Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-11-21
BLACK JACKS BANDITS.



Some OF the United States officials who
are in a position to know claim that the
rumor that the posse In pursuit OF Black
Jack and his gang, had over-taken them
near Separ, New Mexico, and had, had \
fight with the bandits, killing tho notori-
GUS Bob Hayes and wounding George Mus
grave, alias JEFF Davis, who escaped, 10
without foundation. The despatch says
that none Of the posse are injured and that
Black Jack, Frank Anderson, Bill George
and another escaped and the posse Is In
pursuit. Deputy Marshal Ezekiels, with q
posse of six men and four Apache trailers
Is pushing 10 from this side.
The fight occurred at Deer Greek, about
thirty miles south Of Separ, OF the South
ern Pacific road. This is the most desper-
ate gang that ever infested Arizona. They
commenced operations in July last, since
which time they have held up 5epar twice,
the White Oaks stage, robbing the mail
four times, Nogales bank, lewiston post
office, San Simon postohice, station and
store, STEMS station, Central postofice,
attempted to hold up a mail train on the
Atlantic & Pacific road, In which their
leader, Cole Young, was killed. They al
SO took in Huachuca siding station on the
18th, robbing the agent, the object being to
intercept the .paymaster en- route to pay
troops at Fort Huachuca, but they missed
the date. Then they went over to WILCOX,
where they planned to rob the United
States paymaster on the 18th, or his way
to Fort Grant, but missed the date again.
They were making for chihuahua when
interrupted by McGlinchy.
During the past three months they have
twice tried to hold up the Southern Pacific
mail train but failed. During their reign
of terror they killed four men-kobinson,
a line rider, who, with q posse, pursued
them after the attempted bank robbery at
Nogales Parker, a ranchman near Rose
water, N. M, and a rancher and a cowboy
in the Animas valley.
George Musgrave is supposed to be the
man who, with Grant Wheeler, blew up
the mail and express car near Wilcox
three /, ears ago. Since last July the ban.
dts have travelled 1900 miles.
SEEN NEAR TOMBSTONE.
A rancher was In Tombstone recently on
court duty, and who does not desire bis
name made public, informed the Prospect
or reporter that the band Of robbers, after
robbing Huachuoa Siding, next appeared
at the informant's ranch in the valley,
where they dismounted and remained for
dinner.
They made no attempt to conceal their
identity and seemed. well informed az to
movements Of the posse in pursuit.
During the meal the robbers became
quite loquacIous, r%ecounting all their
deeds and various hold-ups, which would
furnish an interesting topic for a blood
and thunder novel, narratlng some par
ticularly ludicrous episodes Of some un-
fortunate who was scared to death and
begged pittingly for his life when there
was no intention Of harming him at all,
would break out in a most hearty laugh;
this would recall another incident followed
by more peals OF laughter, until apparent
ly forgetting all precautionary dangers
and usual grave demeanor aud watchful-
ness, turned the hour into one of veritable
mirth, seemingly enjoying it to the utmost.