3-7-77
3-7-77 was the symbol used by the Montana Vigilantes (Vigilance Committee) in Virginia City, Montana. People who found the numbers '3-7-77' painted on their tent or cabin knew that they had better leave the area or expect to be on the receiving end of vigilantism. The numbers are used on the shoulder patch of the Montana Highway Patrol, who claim they do not know the original meaning of the symbol. It also appears on the flight suits of pilots of the Montana Air National Guard, and the Flight Patch of the Montana Army National Guard Medevac unit (C Co 1-189th GSAB - Vigilantes). Further, it appears under the bottle cap of certain varieties of Big Sky Brewing Company beer.[1]
Various theories have been put forth about its meaning, including:
- A person was put on notice that he had 3 hours 7 minutes and 77 seconds to leave town.
- The numbers represent the dimensions of a grave, 3 feet by 7 feet by 77 inches.[2]
- The sum of the number 3+7+7+7 total 24, representing the criminal had 24 hours to leave town.
- The number was borrowed from California or Colorado vigilance organizations, where member number #3 and #77 were authorized to carry out executions.
- Frederick Allen, in his book A Decent Orderly Lynching, says the number meant the person had to buy a $3 ticket on the next 7:00 a.m. stagecoach to take the 77-mile trip from Helena to Butte.[3]
- The number set may have something to do with the date March 7th, 1877; the numbers were first used in that decade and first appeared in print later in that decade of the 19th century
References
- ↑ Long, Nick. Personal interview. 13 Aug 2009. Interview.
- ↑ Maclean, Norman (1992). - A River Runs Through It and Other Stories. - New York, New York: Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster). - pp. 33. - ISBN 0-671-77697-5.
- ↑ Allen, Frederick. A Decent Orderly Lynching. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 2004.
