Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-10-15

!, ,,vruv OOm towns, with
saloons, dives, and
gambling places did not make an ideal
atmosphere for the young men Of the
frontier, not a few of the desperadoes
OF the early days had been raised in
quiet towns in the east, Of good fam
lies and only drifted west because of
their love of adventure. The west only
offered a more abundant field for their
peculiar type OF energy and daring.
Jack Shipman was a young mar who
wa born and raised on the coast of
Nova Scotia, the son Of a Presbyterian
minister. He had received a good edu-
cation but broke away from the re-
straints OF his home to try his fortune
IN the west. He was about % years Of
age and to all appearances, a very
courteous and gentlemanly type of
youth. His first work in the west was
a job of herding sheep.
His nearest neighbor among the
herders was a young mar named Jones,
who had been raised among the tough
er element in a large city. He had been
a tramp and had had considerable ex-
perience beating his way on railroad
trains. His experience, as it turned out,
had grown from petty thievery to bold
er crimes, although this was not known
in the west where a man was judged
by his present behavior and no ques-
tons asked about his past.
Jones, as it afterwards developed, be-
gan telling Shipman how easy it wa
to hold up a train and what a fortune
could be made in a short time if the
business was handled properly. The
trains at that time often carried very
valuable property in bullion and money
shipments, and a rich haul might be
obtained if the proper time for a holdup
was chosen. Jones put it up to the
young easterner that if he could rustic
the horses to get away on and the guns
and a small amount of cash, all would
be easy sailing. The young easterner
became interested in the project.
The first start was to write home for
money with which to buy a good saddle
horse. In due course of time, out of his
earnings, he bought a second one. The
animals he purchased were from some
OF the best racers that the district af-
OAAN IA WClC llOISCS UIldU ldU
showed their swiftness and good quail
ties. During his spare time, he prac-
ticed riding, and even at times laid off
to acquire nor proficiency.
Shipman also bought a As Colts and
began to practice with it. He was fire.
quently seen going over the prairie at
a gallop while he fired with his six
shooter from the saddle. According to
Mr.. ODonnell, who was one of Ship
mans employers, during this period in
which as 1t developed afterwards, he
was training himself in the arts of a
desperate, he more than once heard
him, when he thought he was alone,
swearing at the top of his lungs at
some imaginary foe.
The youth had always been a quiet
well-mannered lad, and he still re-
tanned those characteristics when about
his ordinary duties, but he managed to
develop a swearing vocabulary which
those who heard him, said wa close to
the ultimate in vigorous and pictur-
esque profanity.
When he went to the nearby town,
Shipman began scraping up an ac-
quaintance with the railroad express
agent. AS he got better acquainted with
him, he quizzed him frequently about
any large shipments of money by ex-
press. He also kept a watchful eye on
such visits to see where money ship
ments were kept on the trains that
came in. While he did nothing that
particularly aroused the suspicion of
the agent, the sequel showed that he
did not confide any important secrets
to him.
In the meantime, Shipman was keep
ing in close touch with his friend
Jones, who was training him in all the
fine arts Of a holdup. Finally, they de-
cided upon the proper train for their
venture, a through express on the
Northern Pacific railway. Shipman rode
out to Jones camp. Jones quit his job
herding and the two came to town,
each with a good horse, rifle and saddle,
and with a six-shooter in his belt.
They proceeded up the line about 40
miles to a place where the train stop
ped for water. They concealed their
horses a short distance away and crept
up close to the tracks in the darkness,
finding a place where they would not
be readily observed. AS the train came
to a stop, Jones slipped around and
climbed over the tender and made
short work of holding up the fireman
and engineer. Then while Shipman
covered these men, Jones went back
and soon had the expressman and mail
clerk at his mercy. There was no rich
haul there as they had anticipated and
besides they had no means of dynamit-
ing the strong boxes.
Then they came on to the passenger
coaches. Young Shipman stood in the
passageway of the two coaches while
Jones held up the passengers and n
by n took their money, jewelry and
other valuables. While Jones did the
robbing, young Shipman kept the pas
sengers and crew terrorized by shoot