The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-10-04
THE DEAD BANDITS.


Especial 10 the Kansas City kmes.l i
From the time the robbers crossed
the Platte River last Wednesday, until
they appeared near Young's ranch, on
the Republican River, on the 23d inst,
no definite or reliable clew was found or
discovered. The busy telegraph had
not been idle, however. On Monday
last Sheriff Bardsley, of Ellis County,
Kas,, started from Hays City, on the
Kansas Pacific Railway, with a squad Of
10 cavalrymen from Fort Hays. They
were accompanied by Sheriff Bradley,
from North Platte, Neb., and Denver
detective The detachment numbered
in all thirteen men, They went west
ward by special train ordered by Gen.
Pope, and made their headquarters at
Buffalo Station, on the Kansas Pacific.
BUFFALO STATION,
where the capture was made, is lonely
water-tank station, out in the center OF
the buffalo grounds. 1t is 60 miles west
of Hays City, and sin the center of the
most dreary solitude that could be inn
agined. A water-tank and windmill,
the house of the section men, store,
telegraph Office, station agent
and side-track are all that
are included in Buffalo Station.
Near by is a ravine where the buffalo
loved to congregate for several years
after the station had been established.
In this ravine Sheriff Bardsley and his
posse of cavalrymen were encamped
when the chief of the train robbers and
single adherent rode up to the lonely
station. This was about 9 o'clock on
Wednesday morning, the goth instant.
THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE.
They rode in from the north, coming
in boldly over high ridge of open prai-
RE. They led between them a pony
loaded down with a load of something
which-while it was not bulky-seemed
to tax the strength of the pony to carry
it. The men we're dusty ana travel
stained. They appeared to be and
might have been taken for two Texas
"cow boys" out on a hunt for cattle or
on their way to join a herd. Had they
rode straight across the track and con-
tinued their journey without stopping
no suspicion would have been aroused /;
but they were led instinctively to their
death. They rode their jaded horses to
the shady side of the principal building
of the station, and one of the two dis
mounted, leaving his partner in charge
of the horses and the pack pony. The
man left in charge of the horses said
they were Texas cattle men on their
way home, and inquired the way to Fort
; Larned. The dismounted man walked
up to the station agent and inquired the
way to Thompson's store. The build
ing was pointed out to him, but as he
stood conversing he took out his pocket
handkerchief, which revealed letter in
| his pocket upon which was plainly visi-
( BILE the superscription
, "JOEL COLLINS"
: This was the name of the leader of the
Union Pacific train robbers, and the
brands upon the horses assured the sta
ton agent that these were the men
wanted by the Sheriff and his soldiers,
encamped few hundred yards away.
Sheriff Bardsley was notified at once,
and he came up to the station and ex-
amined the horses and made other sat
, isfactory observations. He conversed
: with the robber chief for some time, and
, asked many questions, which were free
ly answered. They walked together to
the station and took a drink, and con-
versed upon inconsequential topics.
Collins made no effort to conceal his
real name. He had no suspicion what
ever that the telegraph had given his
name and description at that little sta
ton in the middle of the buffalo plains.
Bardsley then left his prey and started
back to the camp of the soldiers, who
were under the command of Lieutenant
Allen, and ordered them to saddle up
and follow him, and he would bring
| back the Texans. -li -. .'.
!, In the meantime the two horsemen,
with their heavily burdened pony, had
started out on the open plains south
ward. Sheriff Bardsley and his posse
started out in pursuit.
THE DEATH.
When Collins and his companion saw
the Sheriff and his blue-coated posse of
cavalry appear on their trail, they mani
tested no excitement. They did not
even attempt to run. On the contrary,
they rode on leisurely on the Texas trail
until Sheriff Bardsley rode up and halt
ed them. Even then they gave no sign
of trepidation or excitement. Collins
looked at Bardsley with the coolest eff
frontery and demanded his business.
Said Sheriff Bardsley:
al have description of some train
robbers which answers well to your ap-
pearance. want you and your part
ner to return with me to the station.
You need fear nothing if you are inno-
cent, and if you are the men l want,
then l am $4,000 better off. Please
come back to the station, gentlemen.
"You are mistaken in your men, gen
tlemen," replied Collins, laughingly;
''but, of course, there is no use to OBJ
ject. We will go back and have the
mistake explained. We are Texas boys
going home-that's all"
Then they turned their tired horses
back toward the station AS they turn
ed they exchanged few brief words
which were undistinguishable even to
the nearest trooper. They rode few
hundred yards over the level plain
towards the solitary station, when sud
denly the leader, Joel Collins, broke the
silence. Turning to his companion, he