THE HOLE-IN-THE-WALL BANDITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue IX, 26 August 1899, Page 35

THE HOLE-IN-THE-WALL BANDITS.

Not even the stirring annals of Missouri ami the Cherokee Strip, where train robbing and flight were reduced to a tine art. can furnish the tale of such a man hunt as that which has just been led zigzagging across sandy plains. swollen streams, through precipitous canyons and over rugged mountainous ranges in Wyoming.

Three men. desperate and daring, with a price of thousands of dollars on the head of each, have been the quarry. More than five hundred men have been the pursuers—sheriffs anti deputies, marshals and deputies, cowboys and prospectors, and old Indian fighters, picked men from the State and federal troops, and even Shoshone Indians, all crack shots and all eager for the reward or for a fight that would stir the blood. Aiding them have been bloodhounds trained to follow human fugitives. For almost four hundred miles the chase was led. until, separated from their friends, and surrounded by their enemies. George and “Tom” Roberts and George Currie, leaders of the notorious “Hole-in-the-Wall” band, sought a final refuge in the Owl Creek Mountains. near the Shoshone. The story of the hunt is a tale of the frontier, of lawless men who have lived long in the crags and become like eagles, shunning mankind, except when they swooped down upon some country bank to rob it at the point of pistol, or rode out on the range to gather in the cattle or horses of other men.

Five States have known the exploits of the “Hole-in-the-WaH” band. From the Black Hills of Dakota to the “Robbers’ Roost.” in Utah: from Central Montana to Central Colorado; for vears the bold outlaws, about

fifty in number, have plundered cattle raisers. settlers, banks. aud post offices. Their refuge deserves well to rank with the wonders that have been gathered by nature in the Yellowstone Park region.

The **Hole-in-the-\\ all” is about fifty miles south of Buffalo. Wyo., ami eighty miles northwest of Casjier. It is the outlet to a great basin, alwiut twenty miles wide and thirty miles long. Here once was a lake hemmed in by the Big Horn Mountains, and a high ridge that runs almost parallel with them..

On the outside of this ridge is a huge cliff, between five and six hundred feet high, and extending almost its whole length. Except for one break it is almost impassable. The

“Hole” was made by the water from rhe lake, which overflowed, and in centuries cut out a channel for itself to form the Powder River. Buffalo ( reek and its two forks now water the vallev and find an outlet through the “Hole.”

In the narrow gorge only two horses can pass abreast, and the robbers have always been able to hide themselves in the valley or the Big Horn Mountains beyond liefore their pursuers could pass the narrow entrance.

Posses have followed bold members of the band time and time again to the “Hole-in-the-Wall.” but when they reached that narrow gorge 'ost the trail and had to turn back. Men who had something to conceal, however, have been certain of a cordial reception. fresh horses, and aid in concealment until the hunt was ended. It was only when the leaders of the band put a climax on their teats by attacking the Fast Mail on the I nion Pacific Railroad that they found enemies determined to follow them through their retreat and drive them out. Less desperate men would have hesi-

tated long to undertake (hi* task, for al. frontier iwamlir* know thr government newer forgive* one wwho tampers with it* mail* and railway's, and ex* pre** onie* wwill hun* to the death th<»*e wwho interfere with the *afety of tli<-ir bnsine**. The Iwandif*' deed* will live long in the memories of Western railroad men. It wwa* early on the morning of June that they Mopped ihe first section of tlir westbound Fast Mail half a mile east of the Wile x (reek bridge. competed the engine driver ti *he anil and express across the bridge, blew up the structure with dw r.amite. and then shattered the express car and safe wwith a charge of that explosive, only to find less than *..***• d dlar* them. There wen six men in the daring oand. They stopped the train wwith red and white emergency sig. als. and cowed the conductor and tra’n hands wwith pistols. After taking the money from the express company's safe they *<-pa rated. three leaving n » trace

of their mowements. the other three <?r?k : Lg " : -'T the T-f-ire that had - ■ They had camped nearby while awaiting the train, and fievt horses were ready for them when they had obtained their booty. Straight across g for the - - - Platte .. • east i asper. A posse taking the trad next : orning felt that capture would Iweasv. for they knew the men could ross the s ■ Plain - • - - __- tains the bridge at (asper. seventy miles from the scene of the robltery. where railway men. I’niied State* marshals and deputy sheriff* were preparing for rhe hunt. \'one of those who w -re : th chase ter this cit eft lingua rd< the s however, the men. after stes ing fresh • Tses a ranch, Turned abruptly e of th< night rode through the city, crossed the bridge over the swollen river. ob- • • ~ ' fri < .veil on their way to the Big Horn Mountains when their pursuers fol- • wwed their trail across the bridge. Westward across the plain the chase lei. the bandits, with horses tired from their long ride, the pursuers wwith fresh one* f ri died in < a*|«-r. Tn«- I»andif- kept alway* to the high ridges, ami armed with powerful field L »la>*es. co ll<l *<-•• for ten miles be- > ten men «»n th**.r trail—one

riding directly over the tracks of their horses. the others spread out to prewent s irpritie. Thu* they led away for sixty miles, util in the heart of the mountains, • ear the head of i"ea|»ot ( reek, they stop|>ed for rest for themselves and horses. They had little time to sleep, howwewer. for soon the trailing posse ♦•iitervd the narrow* canyon. The leader wwa* stop|»ed wwith a shot that pierced the heart of hi* horse. Another home was killed as a second pursuer rode up. Though half a aile away, the robber'* aim wa* deadly. The <»os*e fought the robbers Indian fashion for hours, driving them away from Their horses ami forcing them to take to The rock*. The task wa* costly, howwewer. for wwhile dosing in on them the head of the posse. Sheri IT Joseph Hazen. of Converse county, was killed by a bullet. ( rippled by -heir - **r*. the pos*e could not guard the outlaws, and that ght the • ’ . stoh ses from a ranch near by and r xle off

'ionh-east aero*.* the hills. Towward the -’Hoie-in-the-Wall." A herder at the K.T. ranch, near the entrance was met by Them two days later, and he told them the |K»sse had cut in ahead of them, and that the ranch and the -Hole" were guarded. They dared not enter their old re-•_-e;*. = friends gave them horses and food- Then, making a wide detour. they went down the Powder River and struck off across a trail That led around the great ciiff wall. They found time for rest ami recuperation on the solitary E.K. Mountain, which raises its ragged sides above the -Hole in the Wall" valley. Blood* h«* Uids trailed them then ard scores <»f men surrounded then?, penning them in canyon* time after ti-:e. The news’ of the killing of Sheriff Hazen had spread throughout the State ■*’ • > , » r-. Tr-w ard for each " the ai.c The raiJwa, .nd express companies had .rofft red an equal amount. Tr «u»er> had Iween sent from Fort McKinney to the north: picked militianten had been equipped as eown«l the (”nhed States Zdarshal and the sheriffs had gathered the crack shots and fearless characters of 1 r whole region to aid in the chase. From r«»<-k to n»ck am! gully <<> gully they fought against great odds f<»r a wweek. the pursuer* constantly c osing in. awoiding a charge in their desire to take the men alive. Then morning the |*»sse closed in on the retreat from which they had fought the night before, only to find

that the de*|wrrate little Imnd had escaped again. Bloodhounds took up the trail again, crossing west through the “ Hole-in-The-Wall” valley- and the Big Horn Mountaii*. then south-west toward the Shoshine Indian reservation, anil finally into the heart of the Owl ( reek Mountains, where they again took a stand. Person* wwho had met them in their flight said they had five fine horses, twvo carrying supplies and am:r.unition. They stole frv-h animals from the Indian reservation in their fiight. but no animal could stand such chase against the fresh relay* of the determied men behind. In the Owl ( reek Mountains it wvas Xree against four hundred—desperation matched against skill and a for- - tne for the man who might pot them. With bloodhounds and Indian .railers about them, and keen eyes v atching for any movement, they could do little rise than try to sell life dearly, according to the laws of men of their stripe. The three men are wvorthy of their calling. Cherokee blood runs in the weir.s of the Roberts brothers, anti the mixture has made them hate white men. Currie was formerly a cowboy, but turned cattle thief four years ago. and he and the Roberts brothers by their fierceness and daring became leaders of ihe “Hole-in-the-W all' band. The end of this trio, howwewer. does not mean the end of the band. There are still fearless - s to 1-e hunted out of the -Hole." “Buck" < assiday. known from Canada to Mexico and ’’blood enemy" of Colonel Jay 1.. Torrey, of the Second Rough K>?ers. will l»e their leader. The authorities of the West have declared -.war on these men. In three ■ear* they have robbed the post office I’owvderville. Mont., and killed the j»ostmaster: robiwed the bank at I»ede Fouche. S. D.. and the one at Montjielivr. Idaho, and robbed store* extending south to Fort Bridger. Utah. »esides innumerable ranches and sheep camps. They have ambushed ]*osses who have followed them and s-ropjwed pursuit. Now. however, it is declared they will iwe hunted out. even if bloodhounds and Troops must be employed.