The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-15
A EIGHT WITH BANDITS.
Army Paymaster and his Guard
Attacked by Highwaymen,
WHO SECURE OVER $4,000
After Wouuding Eight of the Eleven
Soldiers in the Party-A Despcr-
ate Battle, and Bloody Results,
Pursuing tho Robbers,

Tucson, AMz,, May l4.-A Fort Thomas
special gives particulars Of the recent
fight between robbers and United States
paymaster Whams party near Cedar
Springs in which the robbers succeeded
in carrying away $4,000, The road
whore the attack was winds down a
a Ions hill near the top of which 1t runs
between o high wall on the east and
low ledge otrock on the west. A large
rock was discovered in the road and the
party stopped TO removed 1t, A volley OF
shots was thereupon fired from the
brow Of the hill, which rose to the
height Of 30 feet almost perpendicular,
None Of the robbers could be seen from
below The paymasters party, which
consisted OF Major G. w. Wham,
Clerk W, Ribbon, two non COM
mlssloued officers, nine priyates
and two miners Immediately returned
the fire, which became general, The
Iobbers had placed men further up tho
hill to the right Of the party and also
sent men along the hill to get in cross
fire from the left, It Is known that at
least one man in each OF the tlanking
parties were either killed or wounded,
The paymaster's party made break
for the ravine below the ledge which for
three hundred yards is without shelter,
and five were wounded in crossing II,
The others Of the party retreated further
around the point Of the hill. Paymaster
Wham, from behind the ledge, thinking
the cross fire had been silenced made q
heroic effort TO rally his men, but they
were compelled to seek other shelter,
being exposed TO q terrible fire. The
paymaster, his clerk and the corporal
were the only men who reached the last
shelter unwounded.
While part Of the robbers kept up the
fire from the hillit was very easy mat.
ter for the others to 20 down and secure
the booty, which was In strong iron
bound box on the boot ofthe ambulance.
1t was opened with an axe and $4,000
carried away together with valise,
which they too soon cut open and aban'
doned. One robber was seen to be taken
away on pack mule and tracks OF blood
showed them to have suffered badly, At
no time was all the band seen. Six OF
the wounded in the paymas.er's party
were conveyed In an ambulance to the
hospital here and surgeon and wagons
were sent for the others. Eight men out
OF eleven were wounded. One OF the
wounded soldiers has died and three
others arc in a critical condition. Sold
iers and Indians are out searching for
the robbers and troops in New Mexico
are Fastening to intercept them II they
enter that territory.
The following con6rmatory Of the
press dispatches on the subject was re-
ceived at the War Department:
"sAN Francisco, May IS.
"To he Adistant General, Warrington, D. c.:
"Paymaster Wham and escort were at
tackled by body OF men in ambush at l
o'clock Saturday afternoon, May II, be-
tween Grant and Thomas, Arizona.
Eight OF the eleven men forming the eS-
cort were wounded, five supposed to be
fatally. The murderers and robbers se-
cured $4,000 government funds. The
military and civil authorities are in aC-
tive pursuit in the vicinity OF Graham
mountains. ! recommend that a liberal
reward be offered for the apprehension
ot the murderers or the recovery OF the
Government funds.
Mills Brigadier General"