It's very likely today that you can travel to graveyards throughout the Old West and find aging tombstones that have the message "died by the hands of the V.C." carved into them. Perhaps you've seen them in your travels throughout the West if you've had an interest in genealogy and inspecting family burial plots.
I discovered just today, reading in Winfred Blevins' "Dictionary of the American West" (I've mentioned the book before), that those tombstone messages carry an ominous history lesson. According to Blevins, the "V.C." stands for "Vigilance Committee": groups we have come to know as "vigilantes" -- those people who took it upon themselves to hunt down the "bad guys," and dispense the vigilantes' version of justice -- whether that was a shooting or hanging.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of Blevins' excellent book. I don't know, as I said earlier, whether it's still in print. But if you're interested in knowing more about daily life in the Old West, this book is worth searching for.
As for vigilance committees and vigilantes, there's a fascinating study in that aspect alone of life in the Old West. Such groups were not necessarily "mobs" or a reaction to perceived fears and sudden violence. Often such groups were organized by small communities throughout the West when "lawmen" of an approved nature simply weren't to be found. In fact, Blevins points out, in some areas of the West and some parts of the era, such groups were established by respected leaders in their communities.
 |
 To Market to Market An Old Family Story the cleveland West Side Market by $8.99 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 41m Buy It Now for only: $11.99 Buy It Now |
 Life on the Ranch Life in the Old West Bobbie Kalman Very Good Book $4.99 Time Remaining: 29d 22h 44m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 WHEELING WV MOTEL FORT HENRY OLD CARS POSTCARD West Virginia $5.50 Time Remaining: 29d 22h 35m Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now |
 Vintage U S Calvary Spurs Marked U S W L Antique Old West Decor $19.80 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 4m |
 OLD WEST STEVEN JAMES PETRUCCIO PAPERBACK NEW $5.77 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 52m Buy It Now for only: $5.77 Buy It Now |
 Treasures of the Old West Paintings and Sculpture from the Thomas Gilrease Inst $19.50 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 25m Buy It Now for only: $19.50 Buy It Now |
 YOUTH BOY GIRL WOMENS SIZE 5 OLD WEST BLACK LEATHER WESTERN COWBOY BOOTS $49.99 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 19m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 Buy It Now |
 MAXINE PARSONS CALIFORNIA OLD WEST 19 X 25 PAINTING $1,274.99 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 7m Buy It Now for only: $1,274.99 Buy It Now |
 Vintage Jeans of the Old West Collector Guide incl Levi Strauss Other Makers $34.99 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 5m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 Buy It Now |
 0199 915562 Spirit of the Old West Wood Sign $13.47 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 1m Buy It Now for only: $13.47 Buy It Now |
 Old West 3 Cowboy Ropers Candle Holder $30.29 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 1m Buy It Now for only: $30.29 Buy It Now |
 0198 11362 Stone Resin with Felt Bottom Old West Cowboy with Horse $47.53 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 1m Buy It Now for only: $47.53 Buy It Now |
 Spirit of the Old West Wood Sign 12PACK $38.15 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 1m Buy It Now for only: $38.15 Buy It Now |
 Hotel Royal Worth West Palm Beach FLORIDA OLD LINEN $4.00 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 59m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 Buy It Now |
 OLD VINTAGE HANDBAG W NINE WEST WALLET REALLY NICE $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 39m Buy It Now for only: $13.00 Buy It Now |
 Townsmen Old West Series Good Condition Book $7.48 Time Remaining: 29d 18h 39m Buy It Now for only: $7.48 Buy It Now |
 The Rivermen Old West Time Life Series Paul ONeill $4.99 Time Remaining: 29d 18h 39m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 9 civil war and old west numbered limited edition pewter figures pewter cannon $900.00 Time Remaining: 9d 18h 36m Buy It Now for only: $1,000.00 Buy It Now |
I would welcome any comments from those of you reading this who may have run onto tombstones with the "V.C." message, and those of you who may have done some study on vigilance committees and vigilantes in the Old West. Please share your knowledge with us!
