The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-22
MANY MILLIONS IN GOLD
GUARDED BY SHOTGUN DICK
An Experience With HOld-Up Men IN
the Age of Novel Heroes.

Shotgun Dick Bullock. the oid-tIme
gold guard" who has guarded 500. co.,
600 of gold from the Black Hills to civili-
cation during the past twenty-five years
without the loss Of an ounce OF dust.
is soon TO retire from the business. ana
Will be psnsioned by the Adams Express
Company, whose treasury cars he has
guarded most OF the yesrs since the
Black Hills became a gold-producing
country.
After each of the semi-monthly clean
ups Of the great Homestake gold mines,
passengers at the Burlington depot can
see a heavy dray. containing a snail
iron safe on which sits eontentediy
small. eray-bearded, one-eyed man, drive
up just before train time. The man IL
shotgun Dick and in his hands he
carries the weapon from which he has
taken his name, an old-fashioned VIM
chester pump shotgun.
When the Black Hills began pouring
its steady stream Of gold into the minis,
away back In 1877 and 1873. the road
agents and outlaws became so plentiful
and bold along the tran over which the
gold was carried that it became neces-
sary to place guards on all coaches At
that time the nearest railroad was the
Union Pacific. AT sydney. Neb-. 20O
miles away. across the mountains and
the plains After several hundred thou
sands OF dollars had been secured ~
the bandits the Wells-Fargo Express
Company. which controlled the trans
portation on the plains IN those days,
had built an iron stage coach. MINED
II the treasury coach, and placed nine
guards IL charge OF the shipments This
coach ran regularly between Deadwood
and the railroad. carrying nothing but
gold. Many bloody attempts were made
BY the road agents TO hold up this
coach. but the bold spirits within
sheltered by the iron sides, proved too
much for them. and not a cent was ever
lost from it's cofferS
And one OF the leading men within
this old iron coach was Shotgun Dick"
there are only three Of the old guard
living now. The other two are in other
businesses, but Bullock has stuck 20 Il
ever since.
The most successful hold-up ever per-
petrated on the Deadwood Treasury
coach was back in 1878. and Melted the
bold spirits who did the work over 500
900; and they made good their get
away" too. It took place near Buffalo
Gap. s D. and was engineered BY
Laughing sam and Curly Wilson. gshO
had with them half a dozen other out
laws.
The bandits first captured the stage
station and securely bound and gagged
the attendants. When the treasury
coach drove up and stopped for a
change OF horses. instead OF the hostIers
coming out Of the building. seven ban
dts rushed out, their pistols working
as they came. The driver and two
guards were instantly killed but Wade
Ellis. captain OF the guards. took refuge
behind a tree. and from this point OF
vantage killed two outlaws. Finally
Wilson took one Of the stable men. and.
holding him before himself as a shield.
began walking up on Ellis. who was I'M
able 10 shoot. Realizing the position.
Ellis took TO his heels and escaped.
The strong box was then rifed. the
gold bars placed in a stolen wagon. and
the bandits headed for the Missouri
River. Pursuit was given. but the men
were never captured The Homestai<s
company recovered three bars OF gold
which were iolted from the wagon This
was Laughing sam and CurIey's last
appearance in the Black Hills.
But Shotgun Dick" was not on the
coach that day He says the tale would
have been different II he had been
DeadWOOd Is ID Correspondence Chi
cago Inter Ocean.