Cañon City record., 1900-07-26
FIGHTS WITH BANDITS
UNIQUE METHOD OF,DISPoSINC
OF A DESPERATE BAND.
Cannon Brought to Bear on the Outlaws
Fortress and Finally Dynamite Il
Fired-whole Gang Wiped Out

A veteran United States marshal at
Wichita. Kan. Charlie Copeland, told
to a few friends short time since
the story of what he considered the
hottest fight he ever led against
band OF outlaws, and his experiences
with bandits have been many. "The
time of the fight have in mind"
he said, was six years ago. l was
deputy marshal then and Judge Par
ker was on the bench at Fort Smith.
We were on the edge of the reign of
terror down there then in the days be-
fore Judge Parker cleared the Indian
Territory of its gangs of desperadoes,
Christy and five other Cherokee In
dians, Red Eye, Scraggy. Red Cloud,
Browne, ,Rattlinggourd and Ike Rogers.
banded together for robbery and muir
der. Christy was the leader and the
nerviest man l ever met. In the six
months that the gang operated he
killed six deputy marshals, four ex-
press messengers, and 10 other men
who had the misfortune to stand guard
over money that he wanted. During
that time the six Indians together
committed forty burglaries. mostly OF
express trains and bank safes. Five or
six posses were equipped and sent
against the robbers, but to no purpose.
They had friends all over the Terri
tory. and these kept them posted when
parties started in pursuit and supplied
them constantly with ammunition and
food. Depredations were committed
under the very noses of the marshals.
One afternoon, in August, 1894, at
Vinita, | had a telegram from Judge
Parker. 1t read: "Chrlsty gang locat-
ed in Grand River hills; 81 900 in addi-
tion to $4,000 state reward for capture
of the men, dead or alive ! consult
ed with 'Bilr White, who happened to
be in Vinita at the same time, and we
decided to try for the reward. We
hired Bill Smith. Heck Bruner and
Jack Ellis to help us, and all set out
for Fort Smith. We got further in
formation of the gang there, and on
the evening OF August IA we rode out
of Fort Smith, our saddle bags stuffed
with ammunition. 1t was a long ride
of 10 miles through the wild Grand
River hills east OF Tarlequah before we
reached the rendezvous. Heck Bruner,
the best scout in the territory, knew
every step of the trail, and we got to
Tarlequah the next afternoon. We
formed a circle and Travelled toward
the house in which we had been told
the Indians were located. Abclt dust
we reached there and completely sur
rounded the cabin. 1t was two-story
log hut about 20 feet square. For $50
va rdo nm nj cid ho
cleared of trees and underbrush. This
had been done by the outlaws to stop
any ones approaching very close with
out being seen. After establishing
our posts for the night we slept until
daylight. An old squaw came out.
looked around the clearing. spied us. /
suppose, and hurried back. We ate
breakfast behind cover. and upon
showing ourselves In the edge of the
clearing were received with a rattling
fire. 1t came from the windows In the
upper story of the log fort, there being
no opening in the lower part. We re-
turned the fire and lodged behind
trees. For an hour or so shots were
thus exchanged without effect. made
up my mind to send to Fort Gibson
for cannon. Ellis went after it, and
we laid low and watched the log hut
until he returned with it, late that
night. 1t was unloaded on the north
side OF the clearing, nearest the hut. At
the first peep of dawn we let the out
laws have heavy charge. 1t fell
against the logs. but did not penetrate
the house. Another shot entered the
window upstairs. Then two squaws
opened the door and ran out. scream
ing. We let them scamper OF into the
woods. This notice that the gang was