The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-06-09
THE DALTON GANG.
rHRY HOLD UP THE SANTA FEE TRAIN
IN OKLAHOMA TERRITORY,
And After Exchanging About 200 Shots with
the Express Messenger, Relieve the
safe Of its Contents, the Passen-
gers not Being Molested.

GUTHRIE, o. t., June "details OF
the robbery last night of Wells, Fargo
Express car on the Santa Fe pas
senger train make story of unexam-
pied outlawry on the part Of bandits
and brave resistance on the part of
the custodians of the express compa-
ny's property. The robbers were at
work the best part of an hour attempts
to intimidate the express messengers
into submission, and during all that
time the messengers were risking their
lives in defense of the company's prop.
erty. The robbery was the most
unique one in the history of Indian
Territory outlawry. In the first place
the robbers got everything in sight.
Again during the battle between the
messengers and bandits, in which fully
200 shots were fired, not man was
wounded.
Then again the robbers were of gen
tleInanly appearance and department
in their relations with the trainmen
who were not pressed into service, and
with several passengers with whom
they conversed. Finally, the robbery
was doubtless committed by the noto-
rious Dalton gang, for whom large re-
wards are still standing, and who
were even then being tracked by the
detectives posse, and who were be-
hind them not more than a days
| journey on horseback. 1t was O'Clock
! when the train reached Red Rock, in
the northwest corner of the Oteo and
and Missouri reservations in the In.
dian strip. just as it was pulling out,
few minutes later, two men with black
masks covering their faces jumped into
| the engineers cab from the tender
and covering the engineer and fireman
with revOlvers commanded them tc
run the train down to the stockyards
and stop there at q given signal. The
engineer and fireman obeyed the com
mand. To have resisted would have
meant death. When the train stop.
ped the two robbers were Joined by
five masked companions. The leader
commanded the engineer and fireman
to walk back to the express car anC
commanded the fireman to break
open the door with coal pick. f. @
Whittlesy, messenger, and j. A
Refill, a guard, anticipating what wal
going on when the train came to c
standstill, had blown out the lights il
the car and refused to allow any one
to enter.
The bandits then opened fire upor
the car from all sides and the
men within it responded promptly
aiming all shots at the door, The
highwaymen shot into the car from al
quarters, even getting under it anC
shooting the floor. Their firing, how.
ever was all to no effect, for the mes
sengers bravely stood their ground
In the meantime one of the robbers
chopped hole in the door of the car
large enough to admit a mans body
and the fireman was told to crawl
through it into the car. This placed
him literally between two fires, and
Engineer Mack seeing it meant death
to his companion explained the stu
alton to the messengers within and
told them to cease firing.
When the robbers at last entered
the express car they covered those
within with guns and with sledge
hammer and chisel broke open both
way and through safes and robbed
them of everything of value. They
also took $50 and n gold watch from
the guard of the express car. Mes
senger Whittlesy had hidden his
money and watch and the robbers got
nothing from him.
The robbers are described by sew
eral passengers who talked with them,
as being well dressed and of gentle
manly appearance and bearing. This
was especially true of the leaders who
to the engineer for a
rough remark made by one of
his crowd and promised him
it should not occur again.
The leader, in conversation
with passenger asked for some smok-
ing tobacco. The passenger reached
into his coat tail pocket for it when
the robbers told him if it was in his
hip pocket he had better not attempt
to get it.
The amount secured by the robbers
is unknown as the express company
made no statement.
After the robbery the men mounted
their horses and rode off to the South
west
The Daltons are charged with the
crime, and judging from the descrip-
ton given of robbers by those acquaint-
ed with the Daltons it was undoubtedly
that notorious gang. Detectives and
a posse have been on the latter's track
for some time. Only day or so ago
one of the gang bought 18 boxes OF
in Oklahoma City and af-
escaped the vigilance of his
pursuers. A posse was organized here
last night aud went to the scene of
the robbery on freight train. 1t is
thought the robbers will be easily
tracked on account of the wet ground.