The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-05-30
MONTANA ROAD AGENTS
whipple Describes His En-
counter With land OF Highwaymen in

counter With a Band OF Highwaymen in
Montana. 5=
Fort Buford, Oak, Special Telegram, May
ID have interviewed Maj. Whipple, the pay-
master who was attacked by road agents, and
who has just reached the garrison. He says:
I'VE left Glendive at 8 O'clock yesterday morn
ing. Our party was composed of myself, my
clerk, Mr.. Such, and Sergeant Conrad,
who was in command OF my escort, which
was made up of three men with two
drivers. Mr. Such and / occu-
pied the rearseat of the ambulance, Sergeant
Conrad and driver on the front, while the others
rode i'll the wagon Immediately behind. Con-
money in the ambulance. At about 2:30 in the
afternoon as we We're driving quietly up through
u deep ravine road, about four miles this side
Of Barnes ranch, heard rapid firing.
looked out and saw Sergeant Conrad firing to
the left at a party of masked men, seven in
number, who had opened a murderous fire up
on us without a word of warning. Three of
the seven men were firing directly into our am
b%uiarce, which fire was returned by the Ser
geant in the
BRAvEsT n MOST GALLANT NNE
AT an early stage of the action, however, he re-
seived W mortal wounds, but continued to
fire until the loss OF blood so weakened him
that he could no longer hold his rifle. About
this time the driver received a scalp wound
and fell down from his wagon, when Mr.. Such
and l jumped out. One of the mules was
wounded, and the team becoming frightened.
the lieutenant and my money. Mr.. Such and
/ were kept under a very heavy fire, and our
escape was most miraculous. Fearing that
the highwaymen would capture the ambulance,
suit, and made the best record of my life in
running the mile. l was obliged to. / was
successful in overtaking the mules and climb
ing into the ambulance. The sergeant-gal-
liant fellow that he was-died in my arms about
twenty minutes after being shot. l reached
Scott's ranch, about eight miles from the scene
Of the murderous attack safely. In the mean
time MI. Such and the ambulance driver were
covered by the rifles of the highwaymen and
forced to return to the escort wagon. One of
act Of raising his carbine for a second
shot. The villains, thinking that the
escort wagon contained my safe, had paid but
little attention to my escort beyonda few shots,
began to search the escort, keeping the men
and Mr.. Such covered. Their search, of course,
was fruiltless. They seemed rather disap-
pointed, and began to search the men and Mr..
Such. They found a little tobacco Oh one of
them men and from Such they took about $40
and q watch, which, however they returned.
After destroying the carbines they ordered
the driver to his seat and allowed
the party to go on. Upon ar
rival at SCOTS / at once sent my courier TIC
Fort Buford for a surgeon and additional es-
cort, as we fully anticipated an attack before
night Upon receipt of the intelligence Gen.
Whistler ordered Maj. Bell, Seventh cavalay to
start with his troops. He made a forced night
march, and reached us at q in the morning,
greatly to our relief, we having been on guard
duty the entire night Maj. Bell has instruc-
tons to do everything in his power to capture
the band. He has taken with him three Indian
escorts and an interpreter"