Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-14
RECENT EXPLOIT OF BEN cRAv
EMS AND OUTLAW BAND.
SlXli-FIVE WERE MADE PRISONERS
Particulars Of Daring Robbery Near in
dia., Territory Town Recently When
q Large Picnic Party Was Held Up
BY Small Band.
From Mondays Daily.

The particulars of the daring hold
up OF picnic party of sixty-ive near
bag tasyille, !. r., recently by Ben
I. CiayeIs AID his gang OF outlaws have
+ been 2l2en CUT by enc of the victims
OF the GIai. aud it is seen that the
aifair was even more daring than was
hrst reported. The hold-up was one
OF the nest unique in the history Of
western out-lawry, remarkable feat
ure being that the robbers took no
money from their victims. The affair
is CT mere than usual interest to OF
tumwans as Crayens the feared of
the gang, formerly lived at Lineville,
his aged parents who are eminently
respectable people Still residing there
B. w. Van Der Veer, of this city, for
merly resided at Lineville and knew
Cravens well in his boyhood days
The Hod-up.
In the Cravens gangs recent exploit
the victims CT the hold-up were princi-
pally from Bartlesville There were
sixty-five in all. They left the little
town in the Cherokee nation shortly
after noon to go on a fishing trip to
Sand Creek in the Usage nation. In
tie party were William johnson.
president of the Bartlesville National
4 bank; Mr.. Beatty, cashier of the bank;
William Watson, wealthy cattleman:
David Ware, eX-United States marshal
and Texas ranger; Fred Keller and
three-score more, including a great
many women. All were in vehicles.
with lunches and fishing tackle, antici-
pating fine afternoon on the banks
of Sandy Creek.
Stopped the Picnic Patry.
The ''hold-up'' took place about
three miles from Bartlesville, Just
over the line which divides the Chero-
lsee and Usage nations on the Cypta-
rian farm in the heart of the territor-
ial oil fields. Fred Keeler was the
first man stopped. He drove up in
a rig with a span of fine horses. He
was stopped by the three outlaws
and was taken into the timber near
the road Shortly after Mr.. John
son and party hove in sight. They
too. were escorted to the refuge in
the shade of the oaks. The others
came along soon after. Then the
fun commenced. Ben Cravens, as
tured pleasure-seekers. He allayed
4 y
them that no violence was intended
He then addressed the men.
cravens Makes Address.
Friends said he. 1--WE have no in
tention of harming you; we want no
money or yaluables, but we need three
good horses. This country is getting
too warm for our delicate constitu-
tons and we have to hike to a healthier
climate ~
The outlaws were dressed like cow
boys. They wore e-brimmed, white
hats, rought shirts and boots. They
were each armed with a Winchester
and two six-shooters. After making
the address to the crowd of wearied
men and women, Cravens placed the
other two men to guard them and him
self began looking over the horses. He
took those of Mr.. Keller out of their
shafts and tried to ride them. Both
were unused to being ridden and
bucked madly. Cravens has good
reputation as broncho-buster and a
pistol shot and the people We're treated
to a little exhibition of wild west. .
Stole Three Horses.
After trying nearly all the horses
Cravens selected one belonging to Mr..
Johnson, a big bay; one of Mr.. Wat
sons, a sorrel. and one owned by Mr..
Fuegit. a big bay thoroughbred. Mr..
Johnson had his fine Kentucky saddle
horse attached to his buggy and at his
request Cravens did not take it. In.
stead he replaced Mr.Johnson,s horse
with one of Mr.. Keeler's and told the
Iattergentleman as he was the younger
he could walk home. With the horses