Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Early History of Idaho by Wm. John McConnell Pub. Caxton Printers, Caldwell Idaho - 1913 CHAPTER V. OUTLAWS AND THEIR METHODS THE OUTLAW CHIEF remained in Lewiston during the summer of 1862, following his profession- gambling. Owing to his demeanor, which was quiet and gentlemanly, and to the fact that his clothes were, as a rule, tailor-made and neat, a stranger meeting him would not have suspected him to be the depraved character he was. By making occassional trips, usually in the night, to interior points, he supervised and di- rected the operations of the band. What pur- ported to be a road house was established by them on the traveled route between Lewiston and Walla Walla, at Pataha Creek; another was started by them between Lewiston and Orofino. Although these resorts which they termed "she bangs," were ostensibly managed by two men, the traveler might observe several other hangers- on, who were supposed to be guests, but who were actually silent partners holding them- selves ready for action. These resorts were surrounded by high hills in all directions. These hills were cut with ravines, while numerous flats and little valleys --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 70 were inserted between. Bunch grass and water being plentiful, these places were veritable para- dises for horse thieves. It should be remembered that in those days and for many years later there were no railroads in any direction of the country tributary to the Columbia river, even wagon roads outside of the Willamette and Walla Walla valleys were sel- dom to be expected, hence the early arrivals at the Orofino and Florence mines generally found their way there in small parties, riding saddle horses or mules, bringing with them on pack animals their camp equipage, including mining tools and a quantity of provisions. During the season of high water boats ascended the Colum- bia and Snake rivers, bringing passengers and merchandise to Lewiston, but after arriving there those whose destination was one of the interior mining camps were compelled to pro- cure saddle and pack animals to continue their journey, therefore those who realized that fact usually brought their own equipment, and were thus prepared to travel in any direction rumor announced a discovery of new diggings. Lewis- ton was the point of divergence to all the interior mining camps in the Clearwater and Salmon river region during 1861 and 1862, hence all those destined for Orofino, Elk City, Florence or Warrens went first to Lewiston, where it was the almost universal custom for travelers to remain for a day or even longer, to rest themselves and animals, but more especially to gather informa- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 71 tion concerning any new discoveries which might have been made. Thus as will be readily under- stood with the arrival and departure each day of so many prospectors and adventurers, the town of Lewiston was all that is implied in the term "typical frontier mining town." During the stay made by travelers in Lew- iston for rest or other purposes during those early mining days, they were carefully "sized up," by Plummer's emissaries, especially those who were on the return journey from the mines, with the object of ascertaining if possible, whether they carried any considerable amount of gold dust; accurate descriptions were also taken of their saddle and pack animals, including color and brands; bills of sale were then made out in conformity with the descriptions convey- ing title to the animals at some prior date to the keeper of one of the road houses either above or below, dependent upon which direction the travelers were going, the bill of sale was then dispatched by courier to the man in whose name it was drawn so as to reach him before the arrival of the men with the stock. All being cunningly arranged in advance, as soon as the victims came opposite of the house, they were halted and the demand made "Where did you get those animals? Get off, or I'll blow you off." These requests were made emphatic by the display of double-barreled shot guns or revolvers. The astonished travelers could only comply. They were then shown the bills of sale --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 72 as a cause for the demand, and if the real owners of the stock were sensible men they left their property with the robbers and resumed their journey on foot. But if, as was sometimes the case, they offered resistance, their journey ended in an improvised cemetery, provided for just such occassions. In the mining camps and frontier towns, a style of building much in vogue during their first establishment, was built by erecting a frame of poles upon which rafters of the same kind of material were set up, then sides, ends and roof were covered with sheeting or com- mon brown muslin. Such buildings require no windows and even the doors were mere frames of small poles covered with the same material. This class of structures was the kind that largely lined the streets of Lewiston during the early mining excitement, which followed the Orofino and the Florence discoveries. There were no street lamps, none were needed, for the sunshine lighted the interior of the buildings by day, without the aid of windows, while the lamps and candles used at night illumined the streets. Such buildings, obviously, presented slight opposition to burglars, and as a protection against stray bullets they were a failure. To provide against the last it was customary to pile sacks of flour or sand around the beds of those who slept. Illustrative of the foregoing, a German named Hildebrandt kept a saloon during the --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 73 winter of 1861, and part of January, 1862, in one of these structures. He was a jovial char- acter, and his place was a favorite resort for both Germans and Americans. His saloon was not a gambling house but was conducted in a quiet, orderly manner. He was known to be the possessor of considerable gold dust, which the Plummer gang determined to appropriate. Be- tween twelve and one o'clock one cold January night the door was burst from its hinges and a volley of revolver shots were fired in the direc- tion of the large bed near the door where Hilde- brandt and two friends were asleep. Hildebrandt was killed by the first volley; his friends re- turned the fire, sprang from bed and escaped with the treasure. His murderers then proceeded to search the place, and being disappointed in their search, uttering oaths and threats, marched out through the crowd of citizens who had assembled. They were known, but no one attempted to arrest them. The following day, however, a meeting of the citizens was held for the purpose of de- vising means to arrest the further progress of crime, and for punishing the murderers of Hil- debrandt. This was the first effort made in Lewiston looking to the protection of the people, and as the lawless element composed a large percent of the population in Lewiston, the movement was pregnant with serious possibilites. Henry Plum- mer took a conspicuous part in the proceedings --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 74 and made an eloquent plea for conservative ac- tion. He explained the horrors of anarchy and urged the assembly not to take any action for which they might afterward be sorry. Since Plummer was known only as a gambler, and but few suspected that he had any connection with the robberies and murders which were of such frequent occurrence, his speech had the effect of dispersing the gathering and prevented an organization from being formed. Among those who kept saloons at that time was a man named Ford. He was a courageous character, and while in the saloon business to make money, yet he never associated with the rough element; nor did he encourage them to frequent his place, but on the contrary he was their avowed enemy. When the foregoing meeting was disorgan- ized without taking action to punish the murderers of Hildebrandt, he denounced those present as cowards, and accused them of "weakening." The murdered man had a brother in Oro- fino, who, when he learned of the tragedy, at once announced his determination to visit Lew- iston for the purpose of wreaking vengeance upon the assassins. They learned of his inten- tion, had a message conveyed to him, stating that if he started to Lewiston he would not reach there alive. The threat, as was intended, had the effect of intimidating him, causing him to abandon his purpose. Thus the assassins es- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 75 caped justice that time. But they met their Nemisis later. Nothing except the possible organization of a vigilance committee was feared by the Plum- mer gang, and for any man to advocate the or- ganization of such an instrument of justice was to mark him for destruction. Hence, Patrick Ford, who was present at the meeting, and who insisted on action being taken, was listed for death. Ford had opened an additional business in Orofino, and it was known soon after Hilde- brandt's murder that he was going up to Oro- fino with a party of dancing girls to open a dance hall. This was thought to afford a favorable opportunity to dispose of him, so word was sent out to the "shebang" on the road, to intercept him, and to put a stop to his proposed vigilante activities. But Ford, suspecting their intentions, circled around the place and thus avoided the encounter, which doubtless would have been fatal to him. Having heard of his escape, Plummer, Charley Ridgely and Reeves mounted horses and followed on the trail, their route being marked with several robberies. Within a few miles of Orofino, two footmen were espied ap- roaching, one being some distance in advance of the other. As the foremost one came up he was ordered to hold up his hands, a command that was readily complied with. He was searched, but nothing of value was found on his person. They then informed him that he would --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 76 better move along and get out of the country as soon as possible, for the rough mountains were a poor place for a man who was broke. By the time this search and colloquy were finished, the second pedestrian had arrived; he also was a Frenchman and proved more profit- able than the first, for notwithstanding that he stoutly asserted he had no money, their search revealed a well-filled buckskin purse containing approximately one thousand dollars in gold dust. Jubilant over their success, they dashed wildly into Orofino with the impetuosity of a band of stampeded buffaloes. Reining up in front of Ford's saloon they dismounted; entering the saloon they demanded the barkeeper to serve them with liquor - Ford being out. After they had sated their thirst they proceeded to demolish the furniture, including the bar fixtures. During the confusion Ford arrived, and with a gun in each hand he ordered them to leave the saloon and town. They backed out of the place, gained their horses and rode to a feed yard, where Ford soon followed, demanding why they had not left town. This demand was answered with a shot, which precipitated a fight in which Ford was killed and Charley Ridgely was severely wounded. The latter was carried to a friendly ranch near by and given such careful treatment that he eventually recovered. Plummer now changed his headquarters to Florence, from whence his associates made fre- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 77 quent incursions along the different lines of travel leading to and from that camp. New discoveries having been made in other sections, many began leaving the older camps. Among these were Plummer, Reeves and Ridg- ley, the latter having recovered sufficiently from his wounds to accompany them to Elk City, their new field. Here he met a coterie of his former California pals, but he suddenly dissappeared and was next heard of in Deer Lodge. The former field of his activities was immediately occupied by others of his ilk equally unscrupulous, some of whose deeds will be recorded later. At this time Plummer seems to have parted from nearly all the members of his old Lewiston gang except Jack Cleveland. Becoming more secretive in his movements, he formed a new band of congenial spirits. He visited nearly all the camps situated along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Montanta, but while the new members of his gang made robbery a business, and practiced the theory that "dead men tell no tales," Plummer concealed his affiliations so well that for a long time he remained unsuspected outside the mem- bership of his organization of freebooters. The band of which he was chief at that time consisted entirely of new members whom he had enrolled since leaving Elk City save one man, Jack Cleveland, who had crossed the Bit- ter Root mountains into Montana with him. His greatest fear seemed to be that Cleveland, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 78 while in his cups, would reveal some of the mur- derous enterprises in which they had participated before leaving Lewiston and Florence, Plummer having thus far succeeded in keeping his former record a secret from his new pals. The sus- picions he entertained toward Cleveland finally led to an open rupture one day while they were in Bannock. This was settled in a pistol duel in which Cleveland was killed. Plummer then fled to Rattle Snake Creek, where he was captured by a posse from Bannock. In his trial which followed he was acquitted. ===========================================================================