470 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK, 



new cities of the West/' The police were overwhelmed. 

 Crime, theft, and assault were rampant. Patience 

 ceased to he a virtue. 



The commander at Fort Russell was appealed to, 

 and a battalion was sent by him to escort the squatters 

 beyond the city limits. 



After that, the good people of Cheyenne took mat- 

 ters into their own hands, deciding to 



" Take up arms against a sea of troubles, 

 And by opposing, end them." 



A vigilance committee, that dernier resort of the 

 order-loving Westerner of that period, was formed. 



On January 11, 1868, this committee arrested three 

 men for robbery. The criminals were bound together 

 and placarded with the following notice: 



" $900 stole. $500 returned ! Thieves F. St. Clair, W. Grier, E. 

 D. Brownell ! City authorities please not interfere until ten o'clock 

 A. M. Next case goes up a tree ! Beware of Vigilance Committee ! " 



Comparatively gentle measures, like the above, were 

 useless. Authority in that wild land had to be made 

 of ^' sterner stuff." Not until the vigilants had hung 

 and shot a dozen men did comparative order prevail. 

 There was many a dark day for the well-wishers of 

 Cheyenne; yet they lost 



" No jot of heart or hope, 

 But pressed right boldly on," 



and gradually peace came out of strife, order out of 

 confusion, and civilization reigned supreme. 



In 1869, Cheyenne became the great entree port of 

 the vast regions north and west. 



On September seventh of that year the first term of 

 court was held in the city. 



