Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-08-14
EVENTS OF THE WEEK.
A Short Sketch Of Cracker Box,
and the Crime Which Caused His
Hasty Exit,
Find ian Old Knife on White Bear
Island. Probably Lost by Lewis
and Clarke.
ssCracker Box

A few weeks ago we spoke in these
columns of the arrival and departure
from this place of Cracker Box" who
was hustled out of Canada in Il hurry for
some crime, the nature Of which, at that
time, we could not ascertain; but recent
" we We're told the particulars OF the at
fair by gentleman direct from the North
West Territory, who is acquainted with
Cracker Box and the numerous es-
capades in which he has figured prom
inently. The cognomen "Cracker Box
he gained by having whisky smuggled
into Her Majesty's possessions, IN
cracker boxes. Tie art he understood
thoroughly and his cracker box scheme
worked so successfully that the appella-
tion WIS applied to him, and from that
time forward he has been known through
out the country as Cracker Box" The
crime which caused his hasty exit from
Canada was for assisting Il mounted
policeman to escape into this country
When within few miles of the Interna-
tional boundary line detachment Of
mounted police gave them such close
chase, that Cracker Box and his charge,
in order to escape capture, turned their
horses heads toward the north, and for the
time being all traces Of thems were lost.
They travelled fully six hundred miles due
north and while stopping for the night at
4 small station near Edmundton, they
were surprised and captured by Sergt.
Smart and a private of the mounted
police, who had been upon their trail
since they had given the police the slip
at the line Cracker Box" expressed him
self as tired of the chase and willing to re-
turn. This completely threw the sergeant
off his guard, and after disarming Crack
er Box" and putting the handouts upon
his companion, he thought he had his
game bagged During the evening,
"Cracker Box" entertained the sergeant
by numerous tricks with cards, and at the
opportune moment dropped a card on the
floor, wlich lie stopped to pick up, but
instead of the card, he quickly drew the
sergent's revolver out of his boot, and was
master Of the situation He ordered the
sergeant and his trooper to throw up their
hands The trooper sscried out then he
-'squacked'' and stood up against the
wall with his hands as far above his head |
as he could get them, but the sergeant |
tried to parley, and received bullet |
through the left arm. At this iuncture |
'Cracker Box told the sergeant to put |
up his hands or he would kill him, which
request Was Immediately complied with.
Cracker Box then secured the key to |
the handouts which he removed from his
and placed upon the right
hand of each of the officers, and after
getting a supply of grub from the inn
keeper, they mounted the officers horses
and made for Montana as fast a they
could go. Pursuit was Immediately given
the fugitives, and reward of $500 offered
for their capture, but by careful mannver-
ing they made good their escape into
Montana. The life of Cracker Box has
been one of excitement and if written
md slightly embellished, would lay in
he shade the escapades Of Rip Roaring
Ruben, the Bloody Buster Of Bitter
,reek