VIGILANTE DAYS AND WAYS THE PIONEERS OF THE ROCKIES THE MAKERS AND MAKING OF MONTANA AND IDAHO
[Illustration: “_Why doesn’t he write?_”]
“_One of the chief temptations of the Devil is that he can persuade a man that he can write a book, by which he can achieve both wealth and fame._”—CERVANTES.
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JAMES STUART, WHO SET THE FIRST SLUICES IN MONTANA 112
GRANVILLE STUART, WHO SET THE FIRST SLUICES IN MONTANA 116
CAPTAIN JAMES L. FISK, COMMANDER OF NORTHERN OVERLAND EXPEDITION 124
JUDGE J. F. HOYT, MINERS’ JUDGE AT TRIAL OF MOORE AND REEVES 144
JUDGE WALTER B. DANCE, MINERS’ JUDGE AT BANNACK 174
GENERAL P. E. CONNOR, COMMANDER AT BATTLE OF BEAR RIVER. 198
SAMUEL T. HAUSER, EX-GOVERNOR OF MONTANA 256
COLONEL WILBUR F. SANDERS, PRINCIPAL PROSECUTOR OF GEORGE IVES 300
HILL BEACHY, LLOYD MAGRUDER’S AVENGER 332
JOHN FETHERSTUN, OVERLAND EXPRESS MESSENGER 358
JOHN X. BEIDLER, LEADING VIGILANTE AND EXPRESS MESSENGER 464
It is stated on good authority, that soon after the first appearance of Schiller’s drama of “The Robbers” a number of young men, charmed with the character of Charles De Moor, formed a band and went to the forests of Bohemia to engage in brigand life. I have no fear that such will be the influence of this volume. It deals in facts. Robber life as delineated by the vivid fancy of Schiller, and robber life as it existed in our mining regions, were as widely separated as fiction and truth. No one can read this record of events, and escape the conviction that an honest, laborious, and well-meaning life, whether successful or not, is preferable to all the temporary enjoyments of a life of recklessness and crime. The truth of the adage that “Crime carries with it its own punishment” has never received a more powerful vindication than at the tribunals erected by the people of the northwest mines for their protection. No sadder commentary could have stained our civilization than to permit the numerous and bloody crimes committed in the early history of this portion of our country to go unwhipped of justice. And the fact that they were promptly and thoroughly dealt with stands among the earliest and noblest characteristics of a people which derived their ideas of right and of self-protection from that spirit of the law that flows spontaneously from our free institutions. The people bore with crime until punishment became a duty and neglect a crime. Then, at infinite hazard of failure, they entered upon the work of purgation with a strong hand—and in the briefest possible time established the supremacy of law. The robbers and murderers of the mining regions, so long defiant of the claims of peace and safety, were made to hold the gibbet in greater terror there than in any other portion of our country.