Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-01
THRILLING HOLDUP is STAGED
Omaha Business Men See Cold
Springs Stage Robbery.
MESSENGER TELLS HIS STORY
Graphic Account OF one of the Most
Daring RObberies I'm the Real
Live Days of the black
Hills Country.

mills Country.
At the wyoming State fair, held at
Douglas in September. the main sttrac-
ton was the reproduction Of the Cold
Springs robbery. an event that takes
first rank in the annals OF the Black Hills
country. The reproduction was quite
realistic and was witnessed by the
Omaha business men who we're then on
a visit to that section OF the west look
ing after the interests Of omaha's job
bling trade.
The Cold Springs robbery was pulled
off IN September, 1873. by one OF the
most daring bands OF highwaymen ever
organized in the west The narrative
herewith given IL from the lips OF Scott
Davis, who was one Of the three express
messengers employed to guard the treas
une coach on It's way out OF the Black
Hills country on the old stage line from
Deadwood to Cheyenne. Mr.. Davis tells
the tale IN very matter Of fact way.
with no effort at establishment, speak
ing OF himself in the third person most
Of the time. but now and again using the
first person.
some Features Omitted.
As a simple statement OF facts II Is
worthy OF preservation. although Mr..
Davis has neglected TO mention the
names OF any OF the robbers. who were
led by Laughing SAM" whose real
name was never known TO anyone IN the
Black Hills country. where he had be.
come = real terror. and Charlie Carey.
who was as notorious and almost a. dan
Eerous as Laughing Sam" He also
neglects 20 say that the road agent who
vas 80 severely wounded In the fight
was the ultimate cause OF the capture
% the gang and the recovery OF most. II
not all. OF the bullion taken. The man.
whose name was not learned and who
was sentenced TO prison for life unner an
alias. was severely hurt IN the fight. but
his comrades did not desert him. They
took him on the wild flight through the
mountains from west to east across the
Black Hills range. and then on a drive
the like OF which was never made again
across the great Sioux reservation. &c the
crossing Of the Missouri river at Fort
Pierre. pursued all the way by posses
that had been gathered among the miners
and settlers in the camps along the
creeks.
some other Incidestala.
Other features that are omitted in the
narrative are that Gale nm was filled
30 fun OF holes by road agents bullets
that he looked like a skinner. but lived
ana retired to ranch near Buffalo Gapi
that Boone May went TO South America
and won distinction as a soldier OF for
tune; that Billy Sample continued in the
service az a guard until the time when
he was no longer OF service, the raiiroad
having reached Deadwood. and the road
agent having been reiegated 70 the iinnbo
that has overtaken good many thinga
that made life IN the west a matter OF
deep interest TO all thirty-five years ago.
Nobody ever knew Just how much bullion
was aboard the '1ronbound" treasure
coach that morning. but Il Inust have
been q very large amount. as TIE ship
ment had been held back for some time,
waiting for the 'ironbound." the popular
estimate putting the figure at about $780,
ooo tttislN f 1919
Scott Davis told his story as preface
70 the reproduction OF the holdup and
fight. and II Is here given In his own
words. perhaps the first time he ever
told Il for publication.
Ladies and Gentlemen; II you viii
give me your attention for few mo-
msnta win tell you what We are going
70 do. We are going TO undertake 10 re-
produce tho robbery OF tho Cheyenne
Z Doadwood treasure coach. This robbery
took place on the 2sth day OF September,
ls7s at Cold Springs. This station. Cold
Springs. was located forty miles from
Stockade, at a lonely spot in the noun
tains. surrounded by pine trees ana other
timber.
This stage line from Cheyenne to
Deadwood was 800 miles, Il was handled
ana operated by Gilmore & Salisbury
and Luke VOORHEES,. Mr. Luke Voorhees,,
who you see sltting in this buggy, was
general manager OF this stage line. max
ing frequent trips across this rugged and
rough country IN his buggy, looking after
the interests Of the stage company and
seeing that everything was carried out
in proper shape.
Coach Had a Purpose.
This treasure coach was put on this
stage line IN 1871 for the purpose OF car
rying gold and other treasures from
Deadwood 10 Cheyenne. We frequently
carried As much as $4,000 at one time
in this treasure coach across this rough
and rugged mountainous country from
Deadwood to Cheyenne. At tho time THU
treasure coach was put ON the road. Mr.
Luke voorhees, was induced by safs
company n the cast 70 put a burglar
nroof safe into his coach, guaranteed e
be burglar-proof for twenty-four hours
IL was not supposed that a gang Of rob
hers running around through the noun
talns could set into this safe within thi'
guaranteed time.
The original messenger guards thai
were used for guarding this treasure
coach consisted OF Scott Davis, Jess
Brown. Gale I'M, Boone May and BillS
Sample ana Captain Smith.
Division OF the Runa.
eon the way into Deadwood going afte
the treasure, Jesse Brown, Boone MAY
and BILLY sample were left az Heavel
station TO be IN readiness TO pick up tn
coach on its return and guard II on hors'
back from Jenny's stockade 20 Ha
Creek. Scott Davis. Gale HIM and Cap
tain smith going into Deadwood p
bring out the treasure. IL being day
light run and having this guarantees
eafe we thought We were safe In hand
ling II IN that way We left Deadwoo
a the usual time 10 the morning. wit
c..tt g,..-isf fsato IFdl Canfain Rrnft