The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-21
HOLO-UPS THUS FAR
Such Is the Record in Eastern Mon
tana for the Month OF
june.
It Was Overland Stages That
Were stopped OF Each
Occasion.
One Of tho Men Caught At Lcwlstown-Ex
tcnsive Band Of Hlghwaymon
Thought to lo ~ Work

Five stages held up and robbed since tn
frat day Of June 10 the record in Easter
Montana. Three of these oocu red on tn,
same stage line. and the other two on othe
lines within a comparatively short distance
Of them. News of the latest reached
here yesterday in a dispatch from Postofiio'
Inspector Watkins at Big Timber, to Chic
Bsdell. The dispatch stated that the stag
between Lewistown n Fort Benton haC
been held up Yesterday morning and tn.
mail taken and robbed; also that lnspecto,
Watkins thought he knew the parties who
committed this Last robbery. and was on
his way after them. The frequency Of stage
robbsries IN the eastern part Of the state
lea 10 to the conclusion that there is one o,
moro we'll organized II Of thieves there.
The descriptions OF the men who took part
III the various robheries do not correspond,
showing that there must either be more
than one gang, or that If they all belong to
IT, same party they divide the labors as
we'll As the spoils.
The first robbery took place June 2 about
eight miles south OF Lsvina on the Mussel-
shell river. The treasure box and mail on
the stage from Billings TO Great Falls were
taken. Two, and some say three men. took
part in the holdup, which occurred on a
steep hill at the edge of the woods. One
highwaymau stood on the hill twenty or
thirty feet away and ordered the stage
stopped. The occupants wert commanded
to go to the top OF the hill. which they did.
and the treasure box, shot one of the stage
horses and commanded the driver to go or
with one animal. which he did. He had to
go in this way seven miles to Fairvisw be-
fore he could procure another horse or give
the alarm. The two passengers were not
The second robbery on the same
line, took place on the following day,
on q steep bluff about a mile and a half
north of Lavina. One man lay behind a
bluff and held a Winchester rife on the
driver while the other got the mail pouches
and the treasure box. This robbery was
witnessed by sone men on the bridge near
Lavlna, who, rs soon as they could procure
hores. rode to the sc.ne, where the mail
were found in a ooulee ripped open
and ritlsd.
On Wednesday last occurred the third
this time of the stage between
Junction. on the edge of the Grow reserva-
ton, and Musselshell. near the Fereus-Yel-
line. This was about sixty miles east
Of the first two robbie les, and led to the
impression that the hiehwaymen were work
ing their way east throu2h a sparsely settled
toward North Dakota's bad lands.
That it was not the same gang, or at least
the same men. was shown o. Saturday when
The fourth robbery took place. The stage
Great Falls to Billings was held up
miles f ON Billings by three men.
The mail was taken but the passengers were
not disturbed, This was the third holdup
on the same stage line. The fifth holdu,.
as stated, took place yesterday, at Il point
northwest of the others.
Chief Bedeli has put all of his available
force, which consists of but two men, In
spectors Watkins and Wnyland, to aunt the
robbers, but while they are chasing down
one set of robbers, others are taking place
at distant points. If the two inspectors
were to run across any n Of the several
gangs, it is certain they would have a big
fight on their hands before making a cap.
ture. as the men ara evidently pretty des-
perate characters. It is thought that the
States marshal will be asked to take
hand iu the chase. or order some of his
many deputies to do 80. The government
offers a reward of $500 for the capture of
each of the robbers.