in guarding the prisoners.  At the hotel the Deputy and Marshal guarded the street door, while I kept watch on the back door.  Langdon was shackled and laid down on a lounge and fell asleep.  Harrison was sitting near me and had started in to tell me all about the murder.  I was sitting sidewise to the street door, and hearing it open, turned my head just as four men sprang upon the two officers and bore them to the floor.  At the same instant two men rushed across the room and leveled their revolvers at me.  The whole proceedings did not occupy five seconds, so sudden was the rush.  All were masked, even their hands being covered with gloves, with the fingers cut off.

In another instant the room was filled with the uncanny figures.  Apparently every man had a place assigned him, and in less time than one could think, every entrance to the hotel bar room was guarded by armed men.  As the two men leveled their guns at me I put up my hands, and I want to say I stood at “attention.”  At the same time two men ran around the bar room stove, and as Langdon sprang to his feet one of them struck him with his pistol.  The weapon was discharged and they then emptied their revolvers into his body.  While this was going on other men placed a rope around the neck of Harrison and as he was rushed past me he wailed, “For God’s sake save my life and I will tell it all.”  But I saw no more of him until next morning, when he was hanging under the bridge that spanned Crooked River.

Twelve men were left in the room after the main mob had gone.  Not a word was spoken until I asked permission to go to the body of Langdon and straighten it out.  Both men bowed, but followed me closely, at no time taking either their eyes or revolvers off me.  They were, however, very cool, and I felt little danger of an accidental discharge of their weapons.  After about twenty minutes one of the figures gave a signal and in an instant all were gone, passing out through two doors.

It was now nearly daylight and a great crowd gathered about the hotel.  There was a great deal of suppressed excitement, but I cautioned all to be prudent and not add to it by unguarded language.  The mob appeared to be thoroughly organized, every man having and occupying his assigned place.  This fact gave Harvey Scott an opportunity to declare in the Oregonian that I “was the chief of the vigilantes, and could have any man in three counties hanged” that I should order.

Matters now quieted down for a time and it was hoped that no more such disgraceful scenes would darken the fair name of our citizens.  As time wore on the gang again became more bold and many acts of outlawry were committed.  Some time in December a stock association was organized, with a constitution and by-laws.  It was agreed that no one should ride the range without notifying the association.  Copies of the by-laws were sent to every stock owner in the county and all were asked to join.  Along