The San Francisco call., 1897-02-08
LED A BAND OF
BORDER RAIDERS
Reckless Career of Black
jack the Captured
Bandit.
Five Murders and a Score of
Robberies Charged to His
Cutthroats.
Once Refused to Loot a Railroad Sta.
tion Because a Woman Was
in Charge.

SILVER CITY, N. NJ, Feb. THE
capture on Saturday near Ell Paso, Texas.
of John Mcdonald, alias "BIack Jack"
leader of the border bandits who have
been operating in New Mexico, Arizona
and old Mexico for the past year, means
that this section is at last rid of the mar
auding band. Cole Estis, alias Cole Young.
and bob" Hayes have been killed in
fights with officers and the remaining
two members, George Musgrave, alias
Jeff Davis, alias Jesse Williams, and Tom
Anderson are believed to have made their
escape into Mexico.
The gang had been in existence about
two years. Until nine months ago its op-
erations were confined chiefly to snug
Cling on the Mexican border. From July
90, 1896. until November 10 of the same
year the outlaws engaged in frequent
forays. Their first appearance was at
Separ, N M, on July 20, when they held
up the postmaster, robbed the postoffice
OF $40 and took about $500 from the store
in which it was located. Thence they
went to Nogales, Arizona. where they at
tempted TO rob bank, but failed to get
any cash.
"Black Jack" and his band were fol-
lowed by posse and fight took place in
Skeleton canyon. Line Rider Robson,
one OF the bravest officers who ever strad-
died horse, was ambushed and killed.
Then they crossed over into New Mexico
and stopped the White Oaks stages, going
and coming, within four miles of each
other and captured the mail. From there
they went to Rio Puerco, and, in attempt
ing to rob an Atlantic and Pacific train,
Cole Young was killed by Deputy United
States Marshal Loomis. They returned
southwark and again robbed both the
White Oaks stages. Coming on to Dem
ing, n. NJ, they boarded the Southern
Pacific train, westbound, but the conduc-
tor backed the train into Deming, and the
robbers struck out for their horses and
made for the range.
On October 27 they were at lewiston,
where they robbed the postoffice and got
SIS from store. They were next heard
from at Separ again on November 2. There
they took in the postoffice, store and sta
ton. Then they sped over to Huachua
Siding, Ariz., where on the 7th they held
up the agent and took $780, Their object
was to rob the United States paymaster,
who was supposed to have been due on
that date. From the Siding they went
into the Dragon Mountains, making q
ieint against lewiston, but landing at Will
cox, where they had intended to halt the
United States paymaster on his way to
Fort Grant. They again missed their date.
From lewiston they went to Stems Pass
to hold up the station but found woman
In charge and said they would not modest
a woman.
pense. money and then struck for the
Chihuahua line, where they hadsa des-
perate fight on November 10 with mar
shaPs ana Sheriff posse. bob" Hayes
was killed and Musgrave wounded.
Besides the many robberies laid at its
door, the gang murdered five men. They
were Robson. the inerider; Parker, near
Rosewater, n. Mex; a stockman, against
whom Musgrave had an old grudge; !
rancher on the Gila who had informed on
them, and cowboy. who had fine horse
they wanted and had also informed on
them. Besides, they have beaten several
of the persons they robbed.
The rewards for the capture of "Black
Jack' will aggregate over $4,000. The cap
tured leader will likely be tried at Socorro,
N. Mex, on the charge of stage robbery,
the punishment for which is life imprls-
onment. He will be confined in the Silver
City Jail for safe keeping until his trlal
and will be brought to this place by United
States Marshal Hall on Tuesday.