PURSUIT OF ROAD AGENTS
The work so well begun was prosecuted with great energy. The ruffians
had fled from Virginia City and Bannack, over the range to Deer Lodge
and Bitter Root, intending gradually to return to their old haunts in
Idaho. The Vigilantes, resolved that they should not escape, took up the
pursuit. A company of twenty-one, under the command of a competent
leader, left Nevada on the fifteenth of January. Arriving at Big Hole in
the evening, they sent a detachment to Clark’s ranche to arrest the
bandit Steve Marshland, who was laid up with frozen feet, and the wound
which he had received in the breast while attacking Moody’s train.
Receiving no response to their repeated raps at the door of the cabin,
one of the party entered, and, lighting a wisp of straw, found Marshland
in bed.
“Hands up, if you please,” said he, pointing his revolver at the head of
the prostrate robber, who obeyed the command as well as circumstances
would admit.
“Are you sick, Steve?” queried the Vigilante.
“Yes—very,” faintly responded Marshland.
“No one with you?”
“No one,—no living thing but the dog.”
“What is the matter?”
“I’ve got the chills.”
“Strange! New kind of sickness for winter! Nothing else the matter?”
“Yes. I froze my feet while prospecting at the head of Rattlesnake
Creek.”
“Did you raise the color?”
“No. The water prevented me from going to bed-rock.”
While this conversation was in progress, the party had built a fire and
commenced cooking supper. Removing from beside the bed two
double-barrelled shotguns, a yager, and another rifle, they invited
Marshland to get up and take supper with them. During the meal all
engaged in merry conversation. After it was over, the leader informed
Marshland that he was arrested for the robbery of Moody’s train.
“You received,” said he, “while engaged in that robbery, a bullet wound
in the breast, by which we shall be able to identify you.”
“I received no such wound,” said he; and, striking his breast several
times, he continued, “My breast is as sound as a dollar.”
“You can have no objection, then, to submitting to our examination.”
“None in the least, gentlemen. Look for yourselves.”
The leader threw open Marshland’s shirt. The mark of the recent wound
confirmed the guilt of the robber. He could give no explanation of the
manner in which he received it.
“The evidence is satisfactory to us,” said the leader. “We have made no
mistake in arresting you. You must die.”
“For God’s sake, do not hang me. Let me go, and I will trouble you no
more.”
“It cannot be. We shall certainly execute every one of Plummer’s
infamous band that falls into our hands, and we hope to catch them all.”
Finding importunity of no avail, he made a full and frank confession of
all his crimes. A scaffold was improvised by sticking into the ground a
pole, the end of which projected over the corral fence, upon which the
pole rested. A box taken from the cabin was placed under it, for the
prisoner to stand upon. When all was ready, and the fatal noose was
adjusted, the prisoner once more appealed to his captors.
“Have mercy on me for my youth!” he exclaimed.
“You should have thought of it before,” replied the leader, as he gave
the fatal order, and the poor wretch was launched into eternity.
The scent of his frozen feet attracted the wolves, and the party were
obliged to watch both him and the horses, to prevent an attack by these
animals. He was buried near the place of execution. The detachment found
the main party the next morning, having been absent only one night.
The Vigilantes resumed their march, beginning at this point the ascent
of the Deer Lodge divide. Not knowing how soon or where they might
overtake others of the gang, they rode forward in double file at the
rate of sixty miles a day. They divided their company into four messes,
each of which being supplied plentifully with food already cooked, they
lighted no large camp-fires, lest the smoke therefrom should betray
them. A double watch was kept over the horses while in camp. Each man
was armed with at least one, some with two, revolvers, and a shotgun or
rifle. While on the march, the captain was in the van. After they
descended into the valley of Deer Lodge, a spy was sent forward to
reconnoitre the town of Cottonwood, with instructions to meet the party
at Cottonwood Creek.
At four o’clock P.M. they halted at Smith’s ranche, seventeen miles from
Cottonwood, until after dark, when they rode cautiously forward until
within a short distance of the town. Learning from their spy that all
the robbers except Bunton and “Tex” had gone, they rode hastily into the
town and surrounded the saloon of the former. Bunton refused to open the
door. Three men detailed to arrest him called to him and expressed a
wish to see him. He persisted in denying them admittance, until
convinced that they would effect an entrance by force; and he then told
a man and boy in his employ to let them in. The door was opened, but, as
the lights within had been extinguished, the men declined to enter until
a candle was lighted. As soon as light was furnished, they rushed in,
and the leader exclaimed,
“Bill, you are my prisoner!”
“For what?” inquired Bunton.
“Come with us at once, and you’ll find out.”
Observing that he made signs of resistance, a Vigilante, whose courage
exceeded his strength, seized the ruffian and attempted to drag him out.
Finding himself overmatched, he called to his assistance a comrade, who
soon succeeded in binding the hands of the desperado behind him. In this
condition he was conducted by a guard to the cabin of Peter Martin.
“Tex,” who was in the saloon, was conquered in much the same manner, and
forced to follow his companion.
Martin, who knew nothing of the arrest, was seated at a table playing a
game at cards with some friends. Hearing that the Vigilantes were
surrounding his house, he dropped his cards, and started with great
affright for the door. For a long time he refused to obey their summons
to come out, but, on being assured that he “wasn’t charged with
nothin’,” he opened the door and returned to his game.
After breakfast the next morning a person who had been conversing with
Bunton informed the Vigilantes that he had said to him that he would
“get one of them yet,” on learning whereof they searched him a second
time. They found a derringer in his vest-pocket, which had evidently
been placed there by some sympathizer during the night.
Bunton refused to make any answer to the charges made against him. No
doubt was entertained of his guilt. The vote on his case, taken by the
uplifted hand, was unanimous for his execution. The captain informed him
of it.
“If you have any business to attend to, you had better intrust it to
some one, as we cannot be delayed here.”
Bunton immediately gave his gold watch to his partner Cooke, and
appropriated his other property to the payment of his debts. He had
gambled for and won the interest in the saloon from its former owner a
fortnight before this time. Having thus disposed of his affairs, he was
conducted to the gate of a corral near, surmounted by a gallows-frame,
beneath which a board laid upon two boxes served the purpose of a drop.
While the hangman was adjusting the rope, he gave him particular
instructions about the exact situation of the knot. This being fixed to
suit him, he said to the captain,
“May I jump off myself?”
“You can if you wish,” was the reply.
“I care no more for hanging,” said Bunton, “than I do for taking a drink
of water; but I should like to have my neck broken.”
On being asked if he had anything further to say, he replied,
“Nothing, except that I have done nothing to deserve death. I am
innocent. All I want is a mountain three hundred feet high to jump from.
And now I will give you the time; one—two—three.” The men were prepared
to pull the plank from under him should he fail to jump, but he
anticipated them, and, adding the words, “Here goes,” he leaped and fell
with a loud thud, dying without a struggle.
“Tex” was separately tried. The evidence being insufficient to convict
him, he was liberated, and left immediately for the Kootenai mines.
Mrs. Demorest, the wife of the owner of the corral, was so greatly
outraged by the use made of the gate frame that she gave her husband no
peace until the poles were cut down, and the frame entirely unfitted for
further use as a gallows.
After the execution of Bunton, the Vigilantes, in company with Jemmy
Allen, a rancheman, left Cottonwood for Hell Gate, a little settlement
ninety miles down the river, in the vicinity of Bitter Root Valley. Snow
covered the ground to the depth of two feet, and the weather was
intensely cold. It was after dark when the company arrived at one of the
crossings of the Deer Lodge. The river, being a rapid mountain stream,
seldom freezes sufficiently solid to bear a horseman; but, no other mode
of transit presenting itself, the Vigilantes drove hurriedly upon the
frozen surface, and, before they were half-way across, the ice gave way,
precipitating their horses into the water. Had the stream been wide, all
must have perished. As it was, after must floundering and considerable
exertion, all were landed safely on the opposite bank. One of the party
barely escaped drowning, and his horse was dragged from the stream by a
lariat around his neck. At eleven o’clock the company arrived at Allen’s
ranche, where they passed the remainder of the night in blankets.
The next day, accompanied by Charles Eaton, who was familiar with the
country, they rode on in the direction of Hell Gate, but, owing to the
great depth of the snow, progressed only fifteen miles. They made a camp
in the snow. Their horses, being accustomed to the mountains, pawed, in
the snow to find the bunch-grass. The ride of the following day
terminated at the workmen’s quarters on the Mullen wagon-road. One of
the ponies broke his leg by stepping into a badger hole while they were
going into camp, and another, by a similar accident, stripped the skin
from his hindlegs. They were obliged to shoot the former, and turn the
latter loose to await their return.
The troop were in their saddles at daylight, on the route to the
settlement, which they approached to within six miles, and went into
camp until after nightfall. Then they resumed their ride, stopping a
short distance outside of the town. The scout they had sent to
reconnoitre brought them all needful information, and, mounting their
horses, they entered the town on a keen run. Skinner was standing in the
doorway of his saloon, when they rode up, surrounded the building, and
ordered him to “throw up his hands.”
“You must have learned that from the Bannack stage folks,” said his
_chere amie_, Nelly, who was an observer of the scene.
Two men dismounted, and, seizing Skinner, bound him immediately.
Meantime two or three Vigilantes threw open the door of Miller’s cabin,
which was next to Skinner’s, and Dan Harding, the foremost among them,
levelling his gun, shouted to some person lying upon a lounge,
“Alex, is that you?”
“Yes,” replied the man, “what do you want?”
“We want you,” was the reply, as the men rushed in, took his pistol, and
bound the robber before he was thoroughly aroused from sleep.
“These are rather tight papers—ain’t they, boys?” said Carter. “Give me
something to smoke and tell me the news.” On being told the names of
those who had been executed, he quietly remarked,
“That’s all right; not an innocent man hung yet.”
He and Skinner were conducted down to Higgins’s store, and their
examination immediately commenced. Three hours were occupied in the
investigation, during which Nelly came down, with the intention of
interfering in Skinner’s behalf. She was sent home under guard; and her
escort, on searching her premises, found Johnny Cooper prostrated by
three pistol shots, received in a quarrel with Carter the previous day,
but for which it had been the intention of Carter and Cooper to leave
for Kootenai. The baggage and provisions they had procured for the
journey, worth a hundred and thirty dollars, together with the
pack-animal, were taken for the use of the expedition, and were paid for
by M. W. Tipton, whom Carter and Cooper had persuaded to become their
surety for the amount.
During the trial of Carter, he confessed his complicity as accessory,
both before and after the fact, to the murder of Tiebalt. It was proven
also that he was concerned in the coach robbery. Skinner made no
confession, nor was it necessary, as his criminal character and acts
were susceptible of abundant proof.
Cooper was tried separately. He was one of the lieutenants of the band.
A Vigilante by the name of President testified to Cooper’s having
murdered a man in Idaho, for which he was arrested by the people. While
being conducted to the place of trial, he broke from his captors, leaped
with a bound upon a horse standing near, and, amid a hundred shots,
escaped uninjured, and came to Montana.
On the evening of the day these trials were in progress, a detachment of
eight men left Hell Gate in pursuit of Bob Zachary, whom they found
seated in bed, in the cabin of Hon. Barney O’Keefe, known throughout
Bitter Root Valley as “the Baron.” One of the party, on entering, pushed
him over, upon his back, taking from him, at the same time, his pistol
and knife. While on their return with him to Hell Gate, O’Keefe
unintentionally mentioned that a stranger was stopping at Van Dorn’s
cabin, in the Bitter Root Valley. A company of three Vigilantes,
suspecting by the description given that he was none other than George
Shears, another of the band, started at once in pursuit.
Riding up in front of the cabin, Thomas Pitt, their leader, inquired of
the man who met them at the door, if George Shears was in.
“Yes,” said Van Dorn. “He is in the inner room.”
“Any objection to our entering?” inquired Pitt.
[Illustration:
A VIGILANTE EXECUTION
]
Van Dorn replied by opening the door of the room, where George was
discovered, knife in hand. He surrendered without resistance,
astonishing his captors by the utter indifference he manifested to the
near approach of death. Walking with Pitt to the corral, he designated
the horses he had stolen, and confessed his guilt.
“I knew,” said he, “I should have to come to this sometime, but I
thought I could run another season.”
“There is no help for you, George,” said Pitt. “You must suffer the same
fate as your companions in crime.”
“I suppose I should be satisfied,” replied the ruffian, “that it is no
worse.”
He was conducted to the barn, where, a rope being cast over a beam, he
was requested, in order to save the trouble of procuring a drop, to
ascend the ladder. He complied without the least reluctance. After the
preparations were completed, he said to his captors,
“Gentlemen, I am not used to this business, never having been hung
before. Shall I jump off, or slide off?”
“Jump off, of course,” was the reply.
“All right,” he exclaimed, “good-bye!” and leaped from the ladder, with
the utmost _sang froid_. The drop was long, and the rope tender. As the
strands untwisted, they parted, until finally one alone remained.
Soon after the party which captured Zachary and Shears had left Hell
Gate, intelligence was received there that William Graves (Whiskey Bill)
was at Fort Owen in the Bitter Root Valley. Three men were sent
immediately to arrest and execute him. He was armed and on the lookout,
and had repeatedly sworn that he would shoot any Vigilante that came in
his way. The party was too wary for him. He was first made aware of
their presence, by a stern command to surrender, and a pistol at his
heart. He made no resistance, and refused all confession. A rope was
tied to the convenient limb of a tree, and the drop extemporized by
placing the culprit astride of a strong horse, behind a Vigilante. When
all was ready, the rider, exclaiming “Good-bye, Bill,” plunged the
rowels into the sides of the horse, which leaped madly forward; the
fatal noose swept the robber from his seat, breaking his neck by the
shock, and killing him instantly.
In the meantime, the trials of Carter, Skinner, and Cooper had resulted
in the conviction of those ruffians, and they were severally condemned
to die. Scaffolds were hastily prepared by placing poles over the fence
of Higgins’s corral. Carter and Skinner were conducted to execution by
torchlight, a little after the midnight succeeding their trial.
Dry-goods boxes were used for drops. On their march to the place of
execution, Skinner suddenly broke from his guard, and ran off, shouting,
“Shoot! Shoot!” Not a gun was raised, but after a short chase in the
snow the prisoner was secured, and led up to the scaffold. He made a
second attempt to get away while standing on the box, but a rope was
soon adjusted to his neck, and the leader said to him,
“You may jump now, as soon as you please.” Carter manifested great
disgust at Skinner’s attempt to run away. While he was standing on the
drop, one of the Vigilantes requested him to confess that he had
participated in the murder of Tiebalt.
“If I had my hands free,” he replied with an oath, “I’d make you take
that back.”
Skinner, who stood by his side, was talking violently at the time, and
Carter was ordered to be quiet.
“Well, then, let’s have a smoke,” said he; and, a lighted pipe being
given him, he remained quiet. Both criminals, as they were launched from
the platform, exclaimed, “I am innocent”—the password of the band. They
died apparently without pain.
The party that arrested Zachary arrived with him the next morning. He
was tried and found guilty. By his directions a letter was written to
his mother, in which he warned his brothers and sisters to avoid
drinking, card-playing, and bad company—three evils which, he said, had
brought him to the gallows. On the scaffold he prayed that God would
forgive the Vigilantes for what they were doing, as it was the only way
to clear the country of road agents. He died without apparent fear or
suffering.
Johnny Cooper was drawn to the scaffold in a sleigh, his wounded leg
rendering him unable to walk. He asked for his pipe.
“I want,” said he, “a good smoke before I die. I always did enjoy a
smoke.” A letter had been written to his parents, who lived in the State
of New York. Several times, while a Vigilante was engaged in adjusting
the rope, he dodged the noose, but, on being told to keep his head
straight, he submitted. He died without a struggle.
Having finished their mission, the Vigilantes returned to Nevada.