Seymour, Indiana
By Rae1013
Buford, Wyoming
“You ain't heard a word I've said!” Kid Curry said as he slammed his coffee cup on the cafe table, emphasizing his frustration with his partner; the sound loud and sharp in the deserted eatery.
Hannibal Heyes didn't look up from the newspaper that lay in front of him. It had his full undivided attention, much to the dismay of the Kid.
Not getting the desired reaction, Kid repeated himself, as he lowered his head and leaned closer.
“You ain't heard a word I've said!” he hissed.
Heyes’ hand slowly moved out from under the table and felt for his cup. He raised it to his lips and finally made eye contact with his partner over the rim. He cocked his head slightly and waited for a response from Kid.
“You ain't heard a word I've said.” Kid repeated for the third time.
With a sigh, Heyes said. “Yes I did.”
“What did I say?” snapped Kid.
“You ain't heard a word I said.” Heyes said with a smile and resumed perusing the paper.
Kid’s blue eyes darkened with anger. He was stunned, for a second, he was speechless. “Before! I was talking ‘bout before!” He snatched the paper away. “What's so dang important about this paper.” He spun it around and pulled it close. “I don't see anythin’. Hell, it's from way back east. Indiana.”
Heyes watched patiently as his partner searched for the article that had captivated his attention.
“Riddle’s One Dollar store…,” Kid said mumbling as he searched the paper,” T.A.Wilson & Company Tinted Spectacles…Dorr’s Funeral Car…SEO Snake Oil…” Kid paused and leaned closer. He had finally found the article, thought Heyes.
Kid silently read, then looked up. “Sounds good.”
“Doesn't it?!” Heyes said excitedly, trying to lower his voice as his excitement grew.
“But which one would you want…the slide action or the bolt action?”
It was Heyes’ turn to get frustrated, “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Savage has a new rifle…five-shot repeater in three different calibers. Even has a black walnut stock…”
With an exasperated sigh, “When have guns ever interested me beyond necessity?”
Heyes jerked his chair around the table, so he was shoulder to shoulder with Kid, before snatching the paper back.
“This is what had my attention…,” Heyes said, as he cleared his throat and began reading:
“THE SEYMOUR, INDIANA EXPRESS ROBBERY”
The Cincinnati Commercial has the following relative to the rascals that robbed the Adams Express.
A vigorous search was immediately commenced by citizens and lawmen to apprehend the scoundrels who are believed to be the local Reno Gang composed of brothers - John, Frank, William and Simeon (Sim). The Bannerman Detective Agency has been contacted at the request by the Adams Express, who bears responsibility for the losses.
On the evening of October 6th three of the gang boarded the train as it left the Seymour depot. After breaking into the express car and physically assaulting the lone guard - Mr. G.F. Woodcock - who, although seriously injured, thankfully will make a full recovery - proceeded to break into the local safe, containing packages and approximately $16,000. Unable to open the larger safe, with sheer strength and will, managed to push it off the train to be collected by other members of this nefarious gang. It is believed the safe held a substantial amount of money, but officials have refused to give an exact amount.
A most generous reward of being offered for information that leads to the capture of these brazen outlaws.
“So what? It's just a train robbery…”
“Not just…” Heyes corrected his partner “...a moving train robbery. Not stationary. Not sitting at a watering station. Damn I wish I thought of that,” Heyes said with a sigh.
Rascals and scoundrels.
That had a certain appealing ring to it.
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DEVIL’S HOLE
“Boys, we are going to broaden our thievery.”
All eyes were on the Devil’s Hole leader.
“Go to uncharted…” Heyes noticed Kid’s expression telling him to speed it up, but it was his moment to shine, and he was going to take full advantage of it. This was going to make them the most famous outlaws that ever lived. This historical momentous occasion had to be done correctly and with reverence. Greatness couldn't be rushed. “It came to me the other night…” Heyes avoided looking at Kid, as his partner rolled his eyes. “You could call it an epiphany.”
The gang’s necks swiveled around as they gave each other confused looks.
“I thought we destroyed that book. That Webster fella and all his high-falutin’ words.” Kyle whispered to Wheat.
“You saw that book. It was full of lead…Ya think he bought another?”
Kyle shrugged. If he did, they needed to find it and put an end to it like the first one…nailed to a tree and shot to pieces.
“Sounds painful Heyes…” Lobo said. “You okay now ain't ya?”
Heyes dropped his head in frustration, then jerked it back up. “An idea boys! I had a great idea.”
“Couldn't ya just said that?” Kyle mumbled.
“Come on boys…I'm trying to make us famous…”
“We are famous,” Wheat said, indignation in his voice.
“More famous,” Heyes said, staring Wheat in the eyes. “The kind of famous that lives long after we are gone”
“Sounds like a way to get more posses on our tails…which might just hasten our goneness,” Wheat grumbled.
“You haven't even heard my idea!”
“It's that…,” Kyle stuttered around for the right words, “It'll…It'll..be winter soon…and well…”
“When has a little snow and cold ever stopped the Devil’s Hole Gang?”
“Usually ‘bout early November to March or April,” Kyle dutifully replied.
“Well if you boys are content to be mediocre…” Heyes saw their looks. “Average! If you want to be average and be like every other gang…Just hear me out boys. This plan is foolproof.” Heyes stopped and gave them his best dimpled smile, “Trust me.”
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OUTSIDE WILCOX STATION, WYOMING
Wheat was cold and miserable along with the other members of the Devil Hole Gang. His head and face were buried deep into his coat, trying to shield it from the fierce nightly northern Wyoming wind. Snow was just starting, adding to the outlaws misery,
Preacher dug his watch out and looked at it for what seemed like the hundredth time. He snapped it shut. “Where are they? Should have been here hours ago.”
“The plan is foolproof…Trust me,” Wheat said sarcastically, parroting Heyes’ words. “Only fools are us.” He said angrily. “And I ain't freezing to death. Cut another chunk of the tree off and put it on the fire, Kyle. Hell…why’d they pick a spot to meet where there weren't no trees? How long did it take to find this one.?” Wheat grumbled.
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INSIDE THE UNION PACIFIC TRAIN EXPRESS CAR
Heyes looked at his watch and shook his head, as his foot tapped impatiently on the railcar floor. He avoided looking at his partner. Disapproval was not what he was looking for or needed.
They had the guard trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey and Heyes thought he had timed the historic robbery to perfection. Unpredictable Wyoming weather he had miscalculated. When Kid pointed out the halo encircling the full moon, a clear indication of an approaching storm, he knew they were in trouble.
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“We have to be getting close,” Kid said, as he craned his head briefly out the railcar door, before quickly ducking back inside.
“Look again,” Heyes said.
“I just looked…”
“You didn't look long enough.”
Alright!” Kid said, throwing up his hands in anger. He jerked the railcar open again and threw his hand up to shield his face from the blowing snow. He started to turn but stopped. Off it the distance was a faint glow.
“About a mile and a half.”
“Get ready and brace yourself. When that train hits that tree, it's going to be one hell of a stop.”
He looked sympathetically at the bound and gagged guard. He took him by a tied arm and pulled him gently onto his side. He patted him on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, you're just going to feel one big bump.”
Kid and Heyes braced themselves and held the bags of money from the safe clutched to their chests for extra cushion and protection.
“Ready Kid?”
Kid nodded.
Heyes held his breath and waited for the impact.
And waited…
There was a slight bump, but nothing happened that caused the train to slow or even come close to stopping.
Kid jumped up and threw the money aside before jerking the rail car door open. The faint light that had been ahead of them was now behind them.
“Dammit!” Kid yelled.
Heyes jumped up and was beside him looking at the fading glow.
“Now what?” Kid’s eyes blazed. “We’re stuck on this train. No way out. No horses. Nothin’! How we gonna explain this one? Tied up guard…open safe. You're the supposed genius…now what?” Kid couldn't hide the desperation in his voice. “Well?”
“I'm thinking…”
“Think faster.”
“You're not going to like this but we…jump.”
“A movin’ train?! Maybe that's why folks don't rob movin’ trains. You ever think of that?!”
Heyes ignored his partner and located a blanket which he placed over the guard.
“It's going to get a might cold, and I apologize for that.”
Heyes gathered up the money and threw the door open.
“We’re really gonna do this?”
Heyes placed his hand affectionately on Kid’s shoulder…and pushed. Blowing out a hard breath, he paused briefly before following his partner into the snowy darkness.
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“Are they alive?” Kyle asked with concern in his voice.
Wheat snorted, “Like they cared about us. Damn near froze us to death.”
Kyle knelt by Kid and was shaking him by a shoulder, “Kid? Ya alive?”
Kid began to groan. Kyle slid a supporting hand behind his back and helped him to a sitting position. Kid’s head hung down, his chin on his chest.
“Heyes?”
“I'm okay,” came a weak voice to his left.
“What the hell happened?” Kid said as he jerked his head up.
All eyes turned to Kyle. “Well, you was late and the storm blowed in…and we kept chipping away at the tree…Weren't many trees to pick from…Actually the only one we could find. Guess we chipped a might too much off it.
“We best skedaddle…storm’s getting stronger.” Lobo said as he led the two extra horses up. “How much did we get?”
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The abandoned cabin was halfway between the historic train robbery and Devil’s Hole. The gang crowded around the dilapidated wooden table as Heyes and Kid placed the heavy bags on top.
Wheat was still mumbling about frozen toes and feet, but no one bothered to offer any sympathy as all eyes were on the bags.
Heyes looked around at their, although frozen, eager faces.
“Ready boys?”
Heyes opened one bag and Kid the other, when a collective gasp rose from the gang. They watched in awe as they pulled out handfuls after handfuls of money.
Everyone leaned forward, their eyes near bulging as they looked at more money than they had ever seen in their lives.
The gang was speechless. Some tried, but words were reduced to moans and sighs of joy. Their hands hovered over the money, as if it weren't real, afraid to touch it for fear it would disappear.
“A whole lot more than Hanford…Wouldn’t you say boys?” Heyes said beaming.
A sea of heads merely nodded, their eyes never leaving the stacks of money.
“See I figured, no one would be expecting a robbery like this. Banks are fine to rob, but they are in towns. Towns mean people…the law…Out here…there is no one for miles and miles…”
“No trees neither,” Kyle said without looking up, missing Heyes' disapproving look.
“We’ll figure that problem out later,” Heyes mumbled. “Boys this will make us more famous than any other gang. Get ready to have all these accolades heaped on…”
In unison each gang member lifted his head and stared at Heyes, responding with a chorus of “huhs?”
“Acc…Never mind.”
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Author’s Notes: To my surprise, the first train robbery is credited to the Reno gang in Seymour, Indiana on October 6, 1866 (I thought it would have been out West…) Let me clarify…The first train robbery that targeted a MOVING train. The depot still stands in Seymour and one of the cells that housed one of the Reno brothers is on display.
Special thanks to Rachel C for my lovely picture(s).
Also, thanks to Kim Lindsay for allowing me to reference her wonderful short story, “The New Book.”
A nod to “Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Buford, Wyoming is the smallest town in the country with a population of one.
