Page 23 - All About History - Issue 08-14

Crime

INFAMOUS
How not to rob a train
The Baxter’s curve train robbery in Sanderson, Texas in 1912 went down ROBBERS
in history as one of the worst ever attempts to rob a train. Ben Kilpatrick,
originally a member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, and Ole Hobek JESSE JAMES
boarded the Southern Pacific train in Dryden, Texas and held up its crew.
Hobek then led one of the crewmembers, David A. Trousdale, to the ADAIR, IOWA , 1847-1882
express car in order to de-couple its valuable contents from the rest of the Jesse James was arguably the
train. Hobek wasn’t keeping an eye on Trousdale, though, which allowed most famous train robber. On one
him to conceal an ice mallet in his jacket. As Hobek bent down to pick up robbery, him and his gang wore
the packages in the express carriage, Trousdale jumped him and beat him Klu Klux Klan disguises and stole
to death. Trousdale then armed himself with Hobek’s gun and waited for $51,000 in Adair, Iowa.
Kilpatrick to come down to the express car to find out what was going on.
Kilpatrick eventually came to the entrance to the carriage and when he
put his head through the door, Trousdale shot him in the face.

BUTCH CASSIDY
NEW MEXICO, 1866-1908
As part of his gang known as the
famous shoot-out with the law.
Wild Bunch, Cassidy robbed a
train in New Mexico, resulting in a

Board the train Take ‘em alive
Most train robberies do not take place while the train It’s not advantageous to any train robber to kill anyone.
03 is in motion. The vast majority of robbers stop the 04Dead train drivers can’t drive the train and dead
train first and then board it. However, if time is of the essence, passengers can’t reveal where the expensive valuables are WILLIAM L CARLISLE
get some fast horses, find a part of track where the train will kept. Keep your guns drawn and use them to intimidate the WYOMING, 1890-1964
have to slow down, run the horses close to the express car passengers and train crew but at the same time keep a cool Known as Robin Hood of the
and board with guns drawn. head and your bullets in your chamber. Rails, Carlisle was one of the last
train robbers of the Wild West.
He would reimburse guards for
lost tips during his robberies.

BURT ALVORD
COCHISE, ARIZONA, 1866-1910
Originally a lawman, he left
that life behind to rob trains in
1899, making him a wanted man
throughout the region.

Crack the safe Escape
The safe is generally in the express car, with a federal The best train robbery is a quick train robbery;
05 agent in charge of protecting it. While the agent is 06 contrary to popular belief, the Wild West is not
almost always armed, if you take the train by surprise he lawless. Local law enforcement is around and it’s armed to the
won’t have time to defend himself. Disarm him and, with a teeth. Gather up the loot, get the driver to stop the train and
gun levelled at his head, tell him to open the safe. If he refuses ride your horses hard to a safe house. It’s probably best to keep
you might have to crack it yourself. hidden for the next few days at least.
© Corbis
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