Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-09-14
COLORADO BANK ROBBERS.

/ OO.O0SNOS otAtNN u0006n0s
Three Men, After killing the Cashier, Grab
All tho Money In Sight I'm . Colorado
Bank. But Are Met I'm the Street by a
Determined Citizen, Who Had HIS win
chester Loaded and Ready for Use-He
Killed Two OF the Robbers, and the
Third Is Pursued by . Possee.
DELTA. Col, Sept. s.-A. T. Blanchly,
of the Farmers and Merchants bank,
was shot dead while defending his
trust yesterday morning by three rob-
bers. Two robbers are dead, and the
third will soon be in the hands of the
officers of the law, who are in hot pur-
suit.
The business of the Farmers and
Merchants bank was proceeding as
usual There had been quite a num-
Der of customers in the earlier hours
of the business day, but about 1880
there was a slight lull. Three men
had been seen Longing about the bank
for day or two without any apparent
business, but their demeanor was by
no means suspicious. About 10:45
o'clock, when no customers were pres
emf. the three men marched into the
bank and covered the president with
their guns The spokesman, present.
ing his revolver at the head of Cashier
Blanchly, demanded that he hand over
what funds there were in the bank and
be quick about it. But Mr.oBlanchly
did not propose to give up the funds.
His resolution was fatal to him. Mr..
Blanchly refused to hand over the
money. The robber, without any fur
Their warning, fred on the unfortunate
man, killing him instantly.
The three men then grabbed all the
cash in sight, amounting to perhaps
800; then they started for the OUT
side, where their horses were hitched,
but here they met an enemy whose
work was swift and sure. Mr.. Simp-
SON keeps a hardware store near the
bank. The noise of the shot that
killed poor Blanchly attracted his at
tention. The uproar had also drawn
quite number Of people to the spot,
but they were not prepared for the
robbers. while Simpson was. His
trusty Winchester was loaded, and he
was sure shot. Simpson got into the
street in front of the bank just as the
three robbers were rushing out of the
building with the pitiful 500 for
which they had taken q mans life.
They could attack an unarmed man,
shut they were no match for Simpson.
The sharpshooting hardware man
opened fire at once while the robbers
were attempting to mount theirShorses.
His aim was sure. ''Crack," and a rob-
Der bit the dust, never to rise again.
A muffied cheer rose from the bystand-
ers. Crack" and another robber was
hurled into eternity, with his boots on
and his prayers unsaid.
This took place in less time than it
takes to tell it. But the few seconds
we-e the temporary salvation for the
remaining robber, who was enabled to
mount his horse and start down the
road for the surrounding country.
Simpson sent couple of shots after
him. but to no purpose. The villain
had too good start for even the keen
eye of the hardware merchant to cor
rectly gauge his human target.
By this time the bank was thronged
by an angry multitude of citizens.
They recovered from their shock, and
while willing hands went into the
bank and carried out the remains of
the heroic cashier, others rushed to
their homes, collected horses and am
munition and set off after the fleeing
robber. There are men on his track
who will not eat or sleep until they
tree their game. Public feeling runs
very high, and it is very likely that if
the remaining robber is brought into
town unhanged he will be dangling to
the end of rope in very short time.
The bodies of the two assassins were
taken to the coroner's, where they
were viewed by hundreds, but nobody
seemed to know who they were. A
few had seen them lounging around
day or two before, as related above, but
that was all.
The remains of Cashier Blanchly were
carried to his home. He leaves a widow
and several children, and was an old
resident of the county. He was highly
by all who knew him. and
the whole city is plunged into the
deepest sorrow by the awful tragedy.
1t will be impossible to control public
feeling if the fleeing murderer is
brought in alive.