The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-18
4 HARD FIGHT WITH OUTLAWS
Major Whipple's Story OF His Battle With
Highwnymen.


A Fort Buiord special to the st. Paul
Pioneer Press gives an interview with
Major WhippIe, the paymastcr who was at
tackled, as reported Yesterday, by road
agents, and who bad just reached the gar
rison. lie says: I'VE left Glendive at 8
O'Clock yesterday morning. Our party was
composed OF myself, my clerk, Mr.. such,
and Sergeant Conrad, who was in COM
mand OF the escort. which was made up OF
three men with two drivers. Mr.. Such
and / occupied the ambulance with Ser.
geant Conrad, and one driver on the front.
while the other rode in the wagon immedi-
ateiy behind. Contrary TO my usual eau
ton, had placed my money in the ambu-
lance. At about 2:30 in the afternoon. rs
we were driving through Il deep rayine
road about four miles this side OF Rarnes's
ranch, heard rapid firing. | looked ont
and saw Sergeant Conrad firing TO the left
at party Of masked men, seven in num-
Der, who had opened n murderous FIRE upon
us without a word OF warning. Three Of
the seven men were firing directly into our
ambulance, which fire was returned by the
sergeant in the bravest and most gallant
manner. At An early stage OF the action,
however, he received two mortal wounds,
but continued TO fire until the loss of blood
so weakened him that he could no longer
hold his rife. About this time the driver re-
ceived scalp wound and fell down from his
wagon. when Mr.. Such and jumped out
One Of the mules was wounded. and the
! team becoming frightened ran away with
| the ambulance which contained my money
Mr.. Such and were kept under a very
! heavy fire. and our escape was most mira
culOuS. Fearing that the higbwaymen
would capture the ambulance, ! imme-
I diately started in pursuit and made the
best record Of my lie in running the mile
was obliged to. was successful in over
taking the mules and climbing into the
ambulance. The Sergeant died in my arms
about twenty minutes after being shot.
reached SCOTS ranch, about eight miles
| from the scene Of the attack, safely. In
the mean time Mr. Such and the ambu-
! lance-driyer We're covered by the rifles OF
| the hghwaymen and forced TO return to
! the cScOTt-WagOn. Ohe Of the men was
badly wounded in the arm in the act OF
raising his carbinc for second shot. The
villains thinking that the escort-wagon
contained my safe, had paid little attention
| to my escort, beyond few shots which
| Jney sent unpitdstnllY near lHcy IHtu
! began to search the escort-wagon, keep
Ing the men and Mr.. Such covered.
Their search, Of course, was fruitless.
They seemed rather disappointed, and began
to search the men and Mr.. Such. They
found a little tobacco on one OF the men
and from Mr.. Such they took about $40 and
watch, which, however. they returned.
After destroying the carbnes they ordered
the driver to his seat and allowed the party
to 60 on Upon receipt OF the intelligence
General Whistler ordered Major Bell, OF
the Seventh cavalry, TO start with his
troops. He made forced night march and
reached us at this morning, greatly to our
relief, we having been on guard duty the
entire night. Major Bell has taken with
him three Indian escorts and an interpret
erv