The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-06
CAREER OF THE DALrONs.
Related 20 the James Boys and Younger
and Thieves All Their Lives.


and Thieves All Their Lives.
CoFFEYvILLE, Ksn.. Oct. 5.-There were
five boys and three girls in the Dalton fam
lily. OF the boys two are engaged in farm
ing-one in Oklahoma, where the mother
of the family lives, and one near Coffey-
willie. where three of the brothers met their
death to-day. The Daltons were second
cousins of the noted James boys, who de-
fed the law in Missouri for many years.
and through them were related to ohe
Youngers. who are now serving life terms
of imprisonment in the penirentiary In
Minnesota. Bob Dalton was the first of
the boys to enter on . career of crime.
While he was scarcely more than boy he
became q cattle thief and did q thriving
business, driving eff cattle from
Cherokee Strip herds and taking
them across the Indian Territory into
Colorado where he would sell them. He
was Joined soon after he entered the busi-
ness by his brother. Grant Dalton. Their
depredations became so frequent and trOu-
blesome that the cattle men organized to
drive them from tho Strip. posse of cow
boys was formed tor that purpose and gave
the Daltons q hard chase, finally losing
them in tho wilds Of New Mexico. The
next heard of the Daltons was in Califor-
nia, where they took to train and stage
robbery. While robbing stages there, one
of tho passengers was killed In the attack.
This spurred on the extraordinary efforts
to effect the capture of the gang. and Grant
Dalton was finally captured. While being
taken to q place for safe keeping be was
rescued by the other members of the gang.
the whole party finally escaping. after be-
ing chased in California and through Q
good part of Arizona.
In the spring of 1889 the gang turned up
again in the Indian Territory, when Okla
o. 4 ko n.I-
ton boys securing a choice claim for their
mother near Hennessy. where she still lives.
supported by one of ner sons At the time
of the opening Bob Dalton was United
States marshal, being selected on account
of his peculiar fitness to deal with desper-
ate characters. After the opening he re-
turned to HIS life of outlawry, and he and
Grant were then joined by their brother
Emmett, the youngest of the brothers.
They were at that time also joined by "Tex-
as Jack" and soon. gathered about them
several desperate Characters. It was then
that the most successful period OF the Dali
tons career. from their stand-point, began.
Their attention was first directed to the
trated many successful "hold-nps." the
most nOtec of which are the robberles OF
the Santa Fe, at Wharton and Red Rock,
the Missouri Pacific, at Adair, and the Fris-
co, near Ninita.
The Wharton robbery was perhaps the
most dramatic OF all. The robbers went to
Wharton on horse back. and entering the
station there asked the operator IL the
train was on time. He replied that he
would inquire. and was about to do So,
when one of the band. fearing the operator
had recognized them. shot the operator
dead on the spot without word or warn
ing. When the train arrived IL was held
mp In regulation manner. After the pur-
suit of tie robbers which followed. outlaw
Bryant was captured at Enid, By Deputy
United States Marshal Short, known
throughout the entire country as most
brave officer Short placed his captive in
him to Guthrie. He had disarmed him.
placed his brace of revolvers on q con-
venlent trunk, and had put the despera-
do in irGns hSa; sSars Mhsn the train
to send telegraphio message.
cured one of his weapons. end, holding 1t
In his manacled hands, fired, mortally
woundipg Short. The officer. however.
had strength to eeize his Winchester. and
expiring as he pulled the trigger the last
time.
There were no fatalities attending the
Red Rock robbery. but the Adair robbery
resulted in the death of two men. The
express car was guarded on that occasion.
and hot fight between the guards and
robbers occurred. The place where the
train was held no was in the midst of the
town. One stray bullet passed into the
room of q physician, and. striking the
physician in the head. killed him instantly.
Another physician. who heard the firing
and had run in its direction. was also shot
and killed The last train robbery by the
gang was that of the Frisco. near Vinita.
The amounts secured by the robbers in
their various raids will probably never be
known. 1t was very great, however. and
has been estimated at SS00,000.
After the Frisco robbery the DaltOns
seemed to have diverted their attention to
the robbery of banks. They rode into Ell
Reno one day and attacked the only bank
in town. The only person in the bank at
the time was the wife of the president,
who tainted at the first sight OF the ugly
revolvera. The bandits leisurely took all
the money in sight, and. remounting their
horses. road away. This raid netted them
$40 600, which was such severe loss to the
bank that it was forced into liquidation.
To-day's was tho next and last raid of the
gang, and with it ended the existence of q
band equaled only in the desperate
character of it's undertakings by the James
and Younger bands.