Mohave County miner., 1889-04-20
THE TRAIs RoHnEns.
Desevspties sr Their Capture -
TsIA ~ Skevt4 O'Nesl.

- Ktsh& -
TsIA ~ SkesiG O'Netl.
The following account Of the capture o
the Canyon Diablo train robbers by Sher'
iff 0'Ncil and posse appeared in the San
Francisco Chronicle under date Of April
10th from Salt Lake City;
There Was great crowd at the Utah
Genital depot In this city this morning
expecting to see the Arizona train rob.
bers and their capsors They were moi
disappointed, for four robbers In charge
OF four Arizona officers arrived on tims.
The prisoners we're heavily irDned, these
useful ornaments having been riyetad on
by blacksmith At Panquick, U. T. The
robbers were taken 10 the city Jail ai
once, and the officers proceeded 70 rest
and clean up.
sheriff O'Neil Of Prescott, when inter
viewed by your correspondent, said
"On March 2lst an Atlantic 4 Pacific
train VAS stopped 1t station in Canyon
Diablo, Yavapai county, A. r., by four
robbers. Then these men boarded the
train and persuaded the fireman with six
shooters TO order the express messenger
to open his car. This WAS done, and the
robbers then broke open the strong box
and, after securing all the money in 1t,
struck south toward Tcnto basin and pro-
ceeded as far In that direction ~ Sunset
mountain, when they headed for Utah. /"
Sheriff O'Neill was at once notified oi
the affair, and with Special Agent Hol-
ton. Deputy Sheriff James 8. Black and
Ed st. Clair started in pursuit. A better
posse could not have been selected, as
those composing IL are men of the highest
courage, and are thoroughly familiar with
the country. They trailed the robbers
nearly 300 miles north from the line Of the
railroad, through as wild and desolate a
country as can be found in the west. II
was dangerous trip, too, for the region
Is infested with desperadoes whose sym
pathy is all with the pursued party.
AT last after a hard journey OF 800
miles, crossing the Little and main Col
orado, and over high mountains and
psrcfted plains, during which the officers
suffered many privations, the robbers
were sighted on April LIST, nearly two
weeks after the affair in Wahwee canyon,
about forty miles east Of Canyonyille, in
this Territory. The officers called on
the men to surrender, and were answered
with q volley from their six-shooters,
with which they were well armed. The
country being heavily timbered, both
parties were well protected and q pitched
battle ensted, during which one Of the
robbers had bis cartridge box shot from
his belt, another had bullet hole put
through his hat, and some OF their horses
were killed.
After about fifty shots had been ex-
changed, with the result above stated,
the robbers concluded il was getting too
hot for them, and leaving their horses
they beat hasty retreat on foot. The
country is covered with q dense growth
of underbrush, which made the pursuit
very tedious, but the officers persisted
and soon ovcrhauled Bill Stineau, noted
desperate and probably leader Of the
gang. Next day Charles Clark and John
Smith were captured, and next day
James Ounce was gathered in.
They had now succeeded in their OH
iect, but another difficulty arose. To re-
turn with their prisoners over the road
they had come would be no easy under
taking, and after consideration it was de-
cided to press on TO Milford and then go
10 Denver by way Of Salt Lake and take
the Santa Fc road for Prescott. 1. is not
known even by the officers how much
money was stolen, but that found on the
men, together with what has been ac-
counted for, amounts to over $1,000.
On the way up one of the prisoners
made full coniesseion, SO that there is
not the slightest doubt as TO the right
men having been captured. A funny in
cident is related in connection with an
attempt made by the citizens of Canon
vile to arrest the men. Shortly before
The arrival OF the officers eight armed
men with small army of followers I'M
dertook this job. The robbers waited
quietly until the citizens were near
enough, when they suddenly covered them
with their guns and made them stack
their arms and depart. Strange to say
I'll Of the prisoners are we'll educated,
and Smith claims to be the son of Bap-
list minister. Officer Holton says he
knew Stineau in New Mexico,
where he trained with hard gang and
was generally considered bad man.
Their ages are: Clark 25, Ounce %,
smith ~, Stineau about 30.
They were quite jolly when first ar
rested, but are beginning TO realize their
position now and show signs Of dropping.
Train robbing was made capital offense
by the last Arizona Legislature, and as
the court sits on May list they are in q
lair way to reap the reward which their
villainy merits. The party left for Dem
YER this afternoon and will arrive In Pres
colt Tuesday night.
A later report from the Journal-M Miner
gives the following: