New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-09
THE COFFEYVILLE HEROES.

Cofrcyyile. Kan, is a small town OF about
2. 600 inhabitants in the southeast corner OF
the Stated corner which the proximity OF the
Indian Territory and the two States OF Mis-
souri, and Arkansas, into which escape is easy
and pursuit always difficult and often danger
GUS makes especially attractive to thieves and
outlaws of all sorts. band of desperadoes
and highwaymen known as the Dalton gang"
the leaders of which were family connections
of the Jameses and the YOungers, who so long
terrorzed the Southwest, galloped into the
town last Wednesday and proceeded IN the
approved frontier style to hold up the officers
of the two banks in the town and rob the
safes. With these men robbery was pastlme'
murder an ordinary incident in the pursuit OF
their vocation They plundered in all dlrec-
tons without pity, and they murdered VINO
ever stood In their way without remorse Ihcy
were fully conscious Of their outlawry, ana all
their senses were sharpcned thereby. Know
ing tina; price was set upon the head OF every
one of them and that the hand OF every man
was against them. they were alert and watch
full quick to get the drop" on any man who
moved his hand toward his hip, and very accu-
rata in their AIM The list OF their murders
was appalling
These were bad men to disturb IN the prose
cution of their calling. There were nine chances
out of ten that whoever did it would be dropped
dead in his tracks by Winchester rifle before
ever he lifted his own weapon to the shoulder.
Coffeyvle people knew them, for the Dalton
brothers had been born and bred IN the nelgh-
borhood. and they knew how unsafe 1t would
be 10 interfere with them. They knew, too,
that non interference meant mere robbery rob-
berry Of other people than themselves for the
most part robbery Of a couple OF banks, the
immediate effect of which would not specially
distress the shoemaker and merchant and lly-
crv-.table keeper Of the town. interference
meant hot work and pretty sure death. but
the Civ Marshal, Nh. Con,lly. School-teacher
BY profession who had been five months III
office and was intending 70 resign and resume
his profession shortly, without giving mo-
ment'S heed 10 such considerations, armed MN
self and summoned the shoemaker merchant
and livery stable keeper as his posse TO protect
property. arrest the robbers and maintain the
law. short work they made OF II. In less
time than it takes 10 tell il five OF the des-
perado,s were dead or dy ing, shot down in their
tracks DN the nNcI. -s'dDiS Nc P''' A"N
ton gang" was wiped ont. Life and property IN
southeastern Kansas are considerably safer Tor
seine tine T. come.
l,ut the marshal the schooI-tcachcr teaching
in his death the crownng lesson OF his lie
obedience to duty-lay dead and with HIM
were the shoemaker and merchant, who had
laid down their lives in answer TO his call
10 maintain the law and defend the property
of their neighbors. The story hos been spread
over the country, and the newspapers have told
il with headlines But il was -four days ago, and
This morning is almost forgotten outside the
scene of the tragedy The stricken families OF the
school.teachcr. shoemaker and merchant have
had the poor consolation OF hearing in hun
drcd WAYS that their loved ones were brave
men and heroes. But must that be all their
CONDENSATION? There j. not banking in>tl'
tuition in the country-for their connections
are - intimately interviewer that the interest
Of one is rhc interest Of all, the safety OF one
the safety Of all-that has not been III some
degree benefited by the heroic action OF the
Colfcyyilc posse who died defending the prop
e,;y of the stockholders and deposltors IN their
hunks The families Of those men have been
left desoa,c and no doubt destitute. What
could he more proper or graceful than Tor Inc
banking institutions of the country to offer
10 these families some substantial testimony OF
their appreciation Of the hcroism of their hnS'
bands and fathers? What New York bank
moves first? II will take but small contrbu-
tions from each one OF the banking institutions
in the country to put these families in comfort
able circumstances. Shall it be done?