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Show 6 Sun Advocate, Price, Utah 1973 Thursday, April 26, 1 -- years i OgO Desperadoes grab payroll at Castle Gate depot iz bv JOAN HUNT Although unmarked by pageantry or program, Saturday marked the 76th anniversary of a high point in Carbon County history the day Butch Cassidy and Elaz Lay stole the semimonthly mine payroll at Castle Gate. The robbery, planned by the Wild Bunch during the idle winter days in Robbers Roost, had been anticipated to some extent by the Pleasant Valley Coal Company. Realizing the large payroll (which was paid in hard coin) would be a temptation, company officials paid the mine workers on different days signalling the arrival of the payroll from Salt Lake City with a special blast on the mine whistle. Cassidy and Lay arrived in Castle Gate posing as cowpunching loaders out for a good time in the local saloon or as racing enthusiasts heading for Salt OLI) Pleasant Valley Coal Company office, which still stands in Castle Gate, was where Butch Cassidy waited for the paymaster at the bottom of the stairs. The building was recently nominated to the state register of historic sites. The plaque, (see inset) hangs on the outside of the building near the stairway. Journal Photo Spring Canyon (3) .(!) Lake. (Their disguise varies with the storyteller.) Whatever their disguise, they took an extreme interest in the trains coming into town, meeting each and for the watching paymaster. Finally, after several fruitless days in town for Castle Gate the two desperadoes, on Wednesday, April 21, 1897, the noon Denver and Rio Grande train number two puffed up to the depot. After had the passengers debarked and the baggage car was unloaded, E.L. Carpenter, the company paymaster, and two other men, Philps and Lewis, entered the depots express office and collected the $7,000 gold in a payroll satchel, $1,000 silver in a bag, $860 silver in another bag, and $1,000 in checks. Leaving the depot Carpenter (sorefooted and in bedroom slippers) with his companions, walked the 50 to 75 yards to the Wasatch Store building where the mine offices were housed on the second floor. By this time Cassidy was lounging nonchalantly by the outside stairwell leading to the office entrance, and Lay was nearby on his horse holding the reins of Cassidys horse. As Carpenter stepped into the bottom step, Cassidy jabbed a gun into his side. Drop the sacks and hold up your hands, he commanded. The shocked Carpenter handed over the money. Cassidy tossed two sacks to Lay apparently startling his horse who reared and started down the canyon. Lay and Cassidy then an gave impromptu demonstration of horsemanship rodeo style for the 100 or so openmouthed witnesses. As the frightened horse was cornered, the shock began to wear off the amazed onlookers who began to shoot at the robbers. Riding down the canyon Butch and Elza stopped behind a power house to redistribute the heavy load and to discard the incriminating leather satchel. The $7,000 gold was hurriedly placed into canvas bags and tied to the horses. Tossing the silver away as too heavy to pack and the checks as worthless, they continued south towards Helper. Back at the depot when Carpenter tried to contact Sheriff Donant in Price, he found the telegraph was inoperative; the wires had been cut just north of the house. Dashing to the train, he ordered the engine cut loose, tied down the whistle and headed for Price at full steam to call he was certainly made of stern stuff.) After passing Cleveland, Lay and Cassidy rode through Buckhom Wash to the San Rafael River and then across the desert into the Roost changing horses as they went. Accounts of their flight differ as to whether the possees ever came within gunrange of fire. Reports of the outcome are somewhat vague and from Huntington and led by Joe Meeks (owner of the gray horse Cassidy had borrowed) was to search Cottonwood Canyon while the Castle Dale possee went down the Buckhom. In the dark, the Huntington possee somehow or other wandered muddled now with one report saying Joe Meeks was shot in the leg, another that a horse was injured, and others that no one was hurt at all. When all the shooting died down and the two possees got together, it was embarrassment time for everyone. In the morning most of the two possees down Buckhorn Wash, stumbling onto the other possee. Each group, thinking they had found the bandits, opened Family holds reunion Sunday in Spring Glen CASSIDY LAY A family reunion was held at the Rendevous on Easter. A stuffed pig weighing about 110 lbs. was roasted in an outside oven, with all the traditional Easter trimmings. Proceeding the dinner was an Easter egg hunt with prizes awarded for each found by the small children. Hi-wa- the two, and how many other members of the Wild Bunch were involved in the transfer of the gold through the desert. All sources agree, however, that the Pleasant Valley Coal Company was out $7000 in gold. y Adding to the comic overtones of the whole Those attending the affair was the great reunion were Mr. and Mrs. shootout in Buckhorn Wash. Bardo Felice and sons (The comedy routine began with Carpenter being robbed and chasing outlaws around in his bedroom slippers, and continued with Butch Cassidy, loot in hand, chasing his horse around Castle Gate. Needless to say, the participants didnt see anything humorous in the happenings.) The possee recruited Rocky and Lynn; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Felice, Mrs. Margret Hamilton, Mrs. Rose Sanfelice, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Slavensky and family, Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Sanfelice and family, Mr. and Mrs. Louie Felice, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Felice Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Hamilton Jr., Ted and Carma Johnson, and Mr. Go applications All young men and women in Carbon, Emery, Fair Oaks, Calif., Dr. and Mrs. Dean Rowley and family from Mesa, Arizona, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Furano and son Dino, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Furano, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Upwall and family, and Mrs. Matilda Furano from Salt Lake. Other out of town guests were Connie Garver, Mrs. Bessie Garver, Brenda Bechtel, Mr. and Mrs. John Shivers and family and also Arron Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Verdis Magann and daughter Loretta attended from Castle Gate and Mr. and Mrs. Billy Perri attended from Spring Glen. Odddd The Castle Gate payroll robbery, one of the most daring jobs planned and executed by Butch Cassidy, a tale to tell was history on long winter evenings around a camp fire. Employment and Mrs. Tony Texiero Jr. The out of town relatives that attended were Toni Felice from Ogden, Mrs. Louise Marchese, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Smith and family from went home, but Carpenter (still in his bedroom slippers) and a few other diehards continued the chase, but finally turned back. Grand and San Juan in counties interested summer work should now obtain and fill out employment applications. This was announced this week by Harry Mangus, Manpower Director of the Southeastern Utah Neighborhood Youth Corps. Applications may be picked up before June 1, from Mr. Keith Ware at the telephone company office in Orangeville, from the NYC Office in the Community Action Building at 90 North 1st East or the Employment Security office at 685 East 2nd South, both in Price. Mr. Mangus said no of- ficial word has been received from President Nixon indicating if he will make funds available for a Youth Program summer. 0 half-wa- y for help. and Cassidy Lay, bypassing Helper, changed horses at a ranch at the mouth of Spring Creek Canyon then traveled crosscountry to hit the road between and Price Cleveland where they cut KEY TO MAP 1. Robbery Took Place Here 2. Changed horses here 3. Cut telegraph wires here 4. Met mall carrier here 5. Possee gunbattle here i. Final possee members give up here 7. Final destination for Cassidy and Lay Cadets set up Honor Court The Girl Scout Cadet Troop set up a Court of Honor at a recent meeting held at St. Mathews Episcopal Church in Price. Twenty-twgirls attended. o Complete Coverage The ninth graders receiving their First Class Scout honor are Ruth Lewis, Peggy Lee, Cynthia Sandoval, Phyllis Gurule and Patsy Leonard, all of Price, and Mary Johnson of Helper. Also at the meeting, the ninth made graders arrangements to attend the annual camp. Money to sponsor the trip was obtained from the recent cookie drive. ' Fast claims service and fair settlements. Protects you on all U.S. and Canadian waterways. Covers nearly every risk at low cost. FARMERS INSURANCE GROUP Phil Halamandaris Phone 227 E. 637 0560 Anytime for Appointment Main Street in Price Hours: to 6 p.m. daily Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 10 a.m. The girls will choose Hoffman Ranch, near Moab, or Capital Reef as the site to hold the camp. It was also decided at the meeting that Leta Moore and Maren Robirts would call each girl to find out what handicraft each will make for the annual Price Sidewalk Sale. Patrol Five served refreshments. Area women attend Rebekah meet Three Carbon County women were among those who attended the Rebekah Assembly of Utah meeting in Ogden on April The women were Lina B. Hall of Price, Catherine Reid of Helper and Mae Snow of Castle Gate. Mrs. 12-1- 4. honored as Mother of the Assembly. April marks the 154th of Odd anniversary North in Fellowship America. Utahna Rebekah Lodge No. 39 of Helper, under the direction of Noble Grand Catherine Reid, will observe the anniversary. Hall was the . . . With wires. telegraph However, they were too late to keep word of the robbery from reaching the Emery County towns. Carpenters fast thinking and use of die train engine had worked to their disadvantage. Possees were already being organized in Price, Huntington, Castle Dale and Cleveland. They met the mail carrier a short ways from Cleveland. In later describing Cassidy and Lay to Sheriff Donants possee and the press, the mail carrier described one man as about 25 years old, wearing a black hat, blue coat and goggles. He said the other rider was middle aged and wearing a light slouch denham hat, overhalls and a brown coat. Both were sunbrowned and looked like cowboys or hoboes. One horse was gray with a bridle and no saddle, and the other horse was a bay. (If Cassidy made a forced ride from Castle Gate to the Roost bareback, a Home Improvement Loan from Carbon Emery Bank Interest rates on Home Improvement Loans will never be any more reasonable than we can offer you NOW! I have been considering a new garage, Do It adding a room or any home remodeling If you ... NOW!! See one of our friendly Loan Officers . . . v Mitchell ' Morticians R.T. Mitchell Ronald Kosec Robert H. Etzel Phone Price Joe Mason Brownie Lets help each other. the CJgqod neighbor. Th American Red Croti fit PRICE & CASTLE DALE Don Denison this |
