The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-04-19
A LONG CHASE.

The Hunt for the Canyon Diablo Train
Robbers I'm Arizona and Utah - Two
Weeks of Hard Riding, a Battle and Capt
ure Of the RODbers-The Penalty i'm Ari.
Hona Is Death.
SALT LAKE CITY. Utah, April 1.-THE
four Arizona officers who arrived here
wednesday with four train-robbers in
custody tell an interesting story of the
long chase.
On March q an Atlantic & Pacific train
was stopped at Canyon Diablo, Yavapai
County, Ariz., for orders. when four men
boarded the engine and persuaded the
freman-with revolvers-to order the ex-
press messenger to open his car. This
was done. The robbers then broke open
the strong box, and, after securing all the
money in it, struck south towards the
Tonic Basin, and proceeded as far in that
direction as Sunset Mountain, when they
headed for Utah.
Sheriff O'Neil Of Yavapai County was
at once notified, and, with Special Agent
Holton, Deputy Sheriff James l.. Black
and Ed St Clair, started in pursuit.
They trailed the robbers nearly three
hundred miles north from the line
Of the road through as wild and desolate
w
TWAS a dangerous trip, too. for the re-
gion is infested with desperadoes, whose
sympathies were all with the pursued
party. At last, after a hard journey OF
three hundred miles, crossing the Little
and the main Colorado and over high
mountains and parched plains, during
which the officers suffered many priva-
tons, the robbers were sighted on April
l, nearly two weeks after the robbery. in
Wahwee Canyon, about forty miles east of
Canonville, Utah. The officers called on
the men to surrender and were answered
with volley from the revolvers with
which they were all armed. The country
being heavily timbered, both parties were
well protected.
A battle ensued, during which one Of
the robbers had his cartridge box shot
from his belt; another had a bullet-hole
put through his hat, and one of their
horses was killed. After about fifty
shots had been exchanged. the robbers
concluded it was getting too warm for
them, and, leaving their horses, they
beat hasty retreat on foot. The coun-
try is covered with a dense growth of I'M
derbrush, which made pursuit very diff
cult, but the officers persisted. and soon
cverhauled Bill Stineau, a noted desper-
ado, probably the leader of the gang.
Next day Charles Clark and John Smith
were captured, and on April James
Ounce was gathered in.
The officers had now succeeded in the ir
object, but another difficulty pres ented
itself. To return with their prisoners over
the road they had come would be no
small undertaking. and after considera-
ton it was decided to press on TO Mil
ford, and then go to Denver by way of
Salt Lake, and take the Santa Fe road to
Prescott
1t is not known even, by the officers, Just
how much money was stolen, but that
found on the men, together with what has
been accounted for, amounts to over
$1,000. On the way up one of the prison
ers made full confession, so that there is
not the slightest doubt that the right
parties have been captured.
funny incident is related in connec-
ton with an attempt made by the citi-
zens of Canonville to arrest the men.
Shortly before the arrival of the officers,
eight armed men, with a small army of
followers, undertook this job. The rob-
bers waited quietly until the citizens were
near enough, when they suddenly COW
cred them with their guns and made them
stack their arms and depart. All of the
prisoners were well-educated, and Smith |
claims to be the son of Baptist minister. |
Officer Rolton said he formerly knew |
Stineau in New Mexico, where he trained |
with hard gang and was generally con-
sidered bad. All the robbers are under |
thirty years of age. They were quite |
Jolly when first arrested, but are begin
ming to realize their position now, and |
show signs of dropping. Train-robbing |
was made a capital offense by the last |
Arizona Legislature. and as court con-
venes on May 1, they are in a fair way to |
reach the reward which their villainy /
merits.