The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
W ARIZONA BANDITS.
QUEER TRANSPORTATION OF THE
KELLER BROTHERS.
r.pr leland BOYS who went west. Pros
pered ms Rnnchmen ana suddenly Turned
highway cn-DIi Kecior's Robberies OF
stage. single Handcd-His Hidden Treasure.

TrcsoS, ArlZ., March 1.-Flfteen miles south
NJ here. in the valley Of the Santa Cruz River. is
thc ranch upon which Jack and Bill Keeler
lived for seven years engaged In the peaceful
pursuit Of cattle raising. The property is now
nuned by Jeffrey Thompson. ono of the Sher-
ms posse that hunted Bill Keller to his death
IN Prospect Canon. nine miles north Of Benson,
IN the summer OF 1886. Tho irony Of fate is
,een when it Is understood that Thompson's
.barc of the $4,000 reward offered for. kceler's
.anture, dead or alive. enabled him to buy the
property Of the dead bandit.
The brothers. then 30 and % years Of age.
came TO Tucson from tho vicinity of Sag Har.
bor, L. l., In the summer OF 1878. and being
entirely green to the ways Of the West, fur
pished no little amusement for tho toughened
covpunchers OF that section with whom they
cast their lot. In every way they were gu Ii
fed to keep the pace with their more expert
enced brethren; for, besides being big, strap
ming fellows, they were good-natured and utter
IL fearless. They took to the new life and soon
became among the best men on the ranch.
Both we're dead shots and at the slightest call
ready for a fray. After several years they had
saved sufficient money to warrant their starting
out on their own hook with a well-sclected
ranch. though a rather limited cattle supply.
They were pcrsevering, and in the 70 ur years
following collected a very desirable lot Of AMI
mails. II was at this stage that the brothers
disagreed about some trivial matter and sepa-
rated, the younger going further westward and
finally bringing up at Yuma, where he fell in
with a party of tho toughest citizens about the
town. The Yuma penitentiary held n strange
fascination for him, and he frequently visited
Il, He made friends with several Of the in
mates who had been convicted Of highway
robbery. As u result Of his associations he be-
-
highwayman. Several months later there was
an escape from the institution, the prisoners
who broke out being the very fellows with
whom Keller had spent much OF his time.
He was suspected of assisting them. and this
suspicion became a certainty when it was
known that he had accompanied them in their
fight. The desperadoes escaped to the Harqua
Hala Mountains, where, until his death, Jack
Keller made permanent and secure hcadquar-
tiers.
Almost immediately a daring series of hold
ups began, md though it was generally believed
that Keeler and his convict associates commit.
ted them II was not until three or four years
later that the fact was established beyond
doubt. During the intervening time the band
operated with unbrokcn success through all
the country from Yuma to Tombstone, about
which latter place the mining excitement was
tnen Ut i5 Height. OuC CdTtu " ltdNt Ou
mining operations where the returns were SO
good to attempt a roundup of the robbers,
who at best rarely ever molested any but those
who were travelling. mostly transients, tender
feet, and occasionally some lucky follow who
had picked up a stake and was pulling out for
While no accurate estimate could ever be
made Of their spells during these four Years OF
oris kept by tho stage companies affected that
they averaged in the neigh6orhood of S5, 900 a
persons, and so continued until the fight at the
hold.up of the Wells. Fargo stage near Mari
young Koeler was desperately wounded. The
THO escaped. to their mountain retreat only to
DO trailed down, The wounded bandit was cap
tured, one Of his companions escaped, and the
other was killed. Keller had been shot through
the neck and twice through the shoulder and
lung, and his wounds never entirely ceased Civ
Although during the operations of the band
several killings occurred, there was no proof
ssas.cOnyietef:ahd sentenced to thirty Years in
time Of his capture that he would i've to be
tired, and believing this himself Keller at
tempted TO make restitution SO far as possible,
BurendertnR several thousand dollars OF buried
treasure and all the secrets of the gang. After
as recovery his repentance stu appeared to be
genuine and he became q model prisoner. FL
hally. on account of his record as a reformed
nan, and his broken health. he was pardoned.
He ct once wentsinto the depths of the Harque
I'll ~ ~ AkV Vi
Whether he still retained a portion of the
known; 1t is probable that he did So. as he al.
e%sver made any. effort to secure employment.
nus ,cave-like cabin was always open to visit
Ing hunters or officers, and his life to all appear.
sacss was eontented If not happy. Still his
trouble and medical assistance was unayaiIing.
his extreme quietness in his manner of living
S %ss Efiobsbhly ~ S due LARGELY TO the advice Of the
against oyerexertion or excitement; He was
found dead in his bed by . party of hunters in
IN winter OF 1895. and had apparently died
III The queerest part of the story is yet to come.
Younger SnSwanf brother oh I aF Ell k see eon who Snt 9f tb h,s
ane had been content with the quiet life OF a
sanshman, disposed of his property and without
strange departure was a surprise to his closest
%flsnds who; though recognizing in him = strain
p ttSSi{ Ills latest pr %efe q T { i0 ]solS fGf an S ssp1 nos ioor
INCOMING. It was furnished by the robbery,
with a daredevil lack OF any attempt at con.
hands he: had suffered pecuniarily in a cattle
81 effbs s ec0 q year Previous. From this ranch.
MIN with a warning that the country would
BOON become too hot to hold them both.
,ta anen ne went in for a career OF single-handed
inc Oldest OF the border officials. In all his
i%ora ne was never known to have q compan.
and brooked no fooiishness In his victims. His
s,Scce;s has never been equalled in any part OF
bbmes Mesi. During, his career, which was brief
SSut brilliant, 1t Is believed that his gains were
,r greater than the plumber of the entire band
Win which his brother had affiliated. His plan
wa 20 10 secrete himself along the mountain road
Thay ana a, the stage came In sight send a Win.
enester bullet whtzzing past tho drivers head
h No. q sigma to stop. Then the passengers would
i NJ Commanded 70 step out and pile their be-
tUne!hEs IN the road, while the messenger was
T. T,terea 10 throw off the express box and leave
f rnUr ms examination at leisure. All the time
aauionl MS place of cOncealment Kce.er would
S me- me proceedings with the ability of an
ssppiroua'e stage prolnpter. In event of u dispO-
mae MAJ u oD!cci he was not slow TO use decisive
tn - = and-scycral murders were credited
INN ~ ne early days OF his now calling.
,vJGicc became recCgnized that he would shoot
s",t..nout conjunction there was rarely ever any
SarH " AZ resistance. Occasionally he would
i,"t,! hls.plhn by riding boldly to meet the stage,
M Spo me general COntribu ION feature OF his
npt,la,Iohs vas always carried out. His most
tn rnn, lcat was robbing early in 1880 a stage
noi lucaon containing Il party OF seven armed
tt%aSncGsyra' who had unnOunccd previous 10
t I'M departure that they were making the trip
ITnln dp 10 put an end to the reign OF Keeler.
h. bnat worthy. evidently knew o. The mission. tor
L. WiN1s stationed directly IN the road with his
MN mnmnr.l,r IN readiness. and not a man OF the
go H. hau Inc nerve to carry out the project
lAaHilfl. From tbia pnl,I.pNs Lgnaln- "a,