Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-25
MAN HOLDS UP
II COACHES IN
MONTANAP PARK
ROBS 1875 PERSONS; GETS
ABOUT $4,000
DARING CRIME WORST OF KIND
SINCE EARLY DAYS
Men, Women and Children Are Lined
Up Alongside Concord Stages
and Made to Disgorge
Valuables

BY Associated Press.
n AXE HOTEL, Yellowstone Park,
Wyo., Aug 24-The most daring
- stage holdup in the west in many
years occurred today within the boun-
daries of the Yellowstone park. The
work was done by lone highwayman
and the passengers were absolutely
helpless in his hands, as no guns are
permitted in the park to either drivers
or tourists.
From the statements of passengers 1t
is estimated that approximately $4,000
in cash was secured, drafts worth SlO,-
600 and other papers and transpor-
tation, besides a rich haul in watches
and jeWelry, altogether amounting 10
about $4,000.
In all twenty-one coaches left the
Upper Geyser basin this morning. The
highwayman was encountered about
five miles further on at lonely point
along the banks of Spring creek, a
tributary of the Fire Hole river.
The creek Is lined with bushes. The
first lot of coaches, numbering seven,
and following each other closely, passed
by the place unharmed.
There was a gap between them 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 modest the driver nor any of the
drivers following.
Some of His Victims
On the first seat sat B. Drew OF Or
lando. Fla, and his stepson r. II. CAS-
kin. 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 S. rls-
mount and hold the mans sack. This
he old at the point of gun, all along
the line of eight coaches. Every driver
was warned not to start his team or ne
would be shot.
In one of the other coaches Forest
Stevens of Wilkesbarre, Pa, gave a
nervous laugh which seemed to enrage
the bandit and he was ordered to dis
mount and also accompany the high
wayman when he got out. He started
to go around the rig, but was sum-
marily ordered to come back and got
q whack over the head with the barrel
of the rifle for his pains.
was reached the highwayman re-
marked that he had good mind to
shoot him anyway, and did fire shot
over his head. Then both were or
dered back to their rig and the drivers
ordered to move on. These eight
coaches had scarcely gone when three
more came along and these were gone
these coaches was M. L. Walker, an
Oklahoma banker.
Gets the Drafts
He had $4,000 in drafts in his pocket
book and tried to conceal this under
the seat The robber saw him and or
dered him to bring it forward. Mr.
Walker asked for his drafts and trans
portation back, but they were con-
temptuously thrown into the bushes
with the remark that he would have
done so if he had not tried to hide his
money.
The last coach contained five young
ladies. The highwayman obtained very
little from them, but stopped long
enough to appropriate some candy.
In all, about 1875 people were held
UP, though not all of these suffered
loss. When he ordered the drivers to
move on the bandit stood few min
utes with his gun pointed toward
them and then walked down the road.
AS quickly as possible after the tele-
phone message was received at Tnumo
station word was sent to the soldiers
and a detail started after him.
The man is described as about fve
feet eight inches, blush gray eyes,
bristly gray whiskers, and acted either
as a man who was short of breath or
a consumptive.
He Talked German, TOO
He understood German, as he an
swered questions asked him in that
language. He had on blush brown
overalls, brown shirt, soft hat, and car
ried and automatic rifle and USED
smokeless powder.
At a meeting tonight of the victims,
held in the Lake hotel resolutions We're
passed with the request that they be
sent to the Associated Press.
These resolutions request Secretary
of the Interior Garfield to make an in
vestigation to ascertain whether there
has been neglect of duty on the part OF
guardians of the park, and whether the
Victims have any suitable means of re-
dress and compensation from the gov
ernment, and what steps are necessary
to insure greater safety and defense In
the future in Yellowstone park.