The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-08
BANDITS SHOT b. MARSHAL
BOLD Attempt to Hold Up Saloon a
Independence, Col.
Two Killel Instantly and Half 4 Score
wounded Two Hundred Shots
Fired in Few Minutes.

Independence. CIi.-Betraysd by s
woman two bandits lost their lives
early in the morning IN the most des
perate hold-up cver attempted in this
State. The men We're riddled witt
bullets in the Silver Bell saloon, ir
the heart of the city. but before they
fell dying they fatally shot three me
and wounded six others. A battle was
fought before the bandits were killed
Two hundred shots were fired. q score
Of miners becoming frerzied when the
first reports rang out and starting
shooting in reckless fashion.
a few days ago G.. Fl. Webster was
called up on the telephone by a wOma
whose identity has not been learned.
There is a plot 10 hold up the Silver
Bell saloon" she said. 'Be on watch
late at night"
Before the marshal could reuly to
the woman she had hung up the re
cciver and was gone. Webster imme
diately had central give him 4 reverse
call. and it was found that the woman
had spoken from a hotel. The operator
there reported that a young and pretty
woman had rushed from the booth to
q horse outside and ridden off at q
gallop.
Webster and Deputy Sheriff William
Gleason went to the saloon 1T II o'clock
at night and decided to keep watch
Until daylight. They had already al.
ranged with the proprietor, John
Drach, for a hiding place from which
they could observe all that went or
without themselves being seen. Dracb
hid the men behind the piano and they
were there wien the bandits entered.
The saloon is 4 large oon across
the middle Of Which stretches a low.
ornamental arch. giving the place the
appearance Of being two compart'
ments. The bandits entered by the
rear door. They came on twenty men
playing CARDS around three tables.
The players were so intent on the
game that they did not observe the
bandits, who. with their masks drawn
completely v their faces. quickly
walked to the front part of the sd.
loon. Once in the opening made by the
arch, the men were in full view OF
Gleason and the marshal.
The bandits had 4 pistol in each
hand. The man in front leveled a
weapon at the head Of Drach and or
dered him to hold up his hands. The
command drew the attention Of every
one in the place to the men.
Instantly there was confusion. The
players sprang to their feet. knocking
over the tables and drawing revolvers.
The bandits stood back to back. one
sweeping the front half of the saloon
and the other moving his pistol along
the men in the rear. Drach started to
drop behind the counter. and quick
a flash the bandit caught him with
a bullet in the groin. Webster and
Gleason both jumped out.
Here, boys, that won't do. said
Webster. drop those guns"
For answer the bandit facing Web
ster fired two shots on the instant.
Then the firing became general. Web
ster, n of the best SLOTS in Colorado.
dropped his ma with 4 bullet through
the breast.
Ten bullets were fired through the
body of one Of the bandits and. six
pierced the other rObber. TWO holes
were bored through Webster's hat and
Gleason was shot through the feshy
part of the left arm. The Marshal n
the Deputy Sheriff emptied both their
pistols, and it is thought they pumped
both guns into the bandits. Edward
Fay. q cattleman. was shot in tile alb
domen. He had been standing beside
Drsch. and when the first order was
given he instantly threw up his hands.
He was standing with his back to
the bandit and he did not move until
he had surveyed the situation in 4
huge mirror behind the bar. Then.
thinking he saw an opportunity, he
swung himself around. whipping out a
revolver as he turned on his heel. But
the bandit was too quick for him. Even
as he was falling with the bullet from
Webster's pistol the robber shot Fay.
Both bandits continued firing when
on the floor. Drach. having fallen
past a corner Of the bar, was wounded
a second time. in the leg. The last
shots were fired at the bandit in the
rear. He was lying fat on his back.
Just at the point of death. Putting all
his passing strength into a final effort,
he raised his hand from the floor n
shot E6mcnsen in the hand anu the
stomach.
Webster said several OF the other
men wounded owe their injuries to
their own panic. The Marshal said
the men were struck by bullets from
their friends guns. that they started
firing iudiscriminately and without
knowing in what direction their danger
lay.