Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-05-24
A BATTLE WITH BANDITS.
A United States PaymasteT
Robbed Of $4,000.
Ambushed by Brigands and Eleven
Of His Escort Wounded.

One of the most desperate and successful
robbcries and fights in the history Of Arizona
Territory took place on a recent afternoon
five miles north of Cedar Springs, near Fort
Thomas.
Major J. ". Wham, United States Pay
master, accompanied by his clerk, w. T.
GibCon, left Tucson on a trip to pay troops
stationed at Forts Bowie, Grant Thomas,
San Carlos and Apache They went
by rail to Wilcox and from that
point, by ambulance, overland. The funds
paid troops in that department are in coin on
account Of the scarcity Of greenbacks. The
funds for this pay-trip were sent from
Los Angeles, Cal, the headquarters of
the chief paymaster, by express to VIII
cox. The amount was about SIS 900.
It was put in a strong wood box, banded with
iron This was strapped to the hinder boot
of the ambulance, which carried the paymas-
ter and his clerk.
The guard ride in a large, open, four-seat
wagon, three on a seat, so in case Of attack
they can form line and fire from the wagon,
on the front and on the rear The es-
cOrt carry large supply of ammuni-
ton, and are generally picked soldiers.
They follow in the rear of ambulance about
one hundred and fifty yards In canyons
and rough country they follow close up to its
wheels, to- be ready for action at
moments notice.
The paymaster disbur3ed at Fort Bowie
and Fort Grant, which reduced his treasury
to $29 900. He then left Fort Grant,fOr Fort
Thomas, where he expected to pay OFF
during the afternoon. He had
COrt of ten cOlOred soldiers in COM
mand of two cOlOred nOn-cOmmissiOned
officers. The distance from Grant to Thomas
is fOrty-five miles, through a mountainous
and uninhabted country. Cedar Springs
Station is about midway and is made his
tOric from the fact Of being once an Apache
stronghold.
1t was at this point in a deep narrow gorge
Il at Major Wham was attacked.
AS the party approached the point they
found the road DISTRACTED by several large
rocks. Several of the escort got out Of their
wagons leaving their gun behind them, and
proceeded to remove the rocks from the road.
As they gathered around a huge bOwlder a
CALLING fire came pouring down from the
cliffs and breaStWOrks. At the first fire
several Of them fell. The others rushed back
for their guns and the battle began. Major
Wham's driver was wounded early in the
fight and crawled away into the bushes.
During the fight eight Of the escort were
wounded, four Of them fatally. The shooting
was at short range. Clerk GibbOn received
several bullet holes through his clothing.
Ma iOr Wham was untouched, although the
ambulance was riddled with bullet holes. The
battle continued for half an hour before
Major Wham yielded but seeing that the
robbers were completely protected, and 1t
meant certain death to his entire party, b.
was forced to yield TO thelf demands.
The box of coin was taken containing 500,
DOC. AS the telegraph line from Thomas to
Wilcox is under the control of the military
authorities, they refused to allow the full de-
tails of the fight TO be sent out to the pub
lic A special from Fort Grant SAYS the
wounded driver of Major Wham was found
by D. E. Norton, who heard the firing at
distance of nearly two miles and went to as
certain it's cause. He brought in the
driver ard sent "a courier for troops.
lieutenant Wilson took to the field with
large body Of Apache Indians Troops also
were sent out from Fort Thomas, San Car
los, Bowie, Huachuca, Fort Lowell and Tue
son to cut off the escape Of the robbers to
Mexico.
1t was thought that the robbers were led by
two old offenders, recently pardoned from
the penitentiary, who are the most desperate
men of their kind in the Southwest This Is
the first time in the history of Arizona that
: paymaster of the army has been molested
BY highWaymen.