Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-12-01
in SOUTH DAKOTA
SHELL ON THE TRAIL
The Currie Gang Will Have Occasion
to Think So Again.

The Currfe Gang VIII Have OCCASION
to Think So Again.
Chamberlain, s.. D.-,rhe announce
ment hat the Washington authorities
propose attempting to roundup and
capture the noted Currie gang of deS-
peradoes, which a year ago last sum
mer held up and robbed a bank at
the town of Belle Fourche, this state,
will be received with pleasure by the
l~aw-abiding residents of the region
where the outlaw band carries on it's
operations. A. Il. Long, inspector OF
the Western South Dakota Cattlemen's
association, who has represented the
association at Chamberlain during the
cattle shipping season, now drawing TO
a close. was a member of the only
posse of officers and citizens that ever
invaded the region in Northwestern
Wyoming terrorized by Currie n his
outlaw followers. This raid occurred
q few weeks after the hold-up of the
Belle Fourche bank. and was f,- the
purpose of capturing those implicated
In that crime, and Receiving cattle that
had been stolen by the outlaws and
driven TO their rendezvous in which Is
known as the "Hole-in-the-Wall"
country in Wyoming. 1t is said that in
an emergency, Currie can summon to-
gether $50 or 200 as desperate char
acters as can be found anywhere in the
West. The posse of which Long was
a member was unable to find any OF
the gang, but placards with such
words of warning as Hell on the
Trail which greeted the invaders ON
the route leading to the robbers
rendezvous, proved that the desper-
ADDE'S We're on the alert, and aware OF
the errand of their p~ursuers. The
Hole-in-the-Wall is a natural park, al
most entirely surrounded by n chain
of mountains, with but one gateway
or means access. lit would be next to
impossible to enter the park against a
strong guard. On the west is another
cham of high, rough and rugged noun
tains. These have perpendicular sides
with but n pass or opening through
them, and this is impossible for
horses. The country beyond the pass
is a wonderful place. a succession OF
deep canyons and gorges, heavily tim
bered, and an ideal place for fierce,
wild animals, and where 1t would be
suicidal for n mar to venture unless
he was perfectly familiar with the
passages. Probably all would have yet
been well with the Currie gang had
they continued to contine their opera
tions Il stealing cattle and horses, rid
ing into isolated towns and settlements
and holding up stores and banks, for
they had the people thoroughly terror
lied. But recently they have become
holder, and have locked horns with
Uncle Sam by robbing some of his
pcstofices, and holding up stages and
riding mails carried on them. Uncle
Sam proposes to take the trail of the
outlaws for thn nurnDSa of inning
them down. A few troops Of cavalry
would prove the most effective, If not
the only means of hunting down and
a~nnihilating the outlaws. Even with
such a force it would be as difficult n
task as the hunting of Apache Indians
In he mountains OF Arizona and New
Mexico, for every member Of the Cur
RE gang Is familiar with every foot of
ground, and every hiding place in that
region, and they have operated for
years,