment receiving sentence of death, were gathered in an upper 
room at a gambling house, and engaged in betting at faro. Jack Gallagher 
suddenly remarked, "While we are here betting, those Vigilante sons of 
____ are passing sentence on us." This is considered to be the most 
remarkable and most truthful saying of his whole life; but he might be 
excused telling the truth once, as it was entirely accidental.

Express messengers were sent to warn the men of the neighboring towns in 
the gulch, and the summons was instantly obeyed.

Morning came -the last on earth that the five desperadoes should ever 
behold. The first rays of light showed the pickets of the Vigilantes 
stationed on every eminence and point of vantage round the city. The news 
flew like lightning through the town. Many a guilty heart quaked with just 
fear, and many an assassin's lip turned pale and quivered with 
irrepressible terror. The detachments of Vigilantes, with compressed lips 
and echoing footfall, marched in from Nevada, Junction, Summit, Pine 
Grove, Highland and Fairweather, and halted in a body in Main street.

Parties were immediately detailed for the capture of the road agents, and 
all succeeded in their mission, except the one which went after Bill 
Hunter, who had. escaped.

Frank Parish was brought in first. He was arrested without trouble, in a 
store, and seemed not to expect death. He took the executive officer to 
one side, and asked, "What am I arrested for?" He was told, "For being a 
road agent and thief, and accessory to the murders and robberies on the 
road." At first he pleaded innocent; but at last he confessed his 
complicity with the gang, and admitted being one of the party that robbed 
the coach between Bannack and Virginia, and that he was guilty of stealing 
horses and stock for them. He used to butcher stolen cattle, and attend to 
the commissariat business. He gave some directions about articles of 
clothing belonging to him, and the settlement of some debts. Until his 
confession, it was not known that he had any share in the robbery of the 
coach.

Club-Foot George* (George Lane) was arrested at Dance & Stuart's. He was 
living there, and working at odd times. He was perfectly cool and 
collected, and inquired the reason for his arrest, as Parish had done 
previously. On receiving the same answer, he appeared surprised, and said, 
"If you hang me you will hang an innocent man." He was told that the proof 
was positive, and that if he had any preparation to make he must do it at 
once, as his sentence was death. He appeared penitent and sat down for 
some time, covering his face with his hands. He then asked for a minister, 
and one being immediately sent for, he talked. and prayed with him till 
the procession to the gallows was formed. In his pocketbook was found an 
extract from a Western newspaper stating that George Lane, the notorious 
horse-thief, was Sheriff of Montana. Lane was a man of iron nerve; he 
seemed to think no more of the hanging than a man would of eating his 
breakfast.

* Quite a number of years after, there was a desire on the part of the 
people in Virginia City to locate correctly the graves of the five 
highwaymen. A. B. Davis said that he knew, and pointed out the grave of 
Lane, as the fifth one. Mr. Walker, the mayor, et al., dug this grave and 
found that it was Club-Foot George. They removed the foot, and it is one 
of the sights in the Old Capitol.

Boone Helm was brought in next. He had been arrested in front of the 
Virginia Hotel. Two or three were detailed for his capture of whom he 
would entertain no suspicion, and they played their part, apparently, so 
carelessly and well, that he was seized without being able to make any 
effort at resistance. A man at each arm, and one behind, with a cocked 
revolver, brought him to the rendezvous. He lamented greatly that he "had 
no show" when taken, as he said, "They would have had a gay old time 
taking me, if I had known what they were after." His right hand was in a 
sling. He quietly sat down on a bench, and on being made acquainted. with 
his doom, he declared his entire innocence. He said, "I am as innocent as 
the babe unborn; I never killed any one, or robbed or defrauded any man; I 
am willing to swear it on the Bible." Anxious to see if he was really so 
abandoned a villian as to swear this, the book was handed to him, and he, 
with the utmost solemnity repeated an oath to that effect, invoking most 
terrific penalties on his soul, in case he was swearing falsely. He kissed 
the book most impressively. He then addressed a gentleman, and asked him 
to go into a private room.

Thinking that Boone wanted him to pray with him, he proposed to send for a 
clergyman; but. Boone said, "You'll do." On reaching the inner room, the 
prisoner said, "Is there no way of getting out of this ?" Being told that 
there was not, and that he must die, he said, "Well, then, I'll tell you. 
I did kill a man named Shoot, in Missouri, and I got away to the West; and 
I killed another chap in California. When I was in Oregon I got into jail, 
and dug my way out with tools that my squaw gave me." Being asked if he 
would not tell what he knew about the gang, he said, 'Ask Jack Gallagher; 
he knows more than I do." Jack, who was behind a partition, heard him, and 
burst out into volley of execrations, saying that it was just such 
cowardly sons of and traitors that had brought him into that scrape.

Helm* was the most hardened, cool and deliberate scoundrel of the whole 
band, and murder was a mere pastime to him. He killed Mr. Shoot, in 
Missouri (as will be afterward narrated) and testimony of the most 
conclusive character showed that his hands were steeped in blood, both in 
Idaho and since his coming to the Territory. Finding that all his 
asservations and pleas availed him nothing, he said, "I have dared death 
in all its forms, and I do not fear to die." He called repeatedly for 
whiskey, and had to be reprimanded several times for his unseemly conduct.

* There is an exceedingly interesting chapter in Langford's book about 
Helm.

The capture of Lyons, though unattended with danger, was effected only by 
great shrewdness. He had been boarding at the Arbor Restaurant, near the 
"Shades." The party went in. The owner said he was not there, but that 
they might search if they liked. The search was made and was ineffectual. 
He had left in the morning. During the search for Lyons, Jack Gallagher 
was found, in a gambling room, rolled up in bedding, with his shot-gun and 
revolver beside him. He was secured too quickly to use his weapons, if, 
indeed, he had had the courage; but his heart failed him, for he knew that 
his time was come. He was then taken to the place of rendezvous.

In the mean time the other party went after Haze Lyons, and found that he 
had crossed the hill, beyond the point overhanging Virginia, and, after 
making a circuit of three miles through the mountains, he had come back to 
within a quarter of a mile of the point, from which he started to a 
miner's cabin, on the west side of the gulch above town. At the double-
quick, the pursuers started, the moment they received the information. The 
leader threw open the door, and bringing down his revolver to a present, 
said, "Throw up your hands." Lyons had a piece of hot slapjack on his 
fork; but dropped it instantly, and obeyed the order. He was told to step 
out. This he did at once. He was in his shirt-sleeves, and asked for his 
coat which was given to him. He was so nervous that he could hardly get 
his arms into it. A rigid search for weapons was made; but he had just 
before taken off his belt and revolver, laying them on the bed. He said 
that that was the first meal he had sat down to with any appetite for six 
weeks. Being told to finish his dinner, he thanked the captain, but said 
he could eat no more. He then inquired what was going to be done with him, 
and whether they would hang him. The captain said, "I am not here to 
promise you anything; prepare for the worst." lie said, "My friends 
advised me to leave here, two or three days ago." The captain asked why he 
did not go. He replied that he had "done nothing, and did not want to go." 
(He was one of the murderers of Dillingham, in June, '63, and was 
sentenced to death, but spared, as before related.) The real reason for 
his stay was his attachment for a woman in town, whose gold watch he wore 
when he died on the scaffold. He was asked if he had heard of the 
execution of Plummer, Ruck Stinson and Ned Ray. He replied that he had but 
that he did not believe it. He was informed that it was true in the 
following words, "You may bet your sweet life on it." He then inquired, 
"Did they fight'." and was informed that they did not; for that they had 
not any opportunity. By this time they had arrived at the rendezvous, and 
Lyons found himself confronted by some familiar faces.

Jack Gallagher came in swearing, and appeared to be inclined to pretend 
that the affair was a joke, asking, "What the is it all abouts" and 
sayin'g, "This is a pretty break, ain't it?" Being informed of his 
sentence, he appeared much affected, and sat down crying; after which he 
jumped up, cursing in the most ferocious manner, and demanded who had 
informed on him. He was told that it was "Red, who was hung at 
Stinkingwater." He cursed him with every oath he could think of. He said 
to himself, "My God! must I die in this way?" His general conduct and 
profanity were awful, and he was frequently rebuked by the chief of the 
executive.

Haze Lyons was last fetched in, and acquainted with his sentence. He, of 
course, pleaded innocent, in the strongest terms; but he had confessed to 
having murdered Dillingham, to a captain of one of the squads of the 
guard, in the presence of several witnesses; and he was a known road 
agent. He gave some directions for letters to be written, and begged to 
see his mistress; but, warned by the experiment of the previous year, his 
request was denied.

The chief dispatched an officer, with fifteen men, who went at the double 
quick to Highland District, where two suspicious looking characters had 
gone, with blankets on their backs, the evening before, and making the 
"surround" of the cabin, the usual greeting of "throw up your hands," 
enforced by a presented revolver, was instantly obeyed, and they were 
marched down after being disarmed. The evidence not being conclusive, they 
were released though their guilt was morally certain. The Vigilantes 
rigidly abstained, in all cases, from inflicting the penalty due to crime, 
without entirely satisfactory evidence of guilt.

After all was arranged for hanging them, the prisoners were ordered to 
stand in a row, facing the guard, and were informed that they were about 
to be marched to the place of execution. Being asked if they had any 
requests to prefer, as that would be their last opportunity, they said 
they had none to make. They were then asked if they had anything to 
communicate, either of their own deeds or their comrade road agents; but 
they all refused to make any confession. The guard were ordered to pinion 
their prisoners. Jack Gallagher swore he would never be hung in public; 
and drawing his knife he clapped the blade to his neck, saying that he 
would cut his throat first. The executive officer instantly cocked his 
pistol, and told him that if he made another movement, he would shoot him, 
and ordered the guard to disarm him. One of them seized his wrist and took 
the knife, after which he was pinioned cursing horribly all the time. 
Boone Helm was encouraging Jack, telling him not to "make a fool of 
himself," as there was no use in being afraid to die.

The chief called upon men that could be depended upon, to take charge of 
the prisoners to the place of execution. The plan adopted was to march the 
criminals, previously pinioned, each between two Vigilantes, who grasped 
an arm of the prisoner with one hand, and held in the other a "navy" -
ready for instant use. When Haze Lyons heard the order above mentioned, he 
called out, "X, I want you to come and stay with me till I die," which 
reasonable request was at once complied with.

The criminals were marched into the centre of a hollow square, which was 
flanked by four ranks of Vigilantes, and a column in front and rear, armed 
with shot-guns and rifles carried at half present, ready to fire at a 
moment's warning, completed the array. The pistol men were dispersed 
through the crowd to attend to the general deportment of outsiders, or as 
a good man observed, to take the roughs "out of the wet."

At the word "march!" the party started forward, and halted, with military 
precision, in front of the Virginia Hotel. The halt was made while the 
ropes were preparing at the unfinished building, now Clayton & Hale's Drug 
Store, at the corner of Wallace and Van Buren streets. The logs were up to 
the square, but there was no roof. The main beam for the support of the 
roof, which runs across the center of the building, was used as a gallows, 
the rope being thrown over it, and then taken to the rear and fastened 
round some of the bottom logs. Five boxes were placed immediately under 
the beam, as substitutes for drops.

The prisoners were, during this time, in front of the Virginia Hotel. Club-
Foot George called a citizen to him, and asked him to speak as to his 
character; but this the gentleman declined saying, "Your dealings with me 
have been right; but what you have done outside of that I do not know." 
Club-Foot then asked him to pray with him, which he did, kneeling down and 
offering up a fervent petition to the throne of grace on his behalf. 
George and Jack Gallagher knelt. Haze Lyons requested that his hat should 
be taken off, which was done. Boone Helm was cracking jokes all the time. 
Frank Parish seemed greatly affected at the near prospect of death. Boone 
Helm, after the prayer was over, called to Jack Gallagher, "Jack, give me 
that coat; you never gave me anything." "___ d sight of use you'd have for 
it," replied Jack. The two worthies kept addressing short and pithy 
remarks to their friends around, such as "Hallo, Jack, they've got me this 
time;" "Bill, old boy, they's got me sure," etc.

Jack called to a man, standing at the windows of the Virginia Hotel, "Ray! 
I'm going to heaven! I'll be there in time to open the gate for you, old 
fellow." Jack wore a very handsome United States cavalry officer's 
overcoat, trimmed with Montana beaver.

Haze begged of his captor that his mistress might see him, but his prayer 
was refused. He repeated his request a second time, with the like result. 
A friend offered to fetch the woman, but was ordered off; and on Haze 
begging for the third time to see her, he received this answer, "Haze! 
emphatically! by G-d, bringing women to the place of execution played out 
in '63." This settled the matter. The Vigilantes had not forgotten the 
scene after the trial of Dillingham's murderers.

The guard marched at the word to the place of execution, opened ranks, and 
the prisoners stepped up on the boxes. ClubFoot George was at the east 
side of the house; next to him was Haze Lyons; then Jack Gallagher and 
Boone Helm. The box next to the west end of the house was occupied by 
Frank Parish. The hats of the prisoners were ordered to be removed. Club-
Foot, who was somewhat slightly pinioned, reached up to his California 
hat, and dashed it angrily on the ground. The rest were taken off by the 
guards.

The nooses were adjusted by five men, and -all being ready -- Jack 
Gallagher, as a last request, asked that he might have something to drink, 
which, after some demur, was acceded to. ClubFoot George looked around, 
and, seeing an old friend clinging to the logs of the building, said, 
"Good-by, old fellow -I'm gone;" and, hearing the order, "Men, do your 
duty" -without waiting for his box to be knocked away -he jumped off, and 
died in a short time.

Haze stood next; but was left to the last. He was talking all the time, 
telling the people that he had a kind mother, and that he had been well 
brought up; that he did not expect that it would have come to that; but 
that bad company had brought him to it.

Jack Gallagher, while standing on the box, cried all the time, using the 
most profane and dreadful language. He said, "I hope that forked lightning 
will strike every strangling ---of you." The box flying from under his 
feet brought his ribaldry and profanity to a close, which nothing but 
breaking his neck would ever have done.

Boone Helm, looking cooly at his quivering form, said, "Kick away, old 
fellow; I'll be in hell with you in a minute." He probably told the truth, 
for once in his life. He then shouted, "Every man for his principles -
hurrah for Jeff Davis! bet her rip!" The sound of his words was echoed by 
the twang of the rope.

Frank Parish requested to have a handkerchief tied over his face. His own 
black necktie, fastened in the road agent's knot, was taken from his 
throat and dropped over his face like a veil. He seemed serious and quiet, 
but refused to confess anything more, and was launched into eternity. A 
bystander asked the guard who adjusted the rope, "Did you not feel for the 
poor man as you put the rope round his neck'!" The Vigilanter, whose 
friend had been slaughtered by the road agents, regarded his interrogator 
with a stern look, and answered slowly, "Yes, I felt for his left ear!"

Haze Lyons seemed to expect a second deliverance from death up to the last 
moment, looking right and left at the swaying bodies of the desperadoes, 
his countenance evidently indicating a hope of reprieve. Finding entreaty 
useless, be sent word to his mistress that she should get her gold watch, 
which he wore, and requested that his dying regards might be conveyed to 
her. He expressed a hope that she would see that his body was taken down, 
and that it was not left to hang too long. Also he charged her to see him 
decently buried. He died apparently without pain. The bodies, after 
hanging for about two hours, were cut down, and carried to the street, in 
front of the house, where their friends found them, and took them away for 
burial. They sleep on Cemetery Hill, awaiting, not the justice of man, but 
the judgment of the last day.

The man who dug the graves intended for Stinson and Lyons -after their 
sentence of death, for the murder of Dillingham -received no pay, and the 
two murderers actually committed an offence revolting to all notions of 
decency, in those very graves, in derision of their judges, and in 
contempt for their power. The sexton pro tern was in the crowd in front of 
the gallows where Lyons paid the penalty of his crimes, and said to him, 
"I dug your grave once for nothing; this time I'll be paid, you bet." He 
received his money.

As Jack Gallagher has not been specially referred to, the following short 
account of a transaction in which he was engaged in Virginia City, is here 
presented:

Near the end of 1863, Jack Gallagher, who had hitherto occupied the 
position in Montana of a promising desperado -raised himself to the rank 
of a "big medicine man," among the road agents, by shooting a blacksmith, 
named Jack Temple, as fine a man as could be found among the trade. He did 
not kill him; but his good intentions were credited to him, and he was 
thenceforth respected as a proved brave. Temple had been shoeing oxen, and 
came up to Coleman & Loeb's saloon, to indulge in a "Thomas and Jeremiah," 
with some friends. Jack Gallagher was there. A couple of dogs began to 
fight, and Temple gave one of them a kick, saying to the dog, "Here, I 
don't want you to fight here." Jack said there was not a-----there that 
should kick that dog, and he was able to whip any man in the room. Temple, 
who, though not quarrelsome, was as brave as a lion, went up to him and 
said, "I'm not going to fight in here; but if. you want a fight so bad, 
come into the street, and I'll give you a 'layout," I'll fight you a 
square fight." He immediately went to the door. Jack Gallagher, seeing him 
so nicely planted for a shot, in a narrow doorway, whipped out his pistol, 
and fired twice at him. The first ball broke his wrist. "You must do 
better than that," said Temple. "I can whip you yet." The words were 
hardly out of his mouth when the second ball pierced his neck, and he 
fell. Gallagher would have finished him where he lay, but his friends 
interfered. The unfortunate man said, "Boys, carry me somewhere; I don't 
want to die like a dog in the street." He remained, slowly recovering, but 
suffering considerably, for several weeks, and, at the execution of 
Gallagher, he was walking round town with his arm in a sling, greatly 
grieved at the sudden end of his antagonist. "I wish," said he, "you had 
let him run till I got well; I would have settled that job myself."

Bill Hunter and Gallagher robbed a Mormon of a large amount of greenbacks, 
which he had been foolish enough to display, in a saloon, in Virginia. 
They followed him down the road, on his way to Salt Lake City, and it is 
presumed they murdered him. The money was recognized by several while the 
thieves were spending it in town. The Mormon was never heard of more. All 
the robbers whose death has been recorded wore the "Cordon knot" of the 
band, and nearly all, if not every one of them, shaved to the road agent 
patterns.

These executions were a fatal blow to the power of the band, and, 
henceforth, the right was the stronger side. The men of Nevada deserve the 
thanks of the people of the Territory for their activity, brave conduct 
and indomitable resolution. Without their aid, the Virginians could have 
never faced the roughs, or conquered them in their headquarters -their own 
town. The men of Summit, especially, and "up the Gulch," generally, were 
always on hand, looking business and doing it. Night fell on Virginia; but 
sleep forsook many an eye; while criminals of all kinds fled for their 
lives from the fatal city of the Vigilantes.



CHAPTER XXI
The Deer Lodge and Hell Gate Scout -Capture and Execution of Stephen 
Marshland, Bill Bunton, Cyrus Skinner, Aleck Carter, Johnny Cooper, George 
Shears, Robert Zachary, and William Graves (Whiskey Bill).

"He dies and makes no sign;
So bad a death argues a monstrous life." -Shakespeare.

The operations of the Vigilantes were, at this time, especially, planned. 
with a judgment, and executed with a vigor that never has been surpassed 
by any body, deliberate or executive. On the 15th of January, 1864, a 
party of twenty-one men left Nevada, under the command of a citizen whose 
name and. actions remind us of lightning. He was prompt, brave, 
irresistible (so wisely did he lay his plans), and struck where least 
expected.

The squadron rode to Big Hole, the first day, and, while on the road, 
detached a patrol to Clarke's Ranch, in pursuit of Steve Marshland, who 
was wounded in the breast, when attacking Forbes's train. His feet had 
been badly frozen, and flight was impossible. Leaving the horses behind, 
one of the party (No. 84) went in to arrest him, after knocking four times 
without answer, and discovered him in company with a dog, the two being 
the sole tenants of the ranch.

When the Vigilanter entered, he found all quite dark; but taking a wisp of 
dried grass, he groped his way to the fireplace, and kindled a light wit a 
match. The blaze revealed Steve Marshland in bed. "Hands up, if you
please," was the salute of his captor; and a pointed suggestion from one 
of Col. Colt's pacification agents caused an instant compliance with this 
demand. Seeing that he was sick he asked what was the matter, and replied 
that he had the chills. This novel "winter sickness" not being accepted as 
a sufficient excuse, a further interrogatory elicited the fact that he had 
frozen his feet. "No. 84" removed two double-barreled shot guns, a yager 
and another rifle, from beside the bed, and asked him where he froze them. 
He said. he was prospecting at the head of Rattlesnake. "Did you raise the 
'color'?" said his nterrogator. "No," replied Marshland, "I could not get 
to the bed-rock for water." The party commenced cooking supper, an invited 
him to eat with them. He took a cup of coffee and w s quite merry. After 
supper he was informed by the leader of thenature of the charge against 
him, viz., the robbery of Forbes's train. He denied having any wound, and 
slapped his breast, saying that it was "as sound as a dollar." Being asked 
if he had any objection to being examined, he said he had not; but the m 
ment his shirt was lifted the fatal mark of guilt was visible, in he shape 
of a recent bullet wound.

The prisoner was told that the evidence was complete, and that he must 
die. He then confessed, begging them to spare his life. He had matchers 
and tobacco in every pocket of his clothes. A pole was stuck into the 
ground, and leaned over the corral; a box was placed for him to stand on, 
and, all being ready, he once more begged to save him, saying "have mercy 
on me for my youth." He died almost instantly.

His feet being frozen and partially mortified, the scent attracted the 
wolves, and the party had to watch both him and the horses. He was buried 
close by. The patrol then started to overtake the main body, and coming up 
with them about four miles above Evan's ranch, they reported the execution 
of Marshland. They had been absent only one night, leaving the command in 
the morning and rejoining them the next day.

Up to this time the scouting party had met no one, but marched in double 
file, at the rate of from sixty to seventy miles per day. They kept double 
watch over the horses when camped, and lit no fires, being fearful of 
attracting notice, and thus of defeating the object of their journey. The 
men were divided into four messes, with a cook to each, and every. party 
carried its own "grub" (the universal mountain word for 'food"). Each man 
had a revolver, and some sported two. A shot-gun or a rifle was also part 
of the equipment. The captain rode foremost. A spy was despatched to 
reconnoitre the town, and to meet the party at Cottonwood Creek. He 
performed his part satisfactorily.

When within about seventeen miles of Cottonwood, at Smith's Ranch, on Deer 
Lodge Creek, a halt was made about four p. m. After dark they started, and 
with perfect quiet and caution rode to within a short distance of the 
town. They found that the robbers were gone; but, surrounding Bill 
Bunton's saloon and dwelling house, they proceeded to business. Bill was 
in his house, but he refused to open the door. The three men detailed for 
his arrest said they wanted to see him. For a long time he refused. At 
last he told a man named Yank and a young boy who was stopping with him to 
open the door. The men made him light a candle before they would enter. 
This being done Bunton's captors rushed in and told him that he was their 
prisoner. He asked them for what, and was told to come along and that he 
would find out.

* A Vigilanter of small stature but of great courage fastened upon him. He 
found, however, that he had caught a Tartar, so another man "piled on" 
(Montnice), and soon his arms were fast tied behind him. A guard was 
detailed to escort him down to Pete Martin's house, the rest being sent 
for to assist in taking Tex out of the saloon.

* J. X. Beidler.

A similar scene occurred here when the robber came out. He was instantly 
seized, pinioned, and taken down to keep company with his friend, Bill 
Bunton.

Pete Martin was frightened out of a year's growth when the Vigilanters 
surrounded his house. He was playing cards with some friends, and for a 
long time refused to come out; but finding that, as he said, "he wasn't 
charged with nothing," he ascertained what was wanted, and then returned 
to finish his game. As the exigencies of the times had rendered a little 
hanging necessary in that neighborhood, he felt small concern about the 
fate of Bunton and Tex, who were of a dangerous religion.

The party slept and breakfasted at the house. In the morning a stranger 
who was conversing with Bunton, to whom he was unknown, informed the 
Vigilantes that the culprit had said that "he would 'get' one of the-----
yet." On being searched a derringer was found in his vest pocket. As he 
had. been carefully overhauled the night before it was evident that some 
sympathizer had furnished him with the weapon. He refused to confess 
anything, even his complicity in the robbery of the coach, where he played 
"pigeon." Red had testified that he shared the money. He also denied 
killing Jack Thomas' cattle; but Red had confessed that he himself was the 
butcher, and that he had been hired by Bunton, who called him a coward 
when he spoke about the skins lying round the house, as being likely to be 
identified.

There being no possible doubt of his criminality, the vote on his case was 
taken with the uplifted hand, and resulted in a unanimous verdict of 
guilty.

The captain then told him that he was to be hanged, and that if he had any 
business to attend to he had better get some one to do it. He gave his 
gold watch to his partner, Cooke, and his other property to pay his debts. 
He had won his interest in the saloon some fourteen days before by 
gambling it from its owner.

Tex was taken to another house and was separately tried. After a patient 
investigation the robber was cleared -the evidence not being sufficient to 
convict him. Had the Vigilantes held him in custody for a time Tex would. 
have experienced a difficulty in his breathing that would have proved 
quickly fatal; for testimony in abundance was afterward obtained, proving 
conclusively that he was a highwayman and comomn thief. He made all sail 
for Kootenai, and there boasted that he would shoot any Vigilanter he 
could set eyes on.

About two hundred and fifty feet to the left-front of Pete Martin's house, 
at the gate of Louis Demorest's corral, there were two upright posts and a 
cross-beam which looked quite natural, and appeared as if they had been 
made for Bunton.

The prisoner was taken out and put on a board supported by two boxes. He 
was very particular about the exact situation of the knot, and asked if he 
could not jump off himself. Being told that he could if he wished, he said 
that he didn't care for hanging any more than he did for taking a drink of 
water; but he should like to have his neck broken. He seemed quite 
satisfied when his request was granted. He continued to deny his guilt to 
the very last moment of his life, repeating the password of the gang. "I 
am innocent." Two men were stationed at the board -one at each end -and 
all being ready he was asked if he had anything to say or any request to 
make. He said, "No; all I want is a mountain three hundred feet high to 
jump off." He said he would give the time -"one," "two," "three." At the 
word "ready," the men stationed at the plank prepared to pull it from 
under him, if he should fail to jump; but he gave the signal, as he 
promised, and adding, "here goes it," he leaped into the embrace of death. 
The cessation of muscular contraction was almost instantaneous, and his 
death was accompanied by scarcely a perceptible struggle.

The corral-keeper's wife insisted, in terms more energetic than polite, 
that her husband should get the poles cut down. With this request he was 
forced to comply, as soon as the corpse of the road agent was removed for 
burial.

The parties knew that the robbers were to be found at Hell Gate, which was 
so named because it was the road which the Indians took when on the war-
path, and intent on scalping and other pleasant little amusements, in the 
line of ravishing, plundering, fire-raising, etc., for the exhibition of 
which genteel proclivities the Eastern folks recommend a national donation 
of blankets and supplies to keep the thing up. As independent and well-
educated robbers, however, sedulously reared to the business from 
childhood, it must be admitted that in case anything is lacking, they at 
once proceed to supply the deficiency from the pilgrims' trains and from 
settlers' homesteads. If the Indians were left to the Vigilantes of 
Montana they would contract to change their habits at small cost; but an 
agency is too fat a thing for pet employees, and consequently a treaty is 
entered into, the only substantial adjunct of which is the quantity of 
presents which the Indians believe they have frightened out of the white 
men. Probably in a century or so they will see that our view is correct.

On their road from Cottonwood to Hell Gate the troop was accompanied by 
Jemmy Allen, towards whose ranch they were directing their steps. The 
weather was anything but pleasant for traveling, the quantity of snow 
making it laborious work for the Vigilantes, and the cold was very hard to 
endure without shelter. At the crossing of Deer Lodge Creek the ice gave 
way and broke through with the party. It was pitch dark at the time, and 
much difficulty was experienced in getting out both men and horses. One 
cavalier was nearly drowned; but a lariat being put round the horse's neck 
it was safely dragged out. The rider scrambled to the bank somehow or 
other -memory furnishes the result only, not the detail -and jumping on to 
the "animal," he rode on a keen run to the ranch, which was some four or 
five miles ahead.

The remainder of the cavalcade travelled on more leisurely, arriving there 
about eleven p. m., and having recruited a little they wrapped themselves 
in blankets and slumber without delay.

Next morning, in company with Charley Eaton, who was acquainted with the 
country and with the folks around Hell Gate, they started for that 
locality, and after riding fifteen or sixteen miles through snow, varying 
in depth from two to three feet, they camped for the night. The horses 
being used to foraging, pawed for their food.

The next morning the party crossed the bridge, and rode to the workmen's 
quarters on the Mullan* Wagon Road, where, calling a halt, they stopped 
all night. Accidents will happen in the best-regulated families, and in a 
winter scout in the wilds of Montana casualties must be expected as a 
matter of course. The best mountaineer is the man who most quickly and 
effectually repairs damages, or finds a substitute for the missing 
article. While driving the ponies into camp one of them put his foot into 
a hole and broke his leg. As there was no chance to attend to him he was 
at once shot. Another cayuse by a similar accident stripped all the skin 
off his hind legs from the hough down. He was turned loose to await the 
return of the expedition.

* Lieut. Mullan built a road across the mountains, for the Government, in 
'58 and '54.

At daylight the troop were in their saddles and pushing as rapidly as 
possible for the village. On arriving within six miles of the place the 
command halted on the bank of a small creek till after dark, to avoid 
being seen on the road. As soon as night threw her mantle over the scene, 
they continued their journey till within two hundred yards of Hell Gate, 
and there dismounting they tied their horses.

Their scout had gone ahead to reconnoitre, and, returning to the 
rendezvous, he informed the captain of the exact position of affairs. 
Coming through the town on a tight run, they mistook the houses; but, 
discovering their error, they soon returned, and surrounding Skinner's 
saloon, the owner, who was standing at the door, was ordered to throw up 
his hands. His woman (Nelly) did not appear to be pleased at the command, 
and observed that they must have learned that from the Bannack stage folks.

Skinner was taken and bound immediately. Some of the men went for Aleck 
Carter, who was in Miller's, the next house. Dan Harding opened the door, 
and seeing Carter, said, "Aleck, is that you?" to which the road agent 
promptly replied "Yes." The men leveled their pieces at him, and the 
leader, going over to the lounge on which he was lying, rather drunk, took 
his pistol from him and bound him, before he was thoroughly aroused. When 
he came to himself, he said, "This is tight papers, ain't it boys?" He 
then asked for a smoke, which being given to him, he inquired for the 
news. On hearing of the banging of the blood-stained miscreants whose doom 
has been recorded in these pages, he said, "All right; not an innocent man 
hung yet."

He was marched down under guard; to Higgins' store, where he and Skinner 
were tried, the examination lasting about three hours. Skinner's woman 
came down, bent on interference in his behalf. The lady was sent home with 
a guard, who found Johnny Cooper lying wounded in the house. He had been 
shot in three places by Carter, whom he had accused of stealing his 
pistol. He was, of course, instantly secured.

Some of the guard happening to remark that Johnny seemed to be suffering 
"pretty bad," the lady expressed a conviction, with much force and 
directness, that "by, there were two outside suffering a sight worse" 
(meaning Skinner and Aleck Carter).

Cooper was one of the lieutenants of the gang. He was a splendid horseman, 
and a man named President, who was present at his apprehension, knew him 
well on the "other side." He had murdered a man, and being arrested, was 
on his way to the court, when he suddenly broke from his captors, leaped 
with a bound on to a horse standing ready, and was off like a bird. Though 
at least one hundred shots were sent after him, he escaped uninjured, and 
got clear away.

While Aleck Carter was on trial, he confessed that the two mules of which 
Nicholas Tbalt was in charge, when shot by Ives, were at Irwin's Ranch, at 
Big Hole, and that he, Irwin and Ives had brought them there. It will be 
remembered that, besides robbing the coach, Aleck was accessory both 
before and after the fact of Tbalt's murder. This was proved. That he was 
a principal in its perpetration is more than likely. He denied all 
participation in the murder, but confessed, generally speaking, much in 
the same style as others had done.

Skinner also refused to confess any of the crimes. "Dead men tell no 
tales" was his verdict, when planning the murder of Magruder, and he it 
was who ingratiated himself into the favor of Page, Romaine and others, 
and prompted them to the deed, so that Magruder thought his murderers were 
his friends, and went on his last journey without suspicion. He said he 
could have saved him, if he had liked; but he added that he "would have 
seen him in first." He wouldn't leave himself open to the vengeance of the 
band. He was a hardened, merciless and brutal fiend.

The same night a detachment of eight men went in pursuit of Rob Zachary, 
and coming up to Barney O'Keefe's, that gentleman appeared in the uniform 
of a Georgia major minus the spurs and shirt collar, and plus a flannel 
blouse. He mistook the party for road agents, and appeared to think his 
time had come. He ejaculated, withvisible horror, "Don't shoot, gentlemen; 
I'm Barney O'Keefe." It is useless to say that no harm was done to the 
"Baron," as he is called. There are worse men living in all countries than 
Barney, who is a good soul in his own way, and hospitable in his nature. 
Finding that Bob Zachary was inside, one of the party entered, and, as he 
sat up in bed, threw himself upon him, and pushed him backwards. He had a 
pistol and a knife. He was taken to Hell Gate shortly after his capture. 
The fate of his friends was made known to him, and vouched for by a 
repetition of the signs, grips, passwords, etc. On seeing this he turned 
pale; but he never made any confession of guilt. He was one of the stage 
robbers who actually took the money from Southmayde. Like all the rest, he 
repeated the pass-word of the gang, "I am innocent."

On the road back the guard had wormed out of Barney that a stranger was 
stopping at Van Dorn's, in the Bitter Root valley. "No. 84," who was 
leading the party who captured Shears, asked "Does Van live here?" "Yes," 
said the man himself. "Is George Shears in your house!" asked 84. "Yes," 
said Van. "Where is he?" "In the next room." "Any objection to our going 
in?" The man replied by opening the door of the room, on which George 
became visible, knife in hand. He gave himself up quietly, and seemed so 
utterly indifferent to death that he perfectly astonished his captors. 
Taking a walk with 84, he pointed out to him the stolen horses in the 
corral, and confessed his guilt, as a man would speak of the weather. He 
said, "I knew I should have to go up, some time; but I thought I could run 
another season." When informed of his doom, he appeared perfectly 
satisfied. On being taken into the barn, where a rope was thrown over a 
beam, he was asked to walk up a ladder, to save trouble about procuring a 
drop. He at once complied, addressing his captors in the following unique 
phraseology, "Gentlemen, I am not used to this business, never having been 
hung before. Shall I jump of or slide off?" Being told to jump off, he 
said "All right; good by," and leaped into the air with as much sang froid 
as if bathing.

The drop was long and the rope tender. It slowly untwisted, and Shears 
hung, finally, by a single strand. George's parting question, was for a 
long time, a byword among the Vigilantes.

A company of three, headed by the "old man,"* started off to Fort Owen, in 
the Bitter Root Valley, in pursuit of Whiskey Bill (Bill Graves, the coach 
robber). This worthy was armed and on the look-out for his captors; but, 
it seems, he had become partially snow-blind by long gazing. At all 
events, he did not see the party with sufficient distinctness to ascertain 
who they were, until the "old man" jumped from his horse and covered him 
with his revolver. He gave up, though he had repeatedly sworn that he 
would shoot any Vigilanter who would come his way. His guilt was notorious 
throughout all the country, and his capture was merely a preliminary to 
his execution. The men took him away from the Fort in deference to the 
prejudices of the Indians, who would have felt no desire to live near 
where a man had been hanged. Graves made no confession. He was what is 
called in the mountains a "bull head," and was a sulky, dangerous savage. 
Being tied up to a limb, the difficulty was to make a "drop," but the 
ingenuity of the leader was equal to the emergency. One of the men mounted 
his horse; Graves was lifted up behind him, and, all being ready, "Good-
by, Bill," said the front horseman, driving his huge rowels into the 
horse's flanks as he spoke. The animal made a plunging bound of twelve 
feet, and Bill Graves, swept from his seat by the fatal noose and lariat, 
swung lifeless. His neck was broken by the shock.

* Captain Williams, no doubt.

The different parties rendezvoused at Hell Gate, and a company of eight 
men were despatched to the Pen O'Oreille Reserve to get Johnny Cooper's 
horses, six or seven in number. They were in poor condition, and were 
nearly all sold to pay the debts which the road agent had incurred in the 
country round about the village. The remainder were brought to Nevada. It 
seems that Aleck Carter and Cooper were about, to start for Kootenai, on 
the previous day, and that their journey was prevented only by their 
quarrel about the pistol, which Cooper charged Aleck with stealing, and 
which resulted in the wounding of Cooper, the delay of their journey, and, 
in fact, in their execution. A pack animal laden with their baggage and 
provisions carried $180 worth of goods. These were taken for the use of 
the expedition; but on a representation made by Higgins that he had 
supplied them to Carter to get rid of him, but that he had received 
nothing for them, they were paid for on the spot by the Vigilantes.

There had been a reign of terror in Hell Gate. The robbers did as they 
pleased, took what they chose. A Colt's revolver was the instrument ever 
ready to enforce the transfer. Brown, a Frenchman, living in the 
neighborhood, stated to the Vigilantes, that he was glad to see them, for 
that robbers used to ride his stock whenever they pleased, and that they 
always retained possession of such steeds as they especially fancied.

Cooper had determined to marry his daughter, a pretty halfbreed girl, and 
then, after getting all that he could lay hands on, he intended to turn 
the old man adrift. He used to go to his intended father-in-law and inform 
him that he wanted another of those pretty pocket pieces ($20 gold 
pieces), and he allwys obtained what he asked; for death would have been 
the instant penalty of refusal. Other parties had supplied Cooper and 
Carter with money, pistols and whatever else they asked, for the same 
potent and unanswerable reasons. Any demand for payment was met by a 
threat to shoot the creditor.

At the conclusion of the trials of Carter and Skinner, a vote was taken by 
stepping to the opposite sides of the room; but the verdict of guilty, and 
a judgment of death to the culprits were unanimously rendered.

Cooper was tried separately, and interrogated by Mr. President concerning 
his conduct on the "other side." He denied the whole thing; but this 
gentleman's testimony, the confession of Red, and the witness of the 
inhabitants rendered a conviction and sentence of death inevitable.

Carter and Skinner were taken to Higgin's corral and executed by 
torchlight, shortly after midnight. Two poles were planted, leaning over 
the corral fence; to these the ropes were tied, and store-boxes served for 
"drops." On the road to the gallows Cyrus Skinner broke suddenly from the 
guard, and ran off, shouting, "Shoot! shoot!" His captors were too old 
hands to be thus baffled. They instantly secured him. He again tried the 
trick when on the box; but he was quickly put up and held there till the 
rope was adjusted. This being finished he was informed that he could jump 
whenever he pleased. Aleck seemed ashamed of Skinner's attempt to escape, 
which the latter explained by saying that he "was not born to be hanged" -
a trifling error.

While on the stand one of the men asked Carter to confess his share in the 
murder of the Dutchman; but he burst forth with a volley of oaths, saying, 
"If I had my hands free, you, I'd make you take that back." As Skinner was 
talking by his side, Aleck was ordered to keep quiet. "Well, then, let's 
have a smoke," said he. His request being granted, he became more pacific 
in demeanor. The criminals' faces being covered with handkerchiefs, they 
were launched into eternity, with the password of the gang upon their 
lips, "I am innocent." Both died easily and at once. The people had of 
their own accord made all the preparations for their burial.

Immediately after the execution, the parties were detailed and despatched 
after Zachary, Graves and Shears. The death of the last two has been 
recorded.

The squad that arrested Zachary returned between seven and eight o'clock 
that morning. He was at once tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death. 
By his direction a letter was written to his mother, in which he warned 
his brothers and sisters to avoid drinking whiskey, card playing, and bad 
company, which, he said, had brought him to the gallows. Zachary once lay 
in wait for Pete Daly and snapped two caps at him; but, fortunately, the 
weapon would not go off.

Being brought to the same spot as that on which Skinner and Carter were 
hanged, he commenced praying to God to forgive the Vigilantes for what 
they were doing, for it was a pretty good way to clear the country of road 
agents. He died at once without any apparent fear or pain.

Johnny Cooper was hauled down on a sleigh by hand, owing to his leg being 
wounded, and was placed on the same box that Skinner had stood upon. He 
asked for his pipe, saying he wanted a pood smoke, and he enjoyed it very 
much. A letter had been written to his parents in York State. Cooper 
dodged the noose for a time, but being told to keep his head straight, he 
submitted. He died without a struggle.

During the trial of the men, the people had made Cooper's coffin, and dug 
his grave; Zachary was buried by the Vigilantes. The other malefactor the 
citizens knew better and hated worse.

Skinner left all his property to Higgins, the storekeeper, from whom he 
had received all his stock on credit. Aleck had nothing but his horse, his 
accoutrements and his appointments.

Their dread mission of retribution being accomplished, the captain ordered 
everything to be made ready for their long homeward march, and in due time 
they arrived at Cottonwood, where they found that X had settled everything 
relating to Bunton's affairs. At Big Hole they made search for Irwin; but 
he had fled, and has never been taken. Tired and worn, the command reached 
nevada, and received the congratulations and thanks of all good men. Like 
Joshua's army, though they had been rewarded with success, yet often in 
that journey over their cold and trackless waste the setting min had seen 
them "Faint, yet pursuing."



CHAPTER XXII
Capture and Execution of Bill Hunter.

"Round he throws his baleful eyes
That witness naught but huge destruction and dismay." -Milton.

At the time of the execution of Boone Helm and his four confederates in 
crime, Bill Hunter, as before narrated, managed to escape his pursuers and 
for a time to baffle the vengeance of the Vigilantes by hiding among the 
rocks and brush by day, and then seeking food at night among the scattered 
settlements in the vicinity of the Gallatin River.

At the time of Barney Hughes' stampede, the country in the neighborhood 
became alive with men, and his whereabouts was discovered. Information was 
received at Virginia that he was living as described about twenty miles 
above the mouth of the Gallatin. A severe snow storm had driven him to 
seek refuge in a cabin, near the place of his concealment, and here he was 
overtaken and captured.

A party of four resolute men volunteered for the work, and left Virginia 
City with a good prospect of fine weather for the trip before them. 
Crossing the Divide between the Stinkingwater and the Madison, they forded 
the last-named river with some difficulty, the huge cakes of floating ice 
striking the horses' flanks and threatening to carry them down. Their 
camping ground was the frozen earth on its banks; and having built a fire, 
they lay d own to sleep with no shelter but their blankets. Though the 
weather was intensely cold, the spirits of the party never flagged, and 
they derived not a little amusement from occurrences which, under other 
circumstances, would have been regarded as anything but' amusing incidents 
of travel.

One of the Vigilantes, determined on securing a good share of heat, lay 
with his head on the top of a hillock that sloped towards the fire, and, 
as a natural consequence, gradually slid down, till he woke with his feet 
in the hot embers. His position was changed with marvelous rapidity, amid 
the laughter of his comrades.

Another of the party had a pair of mammoth socks, into which he thrust his 
feet loosely. As the sleeper began to feel the cold, he kept pushing his 
feet into the socks, until he pushed himself out of bed, and woke half 
frozen. He glanced with a comic expression at the cause of his 
misfortunes, and taking a good warm at the fire in a more legitimate 
fashion, he crept back to bed.

Early in the morning the men rose from their slumbers, renewed their fire, 
and while some cooked, others hunted up the stock. Soon all was prepared, 
and despatched with a mountaineer's appetite; the horses were saddled and 
they departed on their mission. The weather had changed very much for the 
worse. And about ten o'clock a fierce snow storm, driven by a furious 
wind, blew right in their faces; but as the tempest was a most useful 
auxiliary towards the success of their enterprise, they pushed on, hour 
after hour, and at two p. m. reached the Milk Ranch, about twenty miles 
from the place where they expected to find their game. Here they stayed 
for supper, and engaged a guide who knew the country well, and was 
acquainted with the locality of the robbers' city of refuge. Being warmed 
and refreshed, they started at a rapid pace, which was continued until, at 
midnight, they drew bridle near a lone cabin, into which they felt certain 
that the severity of the storm had driven the object of their journey.

Having halted and unsaddled, they rapped loudly at the door. When it was 
opened, the gentleman who presented himself took a view of the party, 
which, with the guide and a gentleman who had joined them, numbered six 
individuals. "Good evening," was the salutation of the travellers. Sleep, 
suspicion, and an uneven temper, probably, jointly proved the response. 
"Don't know whether it is or not." However, at their request, he soon had 
a fire blazing on the hearth, which the party thoroughly enjoyed, after 
their long ride. Before allowing themselves to be thus even temporarily 
luxurious, they had carefully inspected the premises and, as the lawyers 
say, all the appendages and appurtenances thereunto belonging; when, 
having found that the only practicable method of egress was by the door, a 
couple of them lay down in such a manner, when they retired to rest, that 
any one trying to escape must inevitably wake them. Six shot-guns 
constituted balf a dozen weighty arguments against forcible attempts at 
departure, and the several minor and corroborative persuasions of a 
revolving class completed a clear case of "stand off," under all 
circumstances.

A sentry was placed to see that nobody adopted the plan of "evaporation" 
patented by Santa Claus, that is to say by ascent of the chimney. His 
duty, also, was to keep up a bright fire, and the room being tenanted to 
its utmost capacity, all promised an uninterrupted night's slumber.

A very cursory inspection of the interior of the premises had satisfied 
the Vigilantes that the occupants of the cabin were three in number. Of 
these, two were visible; but one remained covered up in bed, and never 
stirred till the time of their departure in the morning. The curiosity of 
the inmates being roused. by the sudden advent of the travellers, 
questions as to their names, residences, occupation and intentions were 
freely propounded, and were answered with a view to "business" 
exclusively. Before turning over to sleep, the party conversationally 
descanted on mining, stampeding, prospecting runs, panning-out, and all 
the technical magazine of mining phrases was ransacked with a view to 
throwing their hosts off the trail. In this they succeeded. All was quiet 
during the night, and until a late hour in the morning. Every one of the 
friends of justice had exchanged private signals by Vigilante telegraph, 
and were satisfied that all was right.

Nothing was said about the real object of their visit, until the horses 
were saddled for the apparent purpose of continuing the journey. Two only 
went out at a time, and the mute eloquence of the shot-guns in the corner 
was as effective in the morning as it had been at midnight.

When all was ready, one of the party asked who was the unknown sleeper 
that, at that late hour, had never waked or uncovered his face. The host 
said that he did not know; but upon being asked, "When did he come here?" 
he informed them that he had come at the beginning of the great snow 
storm, and had been there two days.

The man was requested to describe his person and appearance. He complied 
at once, and in so doing he gave a perfect picture of Bill Hunter.

With arms prepared for instant, service, the Vigilantes approached the 
bed, and the leader called out, "Bill Hunter!" The occupant of the bed 
hastily drew the covering from his face, and wildly asked who was there. 
His eyes were greeted with the sight of six well-armed men, whose 
determined countenances and stern looks told him only too truly the nature 
of their errand. Had he been in doubt, however, this matter would soon 
have been settled; for the six shot-guns leveled at his head were answer 
enough to palsy the arm of grim despair himself. On being asked if he had 
any arms, he said, "Yes, I have a revolver," and accordingly he handed it 
from beneath the bed-clothes, where he had held it, lying on his breast, 
ready cocked for use. The old Vigilanter who made the inquiries, not being 
very soft or easy caught at a disadvantage, took the precaution when 
approaching him to lay his hand on his breast, so that, had he been 
willing, he could have done nothing; for his weapon was mastered while his 
hand was covered. He was, of course, informed that he was a prisoner, upon 
hearing which he at once asked to be taken to Virginia City. One of the 
men gave him to understand that he would be taken there. He further 
inquired whether there was any conveyance for him, and was told that there 
was a horse for him to ride.

He rose from the bed, ready dressed for the occasion except his overcoat 
and hat, and mounted the horse prepared for him; but, upon preparing to 
take the rein, his motion was politely negatived and the bridle was handed 
to a horseman who held it as a leading bridle. He looked suspiciously 
round, and appeared much perturbed when he saw a footman following, for he 
at once guessed that it was his horse that he was riding, and the incident 
seemed to be regarded by him in the light of an omen foreboding a short 
journey for him. His conscience told him what was likely to be the end of 
his arrest. The real reason why an evasive answer had been given to the 
prisoner, when he expressed a wish to be taken to Virginia City, was that 
his captors were anxious to leave the place without exciting suspicion of 
any intention to execute Bill Hunter, in the neighborhood.

The escort proceeded on their way homewards for about two miles, and 
halted at the foot of a tree which seemed as if it had been fashioned by 
nature for a gallows. A horizontal limb at a convenient height was there 
for the rope, and on the trunk was a spur like a belaying pin, on which to 
fasten the end. Scraping away about a foot of snow, they camped, lit a 
fire and prepared their breakfast. An onlooker would never have 
conjectured I.or a moment that anything of a serious nature was likely to 
occur, and even Hunter seemed to have forgotten his fears, laughing and 
chatting gayly with the rest.

After breakfast a consultation was held as to what should be done with the 
road agent, and after hearing what was offered by the members of the 
scouting party, individually, the leader put the matter to vote. It was 
decided by the majority that the prisoner should not go to Virginia, but 
that he should be executed then and there. The man who had given Hunter to 
understand that he would be taken to Virginia, voted for the carrying out 
of this part of the programme, but he was overruled.

The earnest manner of the Vigilantes, and his own sense of guilt, 
overpowered Hunter, he turned deadly pale, and faintingly asked for water. 
He knew, without being told, that there was no hope for him. A brief 
history of his crimes was related to him by one of the men, and the 
necessity of the enforcement of the penalty was pointed out to him. All 
was too true for denial. He merely requested that his friends should know 
nothing of the manner of his death, and stated that he had no property; 
but he hoped they would give him a decent burial. He was told that every 
reasonable request would be granted; but that the ground was too hard for 
them to attempt his interment without proper implements. They promised 
that his friends should be made acquainted with his execution, and that 
they would see to that. Soon after, he shook hands with each of the 
company, and said that he did not blame them for what they were about to 
do.

His arms were pinioned at the elbows; the fatal noose was placed around 
his neck, and the end of the rope being thrown over the limb, the men took 
hold and with a quick, strong pull ran him up off his feet. He died almost 
without a struggle; but, strange to say, he reached as if for his pistol, 
and went through the pantomime of cocking and discharging his revolver six 
times. This is no effort of fancy. Every one present saw it, and was 
equally convinced of the fact. It was a singular instance of "the ruling 
passion, strong in death."

The place of the execution was a lone tree, in full view of the travellers 
on the trail, about twenty miles above the mouth of the Gallatin. The 
corpse of the malefactor was left hanging from the limb, and the little 
knot of horsemen was soon but a speck in the distance. The purpose of the 
Barney Hughes stampede had been accomplished. So secretly had everything 
been managed that one of the four who started from Virginia did not know 
either the real destination of the party, or the errand of the other 
three. He was found to be sound on the road agent question; and, instead 
of being dismissed he rode on as one of the party.

It seemed as if fate had decreed the death of Bill Hunter. He was a man of 
dauntless courage, and would have faced a hundred men to the last, being a 
perfect desperado when roused, though ordinarily peaceful in demeanor. At 
his capture he was as weak as a child, and had scarcely strength to ask 
for what he wanted.

The only remarkable circumstance attending the return journey was the 
inconvenience and pain caused by the reflection of the sun's rays from the 
snow. It produced temporary blindness, and was only relieved by blacking 
their faces. Riding late at night, one of the horsemen dismounted with a 
view of easing his steed, which was tired with the long march, and walked 
some distance by his side. On getting again into the saddle he 
accidentally discharged his gun, which was slung, muzzle down by his side. 
The charge passed down the leg of his boot between the counter and the 
lining, lodging an ounce ball and six buckshot in the heel. All started at 
the sudden flash and report. The man himself believed that his foot was 
shot to pieces, and they spurred forward at hot speed for the next ranch, 
where an examination revealed the above state of facts, much to the 
consolation of the excited mind of the owner of the boot. He was wounded 
only in spirit, and reached home safely.

One of the Vigilantes "bagged" a relic. He had promised to bring back a 
token of having seen Rill Hunter, either dead or alive, and, accordingly, 
while talking to him at the fire, he managed to detach a button from his 
coat, which he fetched home as he had promised.

Some days after men who were hauling wood discovered the body, and 
determined to give it burial. It was necessary to get the corpse over a 
snow-drift; so they tied a rope to the heels, and essayed to drag it up; 
but finding that this was the wrong way of the grain, as they said, they 
replaced the noose round the neck, and thus having pulled him over, they 
finally consigned to mother earth the last of Henry Plummer's Band.

Bill Hunter was, as we have said, the last of the old road agent band that 
met death at the hands of the Committee. He was executed on the 3d of 
February, 1864. There was now no openly organized force of robbers in the 
Territory, and the future acts of the Committee were confined to taking 
measures for the maintenance of the public tranquility, and the punishment 
of those guilty of murder, robbery and other high crimes and misdemeanor' 
against the welfare of the inhabitants of Montana.

On looking back at the dreadful state of society which necessitated the 
organization of the Vigilantes, and on reading these pages, many will 
learn for the first time the deep debt of gratitude which they owe to that 
just and equitable body of self-denying and gallant men. It was a dreadful 
and a disgusting duty that devolved upon them; but it was a duty, and they 
did it. Far less worthy actions have been rewarded by the thanks of 
Congress, and medals glitter on many a bosom, whose owner won them lying 
flat behind a hillock, out of range of the enemy's fire. The Vigilantes, 
for the sake of their country, encountered popular dislike, the envenomed 
hatred of the bad, and the cold toleration of some of the unwise good. 
Their lives they held in their hands.

"All's well that ends well." Montana is saved, and they saved it, earning 
the blessings of future generations, whether they receive them or not. Our 
next chapter will record the execution of the renowned Capt. J. A. Slade, 
of whom more good and evil stories have been told, than would make a 
biography for the seven champions of Christendom, and concerning whose 
life and character there have been uttered for or against any other 
individual that has figured in the annals of the Rocky Mountains.