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| Hanging Tree |
In Part l of this post the
Lawless days during Helena, Montana’s gold rush era is recounted. The community had a Hanging Tree were more than eleven men were hanged by
vigilantes in the mid-1800s.
In 1875, a Methodist minister,
Reverend W.E. Shippen who owned the land where the large Ponderosa pine Hanging
Tree was located arranged to have it chopped down.
Despite a public outcry, he
followed through--most likely to get rid of this macabre symbol from a time
when citizens in the community took the law into their own hands.
By the1880s homes were
being built in this area.
In 1900, a workman digging in a backyard in the area near where the tree once stood discovered a grave. In 1931, yet another grave was found close to the first.
It is believed these were the
bodies of two men who were hanged. The boots worn by one identified him as
James Daniel who was hanged in 1866. It was his body, Mary ‘Molly” Sheehan (Ronan) saw hanging from the tree. Ronan’s account is shared in Part l of this post.
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| The hanging of James Daniel |
Residents for the past 145
years who live near where the tree once stood state “intense emotions” linger.
They feel that many of the men who were hanged do not rest in peace.
The earliest encounter with a
ghost happened in September of 1872 before the tree was chopped down. A resident had stayed late to finish his work.
It was dark and snowing when
he headed home. But a strong force compelled him to change directions, and he
found himself standing in front of the Hanging Tree. What follows was published
in a letter to the editor of the Rocky
Mountain Gazette. It is a wordy account, so it is paraphrased.
"As his eyes adjusted to the
darkness, he could see the trees stark and lifeless outline. He spotted the form
of a man. He was hanging a few feet below a lower limb.
After a momentary panic, he
regained his composure and moved closer to the tree. The figure was dressed in
black clothing, and his back was turned away from the witness.
The man saw no rope extending
from the limb. The figure was suspended in mid-air. He saw the form was not
solid but instead was transparent.
Suddenly the figure raised
its arms and changed position. He could now see its face--it was ghostly pale. The apparition spoke two words, “October 7th and then
disappeared."
With this initial sighting, some feel this set the other spirits that were hanged “free.” This is believed
because for many years people have experienced strange events in the neighborhood.
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| One house along Hanging Tree Gulch Rd today. |
Activity encountered
includes: voices heard outside at night, footsteps in people’s attics and
marbles found in homes as well as their gardens.
This last is connected to
David Hilger and his friends playing marbles under the Hanging Tree--which is
described in Part l.
The Jones family who lives in
the area state they do not believe in ghosts but every time their daughter
visits them she hears the voices outside.
One house in the neighborhood
was remodeled recently. A crew of workmen who applied new drywall and plaster
left soon after to let the walls dry. When they left the house, it was locked
securely, and no animals were inside.
When the workmen returned, they found “claw-like” scratches marring every wall. The plaster had to be
reapplied.
Herb Dawson, an architect, has
experienced several odd things in his home located in the Hillsdale
area. He, like many others, has found the mysterious marbles throughout his home
and on his front porch.
One of his most frightening
experiences occurred as he was stripping the paint from his parlor’s woodwork.
A knife on the mantle behind him flew across the room and hit the wall inches
from his head.
Hector Cano and his
girlfriend live near Herb Dawson. He has also heard things he cannot explain.
One night while lying in bed, a noise woke him up.
He saw his wife’s son from a
previous marriage standing before him. This boy was saying, “Get away from me.
Get away from me!”
Cano asked him what he was
talking about and as he looked up he saw a tall bald man with four others
standing behind him.
The tall man was trying to get
hold of the young boy.
In Part l of Helena: The Hanging Tree, more information about the hangings is shared.
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| Hanging of Compton and Wilson Click to enlarge |
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