The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-21
AFTER A LONG CHASE.
Pinkerton's Men Capture the Denver and
Rio Grande Railroad Robbers.

DENVER Col, Jan. 2O.-The capture of the
three men who robbed the Denver & Rio Grande
mail and express cars at Grand Junction. last
November, has been effected by Pinkerton's
men. Robert ana Jack Smith, brothers. and 3
man named Rhodes are the robbers. They
brought to Denver yesterday, and, waving
animation, lodged in jail For two months
Pinkerton detectives followed them through thu
heart of the Rocky mountains in the dead of
winter. Some of the detectives became sick
from exposure and hardships. and
were sent to take their places, until finally the
robbers taken Woodside. Utah.
Bob Smith. the leader of the gang,
is a tall, fine-lookins man. with the pres
ence and bearing of a gentleman. All the
prisoners must have iron constitutions to endure
what they have gone through When captured
they in deplorable condition. Their
clothes were in tatters. boots worn ont and they
had but sc. 60 left. At first there was hardly
faint clew to who the robbers were. > Both
sides of the Gunnson river were trailed, but no
clew discovered. Sheriff Shores, who act
ing under the instructions of Mr.. Games, OF
Pinkerton's Denver force, then went further
the river, where a little mountain girl gave him
information that enabled him to find the trail.
Two men had been up there in boat buying
provisions. The trail was struck from the river,
and led over dangerous rocks and box canyons.
The robbers old camp was found, and pieces Of
almanac and red wool from their blankets
were picked up. The trail led up Unaweep
canyon. each of the robbers taking different
route. 1t was impossible to use horses, Pink
ortons men followed them foot 1t
through region made up of box
yons and rim-rock, where a man could hardly
force his way; up perpendicular rocks ten to fif-
teen feet high where one man had to stand on
the back of another and thus build up until the
top man could reach the edge of the rock, and
would then pull one another up. Several times
they found the camps of the robbers, who turned
on the trail again. having probably, from
their hiding-place in Unaweep canyon,
seen the Fullerton men At one
badly charred that nothing could be
learned from it. Finally, at Delta. it was
learned that a man named Smith had sold
pony there, and his description corresponded
with that given by the little girl Following up
the boat story, it was learned that Jack and Bob
Smith were brothers, and the detectives
confident they were after the right men. For
Price, Dolores and Green rivers but the robbers
knew the country. On the Dolores river it was
learned that Jack and Bob Smith. the year be-
fore, had built boat and sailed down the Col
The boat stories proved who the parties were
but where were they2 Sometimes when
the trail lost the detectives
would catch it again by hearing of
nally they spotted their men. who had recently
encamped island in Price river. 1t
learned that Bob Smith coming to the sta
ton the river for a package and the detect
ives were there waiting for him with Win
chester He threw up his hands and led the
detectives to the dug-out where the others
When forty yards away Smith advanced short
distance, mounted stump and called to his
brother telling HIM that armed men were after
them, but ne had not given them away. After
short parley they surrendered. They had few
six-shooters left and plenty of cartridges hut
their other weapons had been exchanged for
food.