, 1885-09-04
THE ROBBER CHIEF
a, Strong Pen-Picture of the Boss
Bandit of Teton Basin.
Something that Sounds Like "Yal-
lerback" Romance.
But Which is Cold Drawn and
Frigid Fact.

tue Teton basin rang OF roDDerS ana out
laws has at last been discovered. He is
Bob Foster whose name has been in
scribed on the criminal records of the
mountain border. for the last decade.
Warrant after warrant has been served
on him for stock depredations, OF which
the moral proof was as large as the ami
mails stolen, but the legal proof Fosters
great Intelligence and foresight has always
enabled him to evade. He has claimed
to be a small stockman, and while cloak
ing himselfin this name has always availed
himself of offered opportunities to run
of his n~eighbors stock. Locating in the
wild and secluded mountains of the Snake
river sources, he has carried on for years
an active intercourse and alliance with
thieves. His last stock purchase took
place a year ago when he placed a bunch
Of sheep upon the range in the forks of
Snake river. These have ostensibly
claimed his attention, while his real occu-
patton has been the thorough organiza-
ton Of the band of thieves that
has always infested that wild and
almost inaccessible region. Fixing his
headquarters at Teton basin. the most
central portion of this territory. the robber
chief gathered about him a band of forty
of the most desperate, dissolute and reck-
less rufians of the frontiers of Wyoming
| Montana and Idaho. This dangerous Or
ganization Is well ordered and handled.
Foster is naturally qualified for his posi-
| ton, and activity and system are his
watchwords. His fame has Qone out
among the lawless long since. and when it
was known among them that Bob" Fos-
ter was in Teton basin they Hocked to him
| from all sides. He thus recruited the
great residue of the shattered criminal or
CARNATIONS of Montana, flying from the
lariat and Winchester of that territory.
His operations have become more extern
sive as his force increased, until now there
is scarcely a stockman of the three
frontiers that has not felt the heavy hand
of the mountain bandit. A man of faml-
ly himself, Foster has not scrupled to al
low the presence of women and children
in his stronghold. Teton basin is a little
settlement. Grain and vegetables are cul-
tlvated, hay is cut aud ranch improve
ments going on. The stronghold itself
has had Its natural defenses so improved
tiat It Is all but l~mpregnable. Ten OF the
desperate characters trained under Eos
tiers eye can defend 1t against a host. Its
approaches are well guarded, mounted
patrols being always ON the lookout. 10
the basin is brought the stock when first
stolen. Here have been built large cor
rails for convenience in altering brands,
and on the pastures of the basin the ami
mails can feed until the burns caused by
the operation can heal. They are then
ready for sale. A trapper who spent last
fall among the mountains of the Teton re-
gion reports that not a day passed but
horses were going in and coming out The
robbers visited this man and under threat
of death made him promise to join them.
The uapper plead the necessity of dispos-
ing OF his stock of furs and was allowed to
go below for that purpose. He now says
hat when Capt Bob sees him again he
will probably know it.
An adventure of Fosters in 1850 gives
an insight into his character. In that
year the Indian department had enroute
a large consignment of wagons loaded with
farm utensils and supplies for the Shes
hone reservation. For some cause a large
number of the Sc wagons we're packed at
Pacific springs, then a station on the Col
orado and Wyoming Stage line. Foster
had a ranch on the Snake river at the
time, and was in want of a wagon and
some harness. So he came over to Paci-
&c springs to see about it. Carefully Sc
Letting his wagon and assuring himself
that it contained cases of harness, he
brought his team around one dark night,
and first warning the night Waterman not
TO interfere, hooked onto his prize and
drove off. In the morning the Waterman
reported and the cool thief was hotly
searched for. But the trail was cold. No
trace of him could be found beyond a
certain point, and the wagon was entered
on the profit and loss account. But the
department men had simply been outwit.
IL H.. IL - "
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