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


Carey is not the joviai. good-nalured
| individual his name would indicate.
On the contrary he is very grim per-
son, with long string of murders and
other crimes to his credit. His name
was bestowed on him from long scar
on his right cheek that gives him the
appearance of always smiling. The
wound which caused the scar was in
ficted by knife in the hands of n man
with whom Mr.. Carey had disagree
ment. About the time the wound was
inflicted this man died. His demise
was fastened by having the top Of his
head blown off by a revolver fired al
most poInt-bank by Laughing Sam" /!
Carey has well earned his title Of
chief of the Hole-in-the-Wall despera-i
does. For years he defed pursuit, and
robbed and murdered through South
Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. He is
almost the sole survivor of the old-time
! Western highwaymen who held up
treasure coaches about Deadwood. A
truthful story of his adventures would
be a more thrilling tale than the his
tory of many n dime novel hero. In
fact. many of the adventures of Dead
wood Dick, so dear to the small boy Of
twenty years ago, are identical with
those of Laughing Sam Carey. 1t was
his band that rode into Spearfish, s. D.,
about ten years ago and robbed the
bank, while fighting the entire town.
So desperate was the battle that every.
man in the gang, with the exception Of
Carey himself, was killed. Carey was
wounded. bat succeeded, after adven-
lures rivaling those of Tracy, in reach
ing the Hole-in-theWall. His claim to
the leadership of the outlaws was soon
recognized, and he has kept the position
since.
Among the other notorious despera-
does who are hiding in the Hole are the
Taylor brothers, who We're under SEN
tence of death for numbering the Meeks
family, at CarrolltOn, Mo-, and broke
Jail; Hank Wilcox and Bud Denslow,
who are wanted for a train robbery on
the Union Pacific line, where the engi-
neer of the train was shot, and many
other desperate criminals who are
wanted for every crime in the calen-
dar, from larceny to triple murder.
But as long as they remain within the
walls of their natural fortress they
seem to be safe from all pursuit.
1t is estimated that the Hole-in-the-
Wall is inhabited by between fifty and
sixty men and few women. who
train with them. The law of self-pres-
ervation has made n strong affinity
among them. The world is against
them, and they have banded them
selves for protection against the world.
Any attempt to capture one is resisted
by ALL Within the Hole are several
ranches and farms, which are held as
common property. Some of the out
laws are skilled in surgery, and a
wounded criminal who once succeeded
in reaching the Hole is sure of good
treatment. Had Tracy been able to
elude his pursuers and arrive at the
entrance of this criminals paradise. he
would have been permanently safe,
and, after his exciting career. might
have died peacefully in his bed.
To-day the Hole-in-the-Wall is as
much of a city of refuge for despera-
does as it was when it protected the
fleeing Sioux. 1t is an anomaly among
the rapidly growing towns and cities
of the Northwest. Some day an en-
trance will be forced. either through
the narrow gorge made by the Powder
River or over the precipitous mountain
trails. Then the outlaws will be driven
from their hiding place to face death
or imprisonment But the forcing of
the entrance to the Hole-in-the-Wall
will cost many lives-Edwin j. Webs
ter, in the Brooklyn Eagle.