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 late 1800s historical narrative that plunges into the rampant lawlessness and the answering surge of vigilante actions during Montana and Idaho's early development. The story highlights the rough existences in mining settlements riddled with criminal activity, where people unite to impose rules in a world overwhelmed by violence. The initial chapters present essential figures, like the infamous gambler Henry Plummer, heading the criminal network, and Patrick Ford, pushing for law and order amidst the disorder. Langford paints a vivid picture of the Lewiston mining town, displaying its quick rise and the resulting ethical decline from the gold rush in the beginning. The community is constantly threatened by gangs, with Plummer creating a group that terrorizes the region. As crime increases, the citizens, eager for safety, consider taking justice in their own hands, leading to the creation of a Vigilance Committee following many violent robberies. The groundwork is established for a dramatic clash between criminal elements and those fighting for justice, setting the stage for tension and the difficult ethical decisions that will play out in the story.