The San Francisco call., 1896-08-15
Killed by a Volley as He Raced
On in Pursuit of an
Outlaw.
RODE AHEAD OF THE POSSE.
Sought to Engage a Desperate Single.
Handed and Dashed Into
a Trap.

TUCSON, ARIZ., Aug. f4-Line- Rider
Frank Robson's valor, unmarked by pre-
caution, caused his death. That is the
story of the ambushing of Sheriff Leather
woods posse by the Nogales bank raiders
in Skeleton Canyon yesterday. Robson
knew no fear, and when the posse was
gradually overtaking an outlaw, he,
mounted on the feetest horse, pressed on
ahead to engage the desperate single
handed.
The raider entered clump of brush, the
line rider, laundering ON in his rear, fully
quarter of mile ahead of the rest of the
pursuers AS he neared the trees volley
rang out, followed by yell from the
brush. Robson reeled in his saddle and
fell. Leatherwood's party dashed to the
rescue as fast as their horses could carry
them, but the brave man had breathed his
last before they came up.
The outlaw, when he had passed into
the clump of trees, had stopped. There
his comrades were in waiting, and they
prepared to meet the oncoming rider.
When he was within rife shot they fired
the volley that killed Robson. They made
no attempt to attack the remainder of the
posse, but mounted their horses and con-
tinued their fight. Leatherwood here
gave up the pursuit and returned to
Bisbee, bearing Robson's body with him.
Deputy Sheriff Doyle, who had left the
posse before the ambush, returned to
Tucson last night. From Tucson, he says,
Sheriff Leatherwood and himself went to
Nogales and thence to Bisbee, where they
were joined by Sheriff Fly, Deputy John
son and Messrs. Alvord and Herbert.
About twelve or fourteen miles south of
Bisbee the posse struck the trail which
it followed into the Skeleton Mountains.
The first sight of the robbers they got was
on Wednesday, about noon, in the foot
hills of the Skeleton mountains, where
Sheriff Leatherwood saw one OF the out
laws. The party Immediately gave chase.
AS soon as the robber discovered his pur-
suers, he put spurs to his horse and rode
rapidly into the hills. Deputy Doyle,
with the intention of intercepting him as
he rounded point, rode upon the side OF
the hill, which was covered with loose
rocks. In scram bling over these, his sad
die turned and his horse bucked him off.
His knee was badly hurt and his gun
broken until it was worthless. His COM
panions came to his rescue, helped him
onto his horse and directed him to go to
San Simon with dispatches for the officers
at DemIug. the officers apparently having
taken that direction.
The names of the bank robbers are
known to the officers, ali being local out
laws, and some having followed cattle
stealing and smuggling for years. They
are Cole Young, Bob Hayes, BLACK jack"
Jesse Williams and Tom Anderson.
The one chased by the posse just before
Deputy Doyle left was evidently a sentinel
and acted as a decoy, drawing the posse
up Skeleton Canyon, which is thickly cov-
cred with underbrush and is very narrow
end rough, where Line-Rider Robson, who
was in the lead, was picked off. Having
thus crippled the posse, and knowing full
well it would not leave Robson's body
there for the coyotes. the bandits are sup
posed to have crossed the line into Mexico
to commit fresh depredations.