The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-28
TOURIST ROBBED
IN YELLOW STONE PARK BY
LONE HIGHWAYMAN,
Who Held Up a Number Of Stage
Coaches and Went Through the


The most daring stage hold-up in
the West in many years occurred
TUESDAY within the boundaries OF
the Yellowstone Park. The work
was done by lone highwayman and
, che passengers were absolutely help
less in his hands as no guns are per-
mitted in the park to either drivers.
or tourists. From the statements OF
passengers, it is estimated that ap-
proximately $4,000 in cash was OBJ
tained, drafts worth $4,000 and
other papers and transportation be-
sides a rich haul in watches and
jewelry.
In all, twenty one coaches left the
upper geyser basin. The highwayman
! was encountered about FIVE miles
further on at a lonely point along
the banks of Spring creek, trlbu-
tary Of the Fire river. The creek 1s
lined with bushes The first lot OF
coaches, numbering seven and fol-
lowing each other closely, passed the
place unharmed. There was a gap
between that and the next lot Of
eight following. AS the first of the
eight came along the highwayman
stepped from the bushes and ordered
the driver to halt. He did not mol
est any of the drivers.
On the first seat sat B. Drew, Of
Orlando, Fla, and his stepson, H
Gaskin. Mr.. Drew, with the gun
upon him, was ordered to hand
over, which he did to the extent Of
$50. Young Gaskin was ordered to
dismount and hold the mans sack
This he did at the point Of gun.
along the eight coaches. Every
driver was warned not to start his
team or he would be shot.
In one Of the other coaches For
est Stevens, of Wilkes Barre, gave
a nervous laugh which seemed to en-
rage the bandit, and he was ordered
to dismount and also accompany the
highwayman when he got out. He
started to go around the rig, but was
summarily ordered to come back and
got a whack over the head with the
barrel of the rifle for his pains.
When the last of the eight coaches
was reached the highwayman re-
marked that he had good mind to
shoot Stevens any way, and did fire
shot over his head. Then both
men were ordered back to their rigs
and the drivers ordered to move on.
These eight coaches had scarcely
gone when three more came along
and these were robbed in like man
ner. In one of these coaches was M.
L. Walker, a Oklahoma banker. He
mad $4,000 in drafts in his pocket
book and tried to conceal this under
the seat. The robber saw him and
ordered him to bring it forward. Mr.
Walker asked for his drafts and tran
sportation, but they was contemp-
tuously thrown into the bushes with
the remark that the bandit would
not have done so if Walker had not
tried to hide his money.
The last coach contained five
young ladies. The highwayman OBJ
tanned very little from them, but
stopped long enough to appropriate
some candy.
In all about 125 people were held
ND but not all of these suffered loss
es. When he ordered the drivers to
move the bandit stood few minutes
with his gun pointed toward then and
then walked down the road. AS
quickly as possible after a telephone
was reached at Thumb station, word
was sent to the soldiers and detail
started after him.
The man is described as about ,
feet 8 inches high and having blush
grey eyes, bristlng grey whiskers and
acted either as man who was short
of breath or consumptive. He un-
derstood German, as he answered
questions asked him in that langu-
age. He had on blush brown over
alls, brown shirt, soft felt hat ana
carried an automatic rifle used
smokeless powder.