P a g e 7 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r The majority of people in the camps were hard-working, good people who grew increasingly weary at the growing violence and open disdain for law and order. After the robbery and senseless brutal killing of Dutchman Nicholas Tiebalt, Road Agent George Ives was tried by a miner’s court in Nevada City. On Dec. 21, 1863, the first Vigilante action was taken when they hanged George Ives by the neck. Organizing quickly, the Vigilantes went to work. In an early scouting party they met Red Yeager, carrying with him correspondence from Road Agent George Brown to the Street in Bannack by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Skinner’s Saloon by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Deer Lodge band. After capture and questioning, Yeager named Plummer as chief of the band. Both Brown and Yeager were hanged from a cottonwood tree along the Ruby River. Things were getting hot for the Road Agents. The Vigilantes knew they were going to run and acted quickly. Late in the evening of Jan. 9, 1864, Vigilantes from Alder Gulch arrived in Bannack with news from the Virginia City company and their request for cooperation. The next day, three groups of Vigilantes individually apprehended Henry Plummer and his two deputies, Ned Ray and Buck Stinson. The three companies met at the gallows built by Plummer himself at dusk. While his partners were hanging to die, Plummer begged for his life and then stated that he was “too wicked to die.” His last wish was granted, and he was given a good drop. At the age of 27, Amos Henry Plummer died at the Bannack gallows on January 10, 1864. – Courtesy of the Bannack Association, to learn more visit: http://bannack.org/bannackassociation Bannack Gallows by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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