The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-08
THEY WERE
NOT LONG
IN PASSING
Hard and Short Careers of
the Train Robbers.
NO TRAIN GUARDS NOW
In Oklahoma, Although They
are Used IN Indian Territory.

Guthrie. o. T.. June 1T has escaped
general notice that the era OF train rob-
bling in the territories has passed, never
to return. The reason for this was that
the instances OF hold-ups were infrequent
at All times and the dramatic side of that
sort of oulawry was always exaggerated.
/ Train robbery in Oklahoma never caused
the excitement narrated in fiashy stories.
So that, when the last OF the bandits
was disposed of, and trains ceased to be
molested. the public forgot all about it.
The Indian territory trains carry guards
yet. but the passenger trains going
through Oklahoma have discarded them.
The matter of train robbing has been
recalled here by an article which appear
ed recently in the New. York Evening
Post, from the pen Of John NJ Oskison-
Mr.. Oskison confines himself to the out
lawry in the Indian territory. He ne
elects the careers of Bill Doolin. Zip
Wyatt and the Jennings gang. And he
puts entirely too much stress on the sym
pathetic support Of the people of the In
gangs" did not have the support of the
people of the Indian territory. They had
an occasional friend who har5ored them.
and they inundated many, but the great
majority of the people of Indian territory
were against them. and did all in their
power to wipe them out
Mr.. Oskison also INDUCES in the exag-
geratiens Of intimating that the Indian
territory was once overrun with refugees
from other states
This idea has been over-exploited in the
past. The Indian territory was made a
place of refuge by fugitives from other
states good while ago. but never to the
extent claimed. And If ten years ago the
territory showed a heavy record in crime
it was not because Of these fugitives but
because of the anomalous state of gov
eminent prevailing among the Indian ma
lions, which lacked in rigor, supervision
and police restraint. The great majority
In the Indian territory have been strIg- |
Cling for better conditions, insuring safe |
ty, law and civil rights, for years. These
are now within reach and Will soon be |
realized In a complete way, and it is |
time that the fiction that any consider |
able number of the citizens had patience /
with any form Of outlawry be dropped.
however Mr.. Oskison's article on the |
history of train robbery in the Indian ter
rltory is interesting, and has a value in
mat it shows what everybody recognizes
now TO be true-that the way OF the ont
aw was hard and as rule short
MT Oskison's review is as follows.
The steady development of the West
is capable judiciary and active constabu-
airy the multiplying network of tele-
graph lines. its consistent advance to-
wards economic and civic Importance
II these things have combined to throw
rain-roobing as business into the far
limbo of neglect and disapproval Special
conditions are necessary TO the proseeu-
ion of the trade. And special conditions
sxist still in only one part of this coun-
ry. the Indian Territory.
There where political and social chaos
eigns, Winchester-armed guards still
limb into the express cars on the Mis-
ouri, Kansas and Texas railroad when
. night train reaches, the limits of the
and there the sudden squeaking
4 the brake-shoes in the gloom of the
reek woods or on the staring loneliness
I the prairie still warns. the experienced
traveller 10 lie close IN his berth. his
urse convenient TO hand in case the
inpatient gentleman 81 the road Should
ailing sufficient reward from the ex-
ress car. decide to rob the passengers. I
hut of that country stil come OCCASION
| dispatches to the Eastern newspapers I
nat wakes the memories Of the old ia
Iiliar golden age of outiawry. $
OF one kind and another. the Indian I
erritory has. perhaps. harbored more S
riminals than any other small section s
the United States. Granted originally d
the sole use and occupation of the r
indians. with the guarantee OF the Gen. /
raj government to keep out an intruding '
ian, the country early became a rem :
ezvoux for those who knew and obeyed 7
o law. Horse-thieves. whiskey, ped +
ers. bigamists, murderers, oId-tirle road
gents-these and the class Of pure adj ;
asking leave of neither the k
nited States nor the Indians. followed G.
ose to the heels OF the builders Of the o
rst railroad through the country. the NJ. Z
. T The neighboring states were s.
ad 10 be rid OF a disturbing class. and Q
It them to work out their salvation in 81
e new surroundings as pleased them i
st. only keeping watchful eyes upon Q,
e border against any attempted re- 4,
m. :,
In various ways these transplanted | =,
iminsis worked out their fate. Not %
few married Indian wives and settled d.
'vn 70 quiet, easy citizenship in the o.
be Don't press for the mans history &.
d YOU may leave an ex-convict's house r
tn the belief that he is one Of the n
lest fellows you ever met Some OF N
: righf-ninded enrolled themselves in p,
, police force. becoming Jealous and s..
pahle officers. A fairly numerous class 81
sintaiued IN iliegal traffic IN whisky
IN the Indians. boet-iekrers. saddle =
cket men. and the more daring who. in ~,
e dead OF night. hauled II in By ths bar ~
/ Few indeed. dared 70 -continue horse n
d cattle stealing. for the simple rea- \.
! that this was the easiest thing in =;
E weird 20 do. and. consequently. the m
- sumnarily and vigorously Punished x
nus. local crimes. excluding TIE fre- ii
ent private hswls, were Of rare occur Fl
&c But the idea came 70 a member ~
TIE notorious Younger Gang TIA. -,
Indian Territory ofrsred much safer -,
q for operation than Missouri or Mir "a.
sofa. where the state authorities E-cre nj
xious 70 retrieve the reputation Or ~,
II commonwealth. with Two or three s.l
npanions. he went down - the Indian r.
-rtory. gathered = few more followers. yr.
almost before they had covered tacir
Ids with shsntics. he'd Up tTafu on
n. X & 7. near sfEsccgee. Report :
. that the haul Was rich one The Sra
tier had been accomplished ~fth a COL
az flourish The ~stsIs of the rob "a