, 1905-02-18

were trying ones for the sheriffs, de
t%ectives and railroad lei of the far
west. The Black Hills excitement had
brought many of the toughest char
mountains and they were able to per
suade other men OF less will power and
better character to join in their ne
farIous calling. A desperate gang OF
eleven men attempted to hold up the
Union Pacific train at a point Oppo
site Elk mountain and in their pursuit
Widdowtield and Vincent were killed
In the latter part of 1873 the Union
Pacific management learned that an
other attempt to rob the Overland eX
press was planned and that the men
were in the vicinity of Rock Creek.
General Superintendent J. T. Clark and
Division Superintendent Il. Dickinson
turned to Mr.. N. X. Boswell as the
man to lead q posse to capture the
outlaws. Mr.. Boswell selected T. J.
A'AS e'h' "Hi wv.
Thomas Duggan, Fonce Metcalf, Jack
Fee, John Donoghue, Frank Howard,
Abe LeFevre and Johnny Hines. They
proceeded to Rock creek there a hasty
consultation was held with the railroad
superintendent and Governor Thayer
and then the party took to the field,
| ~, th,rp,ny,ntn, bnin1 about fhirty
degrees below zero and the snow fly
ing. At a point about W. miles
northeast Of Rock creek the party
reached the ranch of Old Man Manse,
who plainly showed knowledge of hav,
ing seen the outlaws. He refused to
talk. but a rope in the hands of Messrs.
Boswell and Dayton loosened his
tongue and he told as near as he could
| the direction in which the party might
be found. At this point the ability OF
VIM. Downey was brought into play.
He was a civil engineer of ability and
carefully noted the direction indicated
by the old nan and took the lead. In
less thar a mile the old man was be
wildered and couldn't tell where he
was, but insisted he was doing the
best he could. He probably was, but
the storm and the cold turned his
head. The party followed the lead OF
Downey till the smoke of a camp fire
was visible. The capture of the party
is graphically told in the story ap
pended.
After reaching Laramie, it was de
cided by Mr., Boswell and Superinten
dents Clark and Dickinson that they
would make a strong attempt to wiring
the facts from Joe Manuse, who had
been captured with the d~esperadoes
He vas taken to where the new city
school house was then being construct
ed. a rope was thrown over one of the
beams and slipped around Manuse's
neck ard he was pulled up. 1t can be
given with some some degree OF au
thority that those at the other end OF
the rope were the detective and the
railroad superintendent. They had a
full understanding. however. that Man
use was not to have his wind entirely
shut off. When Joe was let down the
first time, he did not appear very talk,
alive, but a second pull On the rope
and the threat of Mr.. Dickinson that,
This time we will let him 60" made
him feel quite communicative. He told
the entire story of the crimes of the
desperadoes and where every one of
them might be found, and may it be
said to his credit that every word he
told the officers was afterward proved
true. Dutch Charley, he said was over
in Browns park in southwestern Wy
oming n Mr.. Boswell and John lie.
Fever at once set out for that place.
At Green River, however, they came
s%quarely face to face with The despera
do and arrested him. after some show
Of resistance on his part. He was
weeks afterward was put on a train for
Rawlins. accompanied by a deputy
where he was to be tried. He never
reached his destination. At Carbon he
met his fate, as also is set forth in
the story appended to this preface. 1t
may be of interest to Republican read
ers to know that Mr.. C. II. Houston of
this city was the conductor of the train
from which Dutch Charley was taken.
He made every effort to hide the Of
ficer and his prisoner, but without
avail.
A short time after this affair, it was
decided to take Joe Manuse to Raw.
Inns for trial. Judge Jacob B. Blair
was then upon the bench of the Second
district and he had considerable con-
fidence in the integrity of the prisoner
and urged with all his powers that he
be given ample protection. He was
sent to Rawlins in charge of Sheriff
Rankin of Carbon county and Detec.
tive Boswell. Mr.. A. G.. Dunn, now en-
honoreed resident of this county, was
the conductor Of the train. Before ar
at Carbon, Mr.. Boswell handed |