Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-05
THE DEATH OF A GOOD CITIZEN.
Il Should Mean the Wiplng Out Of this
Gang.

The Denver Times of Thursday says:
Valentine S. Hoy, who was murdered
yesterday by the Powder Springs gang
while in the performance of his duty as
an officer OF the law.is a brother of the
Colorado state sheep Inspector, j. S.
Hoy. The Hoy family is well known as
good citizens and the news OF the
death of one of them was received with
much regret in this state.
Powder Springs is ar oasis In the des-
ert and is situated thirty-five miles
right at the intersection of the states
of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. For
miles around Powder Springs the coun-
try is barren waste. uninhabited ex-
cept by Indians and but few OF them
The Powder Springs gang make their
headquarters at this oasis. which is also
called 'Robbers' Roost." when they are
not on an forasing expedition in the
civilized communities bordering on the
desert. The outfit was formerly known
as the "Hole-in- the Wall gang and Is
made up of outlaws thugs, ex- conylcts,
fugitives and criminals of all classes.
They have given the authorities in the
three states mentioned all kinds of
trouble and several attempts have been
made to run them down and place
them under arrest, but they invaria-
bly, escape and hide in the wilds of the
desert until all danger Is over. Moth
Ing but an armed posse or a company
OF soldiers could hope to capture the
gang. as they will fight and kill before
they would submit to arrest. The gang
steals cattle. robs banks holds up the
settlers, besides slaughtering all the
states game that they need. Several
months ago the bank of Montpelier
was held up and robbed by band of
masked men. A year previous to this
the bank Of Meeker was robbed in the
same manner and two of the robbers
We're killed.
They We're supposed to be members
of the Powder Springs gang. When the
Colorado authorities got after them the
gang goes over into Wyoming or Utah
and when they are wanted for a crime
in either of the other states they drop
over Into Colorado and hide. The di-
viding line of the three states runs
through Powder Springs, SO Colorado
Utah and Wyoming can all be visited
| and revisited in an hours time.
1t IL likely that the last murder COM
mitted by the gang will result in steps
| being taken by the governor to break
| up the outfit or get them out of the
country. The gang Is said to number
about 90 of as desperate characters as
can be found in any part of the United
| States.
During the recent stock growers con
ventlon held here. an attempt was
made to petition the governors OF Colo.
RADIO, Utah and Wyoming for aid In
| DISCRIMINATING this dangerous gang, hui
nothing came of IT. The Utah cattle
men have no large organization. ant
/ have not therefore, the concerted
i 10 t,satl 81,
The desperadoes do not take in an,
new members-or very seldom. 1t /,
| an old gang composed of veterans In
border crime. and its members hav,
| grown rich in spells.
While the Utah cattlemen were her,
attending the convention many of then
visited the private detective Offices
particularly the Thiel. Manager Payn,
of the latter says that his agency |,
ready to enter the field and wipe ou
| the entire gang, but first some arrange
ments for expenses and recompens,
must be made The Thiel people hav,
all the needed Information docketet
and plans are laid, only waiting wore
| from the Utah cattlemen to go on
| They have pictures of some of the ganf
| In their Office and full descriptions o.
| the men wanted. That this last out
break viii compel the adoption o.
stringent measures Mr.. Payne believes
The desperadoes have their head
| quarters in an almost impenetrabl,
wilderness OF rocks, from which the,
sally and steal hundreds of cattle anC
| rob ranches. Many OF the rancheri
have lost the profits OF years and otheri
have lost their all, During the silve
campaign of 90 a dozen OF the ganl
rode into n small town and offered so
| gold pieces in payment for drinks
They seemed to have bushels of tn,
yellow metal and said gold was gooC
enough for them. There wasn't none,
enough In the town to change the golC
and after shooting out lights and dom,
some other characteristic deviltry thu
gang left for their hang out jeering tn,
saloon men for their poverty.