The Last Outlaws by Thom Hatch

Author:Thom Hatch [Hatch, Thom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101598788
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2013-02-05T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

PINKERTONS ON THE TRAIL

With a watchful eye that never sleeps

The Pinkerton agent rides outlaw trails.

Within his sight he always keeps

The ones who rob the banks and rails.

And if there must be blood to shed

He’ll have his six-gun in his hand,

And bring them in whether alive or dead

For the Pinkertons always get their man.

—“The Pinkerton Agent”

Perhaps the thought of actually going straight by serving in the United States Army struck a note within the hearts and minds of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Consequently, they decided to temporarily abandon their criminal ways and return to work as ordinary cowboys again. They drifted south, along with Elzy Lay, but left their sweethearts behind at Brown’s Park.

The three men eventually happened upon the WS Ranch, which was situated in a relatively lawless area of southwestern New Mexico. This spread rested within a valley along the San Francisco River near Alma, New Mexico, just across the Arizona border. The area had a reputation for providing a hideout for outlaws. Peace officers and posses were hesitant to enter this domain, where the populace was closemouthed and the odds of capturing a fugitive or suspect were decidedly against them.1

William French, part owner of the WS and a former professional soldier in England, was not particularly interested in the past of any of his cowboys. He wanted to hire hardworking, loyal men who knew how to raise market beef without stirring up trouble in the process. Butch, Sundance, and Elzy certainly fit that description, and once again they went to work as cowhands. French became impressed with the skill and leadership ability of Butch Cassidy, who was going by the alias Jim Lowe. French was so impressed, in fact, that he made Butch trail boss of the spread. It appeared as if Butch had found himself a place to call home—at least until larceny beckoned.2

Humboldt, Nevada, was a former mining town that had fallen on hard times when the silver panic hit. But it did still boast a train depot that had regular service.

At one twenty-five a.m. on July 14, 1898, the Southern Pacific passenger train No. 1 chugged out of the depot at Humboldt. As the train slowly clicked along the tracks, two men surreptitiously hopped aboard the rear of the tender car and made their way up to the engine compartment. With six-shooters drawn, they surprised the engineer, Philip Wickland, and McDermott, the fireman. Wickland immediately stopped the train, but was ordered to pull it ahead to milepost number 3,784, where a third outlaw waited at a large pile of railroad ties holding the getaway horses.

Meanwhile, the rear brakeman had become suspicious when the train made the unexpected stop. He quickly realized what was happening and took off on foot back to Humboldt, where he telegraphed Winnemucca, the next stop on the line, to spread the alarm. Sheriff Charles McDeid responded by forming a posse and ordering that a special chase train car be readied.

The robbers made their way back to the express

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