The silver lance., 1897-07-30
WYOMING RUSTLERS.
WERE AFTER FOREMAN DEvINE.
HoIe-in-the- Wall Gang Of Cattle Thieves
Have Fight with Cowboys In Which
One Hustler Is Killed and Ono Taken
Prisoner.

Denver. ruly PA special to the
Republican from Cheyenne says:
battle was fought yesterday between
a portion OF the Hole-inthe-Wal band
of outlaws of Central Wyoming and
roundup force of cowboys belonging
to the C. Y. outfit of Senator Carey, the
Ogallala and Pugsley outfits, In which
two of the boys were wounded, one OF
the outlaws killed and one captured
The fight occurred in a pasture on the
line of johnson and Natrona counties,
about three miles from the famous rem
devious of the "Hole-in-the-Walf
party.
The "HoIe-in-the-Wall" gang consists
of about a dozen desperate characters,
VIII have been for the past two years
stealing cattle. raiding sheep camps
and generally terrorizing central Wyo-
ming. Their latest exploit was the
attempted robbery Of the Belle
Fourche bank Here they were re-
pulsed and one of their number, Tom
O'Day, captured. Five other members
of the gang were surrounded at the
V. v V. ranch in Crook county and
were reported captured but managed
TO escape.
The only stand made against the dep
relations of the gang in Wyoming has
been by the &. Y. outfit. Its foreman
r. n. Devine. took an armed force OF
cowboys into the region last year and
recovered several hundred head of
stolen cattle. The rustlers threatened
If Devine ever came back to the coun-
try TO kill him and his outfit. Conse-
quently when the roundup started in
that direction last week it was prepar-
ed for trouble. and consisted Of thirty
well-armed cowboys under Devine's
leadership.
The roundup was not molested until
yesterday. when Dcvine and eight cow
boys were rounding up the pasture of
Bob and Al Smith. where they found a
number of stolen cattle. The cowboys
were met here by Bob and AL Smith
and Bob Taylor, who rode past them
and suddenly turned and fired their
rifles at the party.
Lee Devine. son of the foreman, was
shot in the wrist.
Bob Smith fired at Foreman Devine.
killing his horse. Devine returned the
fire. the ball wounding Smith. Smiths
second shot inflicted slight flesh
wound in Devine's leg. Devine's sec
ond shot struck Smith in the groin, in
fiicting a fatal wound. The shooting
became general and the remaining rus
tiers started to retreat. Al Smith sue
ceeded in getting away. but Taylor was
captured and is now in Jail.
Most of the cowboys were without
their guns when the fight commenced.
and the bucking broncos caused them
to lose their heads and they could take
no part in the fight. Five of the rus
tiers friends appeared on the scene as
the fight ceased. and. seeing the result.
they disappeared and took no part.
Over fifty shots were fired during the
mix-up. which lasted but few min
utes.
After the affair was over riders were
seen gathering in the hills about the
place. and the cowboys abandoned the
cattle they had gathered and rode rap
Idly 10 Casper. The three rustlers had
disposed of their possessions. includ-
Ing many cattle of questionable
brands. aud were preparing TO leave
the country. 1t is believed they re-
mained purppsely TO kill Devine. the
c. Y. foreman. for whom they had an
especial hatred.
1t is now believed the "Hole-in-the
Wall" gang will disperse and leave the
country. Several of the most noted
leaders, the Roberts brothers and
George Currie. are fugitiyes. and are
said to be making for the British Dos
ions. Two members have been
captured during thepresent month and
two killed.