Vigilante Days and Ways: The pioneers of the Rockies; the makers and making of Montana and Idaho

"Vigilante Days and Ways" by Nathaniel Pitt Langford is a historical account written in the late 19th century that explores lawlessness and the rise of vigilante justice during the early settlement of Montana and Idaho. The narrative delves into the tumultuous lives in mining camps fraught with crime, as individuals band together to establish order in a society plagued by violence and corruption. The opening chapters introduce key characters such as the notorious gambler Henry Plummer, leading the criminal underworld, and Patrick Ford, a figure who advocates for law and order amidst the chaos. At the start of the narrative, Langford provides a vivid picture of the mining town of Lewiston, highlighting its rapid growth and the moral degradation that followed the gold rush. The community is depicted as being in constant threat from bandits, with Plummer forming a gang that ravages the area. As crime escalates, the citizens, desperate for safety, consider taking justice into their own hands, culminating in the formation of a Vigilance Committee after a series of violent robberies. This establishes the groundwork for a dramatic conflict between the lawless elements and those striving for justice, setting the stage for the tensions and moral ambiguities that will unfold throughout the rest of the book.