The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-06-30

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try, but especially in the West and
Northwest, have recently had their at
tention attracted to the "Hole-in-the'
WALL" the most notorious and in many
ways unique hiding place for despera-
does in the world. Within the grim
granite walls of the Hole are more than
two score of men, most of whom are
wanted for more than one murder.
Without are the peaceful farms and
ranches of the rapidly growing North
west. If one of the men in hiding
should venture beyond the boundaries
Of this strange place of refuge he would
be shot ON sight. And several bloody
and unsuccessful attempts to raid the
Hole have proved that it is just as dam
gerous for an outsider to try to enter.
Interest in the Hole-in-the-Wall was
revived by the report that Tracy, the
notorious bandit, was heading for it
when he met his death. Every West
ern sheriff knew that If Tracy once sue
ceeded In reaching the Hole his capture
would be practically impossible. Men
who incurred the enmity of their fellow
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up by the inmates of the Hole. That is
the only way in which the law has ever
secured a grip on a man who once
reached it. Even attempts of United
States cavalry to force an entrance
have been repealed by the bandits who
made it their haven.
Tie Hole-in-the-Wal is one of the
| orlyo obi Of hn CIV
freaks Of nature in the Rockies. 1t con-
sists of a great wall of granite. almost
impossible even for the nimble and
surefooted mountain goats. The wall
is shaped like rough circle and forms
a natural fortress which is practically
impregnable. Once safely ensconced
within, score of good rihemen land
the men who have made it their refuge
are among the best shots in the Vest
could defy an army.
J The Hole-in-the-Wal is situated in
the northern part of Wyoming, just
south of the Montana State line, west
of the Big Horn Mountains and east of
Yellowstone Park. There is but one
entrance to the Hole, a narrow gate
way through the great walls of granite,
where the Powder River pours through.
Probably there is not in the whole
world another place that could be more
easily defended by desperate men or
where they could so securely defy the
law. The pursuit of Tracy would per-
force have stopped atthe grim entrance
to the Hole.
Where the Powder River has forced
its way into the Hole-in-the-Wal the
cliffs rise up precipitately on both sides.
On the left side of the river, and about
fifty feet above its surface, runs a
rough pathway, which could hardly be
called road. 1t is so narrow that two
horses cannot ride abreast. Any per-
son wishing to enter the Hole-in-the-
Wall must pass through this defle.
Even if no defense was made the jour
ney would be toilsome to the last de-
gree. At every step, however. the in
truders would be under fire from all
sides and in position where it would
be practically impossible to retaliate,
as the defenders would be invisible.
The character of the country precludes
the use of artillery, and no troops could
hope to effect much with rifles. So the
jewellers in the Hole-in-the- Wall have
lived in cheerful defiance of the law.
although nearly every man in hiding
there has committed not one, but many.
crimes that deserve the death penalty.
Long before the Hole became a hid
ing place for white desueradoes it was
known and used by the Indians. A
remnant of the Sioux band fed there
after the Custer massacre. Later an
attempt to corral them was made by
United States troops, but failed utterly.
A few years after the Sioux had fed
to the Hole it began to be the refuge of
some OF the most desperate characters
of the Northwest. The famous gang
known as the Belle Fourche bank rob-
bers fed to the Hole after one of their
most successful raids. They had bro
ken into several banks and the posse
on their trail included sheriffs and their
deputies from four counties. The pur
suit was kept up until the Hole-in-the.
Wall was reached. Then the outlaws,
having entered through the granite
Wallis luIueu 10 lace l0elr pucSuerS.
That ended the attempt to capture
them. A few shots were exchanged.
but no real assault made. 1t would
have been simply a useless loss of life.
The only real attempt 70 raid the
Hole was in 1892. The outlaws had
been for months annoying the cattle
men, sweeping down on the herds, kill
ing the best animals and often shooting
any cowboys who happened to be in
charge or rode up to investigate. The
Hole was becoming the place of refuge
for every cattle ''rustler" in the North
west. The stockmen determined on a
raid. 1t was a complete failure.
The raiding party consisted of about
100 Texas "killers" who had been i'm
ported by the ranchmen. These men
were expert marksmen. accustomed TO
danger, confident in their ability to
teach the Northwestern outlaws a les
son. They advanced to the entrance of
the Hole and Were allowed to march
half way up the defile between the
great nrunita cliffs Frhen invisible ~,