Hysterical Journey To Historic Places

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THE VIEW FROM PLUMMER’S JAIL



AFTER A LONG AND NEFARIOUS CAREER AS A THIEF AND BACK SHOOTER IN CALIFORNIA AND IDAHO HENRY PLUMMER BULLIED HIS WAY INTO BEING THE CITY MARSHAL IN BANNOCK MONTANA AND THEN IN VIRGINIA CITY. IN HIS CAPACITY AS LAWMAN PLUMMER ORGANIZED A GANG OF HIGHWAYMEN CALLED “THE INNOCENTS” WHO PLUNDERED STAGE COACHES OF GOLD SHIPMENTS AND PAYROLLS AND TERRORIZED TRAVELERS THROUGH THE AREA. WHEN THE CITIZENS FINALLY HAD ENOUGH OF IT THEY FORMED A VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AND DURING THE FIRST FIVE WEEKS OF 1864 THE VIGILANTES STRUNG UP OR SHOT 20 OF THOSE INNOCENTS. PLUMMER TRIED TO ESCAPE THE COUNTRY BUT HE WAS GATHERED UP AND THROWN INTO HIS OWN JAIL IN BANNOCK. ON JANUARY 10 HE WAS CARRIED TO THE GALLOWS HE HAD ERECTED HIMSELF AND EXECUTED. THE GALLOWS WERE A CRUDELY CONTRUCTED AFFAIR AND WHEN HIS TIME CAME PLUMMER WAS CARRIED OUT THERE ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE VIGILANTES, BAWLING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL. THEY TOSSED HIM AND TWO OTHER MISCREANTS INTO THE AIR AND THEY SLOWLY STRANGLED TO DEATH. IT WAS A FITTING END TO A COWARDLY MAN. THE PHOTO SHOWS THE VIEW FROM THE JAIL WINDOW IN BANNOCK. ABOUT ALL YOU CAN SEE FROM THAT WINDOW ARE THE GALLOWS.

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Photos

JANUARY PHOTO PLUMMER
From exit 59 on I-15 at Dillon, MT take Hwy 278 westward for about 18 miles. Turn left and proceed southward about 3.5 miles to the state park.