The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-15
SHERIFF WARDS CLOSE CALI
EVANSTON POSSE AMBUSHEI
BY THREE DESPERADoES.
Bullet Grazed the Sheriff's Head and
One of His Deputies Wounded
Still On the Trail.
(speclal Corresnondence.)

Cheyenne Wyo.. Sept. l5.-On the after
noon of the 18th of August last the gener-
al store and postofIice at Big Piney, in the
Uinta mountains, in the northern part OF
Uinta county. were robbed by a band of
three masked men, who secured a large
amount OF money and plumber. Sheriff
John Ward, with a large posse, started
Immediately from Evanston TO search for
the daring highwaymen- He has not yet
returned from the pursuit of the three
men, but the following graphic account OF
the ambush OF Sheriff Ward and his depu-
ties has been brought in TO the nearest
railroad point by courier and forwarded
TO the federal officers here:
Sheriff Ward. accompanied by his three
special deputies namely: William McDon-
aid. Charles Holden and Tobe Houston,
followed the robbers trail for several
days. on Aug. 30 they were passing along
the divide between Green river and Wind
river at a point about 70 miles northeast
of what is known as the Dog ranch: Ihey
we're following trail which showed TO De
about p hours old, and were therefore,
jogging along carelessly, with their rifles
swung across their saddles, not expecting
10 see the enemy for several hours to
come.
In the meantime the three desperadoes
having previously discovered that they
were being followed, had gone several
miles ahead cached their packs ana AMI
mails and. returning on foot, had taken up
a position right next the old trail. behind
two fallen trees. Ward and party came
leisurely jogging along, as above stated,
unprepared for instant action, and, when
within few feet of these fallen trees, the
three robbers stuck their guns over the
logs and shouted, Hands up! AT the
same instant they began firing.
For Ward and his party to obey the or
der meant that they would lose their
horses and arms and make their way
back to civilization on foot. To try 10
reach for their guns meant certain death
for all three. as they We're all WITHIN TX
feet of the points of the robbers guns
They had only the twinkle OF an eye in
which to decide q course of action and
and fed To reach a cover, or at least to
gain distance. They all escaped injury
with the exception of Houston. He was
nearest the Iobbers when the robbers gave
the order, Hands upi" He attempted TO
raise his hands. AT the same moment a
bullet cut of the first two fingers OF his
left hand, and another struck his right
wrist. Being disabled, he rolled off mis-
horse and, laying on the ground. feigned
death, when the robbers ceased firing and
made hastg retreat.
Ward and the other two men quickly
returned TO Houston and took MIN to the
Dog ranch, where, luckily, they FjuRd a
surgeon, gentleman from Chicago, who
was travelling to the Yellowstone park
The surgeon kindly smOothed up his
wounds, and fixed him as comfortable as
possible. after which he was sent to his
home. on Amos Smiths ranch, on Big
Sheriff Ward had a narrow escape from
death. When he wheeled his horse to re-
treat bullet from the gun of the robber
nearest MN clipped q piece of skin from
his right temple and carried his hat away
Had the sheriff not moved as ne did he
would undoubtedly have been siain
a telegram received from Sheriff Small
of Fremont county, dated al Lander, says
Sheriff Ward is safe, and is hot on the
trail, night and day, Of the robbers.