The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-06-04
A Wells. Fargo Car Relieved of
Valuable> in Oklahoma Ter
ritOry.
The Express Messengers Resist the
Robbers But Are Finally
Overcome.
over 200 Shots Fired and No One
Injured Gentlemanly Cut
threats.
\ Bold Robbery.

GUTHRIE, d. r., June, =. Details Of
the robbery last night of a Wells Fargo
express car Of the Santa Fc passenger
train make "a story Of ~unexampled out
lawry on the part Of bandits and OF
brave resistance on the part Of the Gus
todians Of the express company's proper
~. The robbers were at work the best
part Of an hour attempting to intimidatc
the express messengers into submission
and during all that time the messengers
were risking their lives in defense of the
cumpany's property, The robbery was q
unique n in the history Of Indian
territory outiawry. In the first place
the robbers got everything in sight
Again, during the battle between the
messengers and the robbers in which
fully 200 shots were fired. not a man was
wounded. Then again. the robbers were
Of gcntlcuanly appearance and deport-
mcnt in their relations with the train
men who were not pressed into their
service. ana with the passengers sever
al Of whom cOnNcrScd with the robbers
.cadcr. Finally the robbery was doubt
less committed by the notorious Dalton
gang for whom large rewards are still
standing and Who were even thcn being
tracked by a detective and his posse and
who were behind them not more than Il
days journey on horseback.
1t was | o'clock when the train
reached Red Rock in the northwest cor
ner Of the Otoe and Missouri reservation
in the Indian strip. just as it was pull
ing out a few minutes la'rr two men
with black masks covering their faces
suddenly jumped into the engines cab
from the tender and covering the cngi-
uccr and fireman with rcvOlvcrs com
mandcd thom to III the train down to
the stock yards and stop there at Il given
signal When the train stopped the two
robbers were joined by five masked com
panions. The leader commanded the
engineer and fireman to walk back to
the express car and commanded the fire
man to break open the door with IL coal
pick. +. {. Whitelcsy, messenger, and
j.. y. lichl, guard, anticipating what
was going on when tn" train came to Il
~-tandstill. had blown out the lights i'm
the car and refused to allow any one TO
enter The bandits then opened fire up
the car from all sides and the two
men responded promptly, aiming all
their shots ri the door. The highway
shot into the car from all quarters
even getting under it and shooting
through the floor.
In the meantime one Of tn" rObbrrs
had chopped Il hole in the door Of the
large enough to admit a mans body
and the fireman WAS told to rrawl through
il into the car. This placed him literally
between two fires and Engineer Mack
that it meant death to his com
explained the situation
to the messengers within and
and told them TO cease firing. When the
at last entered the express car
they covered those within with guns and
a slcdge hammer and chiscl broke
'pcn both the way and through safes
robbed them Of everything Of value.
They also took so and a gold watch
the guard Of the express car. Mes
Whittclesy had hidden his money
ind watch and the robbers got nothing
him. The robbers are described
several OF the passengers VINO talked
with them as being well dressed and of
tentiemanly appearance and bearing.
| his is especially true Of the leader who
i~pDlnglIed to the engineer for "A
'ough remark made by one Of his
.rowd and promised that it should
rot occur again. The leader in CONVEX ,
with "A passenger asked for some ,,
moking tobacco. The passenger reached ,
nto his coat tail pocket for it when the +;
obber told him if it was in his hin T,
'Ockct he had better not attempt to get .
t. The amount secured by the robbers .
: unknown as the express company has ,
no statement. After the robbery
he men mounted their horses and rode
IL to the southwest. The Daltons are
harged with the crime and judging
rom the description given of the rob
by those who are acquainted with
he Daltons it was undoubtedly the '
gang. A strong posse was or
anized here late last night and went up +
o the scene Of the robbery on the night :
rain. ,
a REVOLVING CRIME. )