Newspaper Accounts - San Miguel Valley Bank Robbery

 

The Delta Independent, Volume 7, Number 19, July 2, 1889 (The same account went out nationwide)

 

San Miguel Bank Robbery.

The following is an Authentic report of the Bank robbery at Telluride last Monday:

Ouray, Colo., June 27.—The bold bank robbery at Telluride on Monday is still the all-absorbing topic of conversation. Until this afternoon no authentic account beyond a few telegrams could he obtained: Mr. H. H. Corbin, a long-time resident of the San Juan and at present a resident of Telluride, came over today via the High Line trail and gives the following interesting account:

“I was in the bank just a few moments before the robbery and had just returned to my office when the firing of at least nine shot's notified me that all was not right.

“Just prior to my return to the office a party of four men dressed as cowboys rode into town and stopped at the brewery. From this point they mounted their horses and rode directly to the bank; all dismounted leaving their horses standing and started for the bank. Three of them entered, the fourth standing at and leaning against the door, his hand resting on his hip, but in a manner to disclose his gun.

THROW UP YOUR HANDS.

“Of the three that entered two immediately proceeded around the railing, the third stopping at the desk of the paving teller and covering the bookkeeper with his revolver, at the same time commanding him to throw up his hands or he would kill him.

“It so happened that Mr. C. F. Painter was out of the city making some collections, and Mr. Hyde, the book-keeper was alone and powerless to act only in accordance with the commands, which he did, asking what they wanted He was answered to keep perfectly quiet and he would see and if he did not he would lose his life.

AFTER THE CASH.

‘‘The two robbers who had passed behind the railing made short work of securing all the greenbacks and gold to be had, and they succeeded in securing in an incredibly short time $21,000, leaving one bag of silver containing about $1,000.

"Having secured the booty they departed, and the quartette hurriedly mounted their horses. One of the men in mounting missed his stirrup and fell down, but before rising had his revolver in his hand ready for any emergency. He then threw his revolver upon the hip of his horse and mounted.

“They immediately started down the street on in fast gallop, firing their revolvers in the air. What their object was in thus attracting attention is unknown and explainable. The word quickly passed that the bank had been robbed and within twenty-five minutes the last of a large posse were in hot pursuit.

“The robbers rode through San Miguel City, one and a-half miles below Telluride, and at this point took a fine horse from the brush for use in case of accident, and also procured their Winchester rifles and belts, which had been left at that point.

PURSUERS NOT ORGANIZED.

“A short 'distance below this point they were met, fully armed, leading the extra horse and riding at a Swift gait.: The pursuers were not far behind, but had started upon the pursuit without any organization, some poorly and others not at all equipped with firearms. The consequence was that the pursuers gradually straggled out, made no combined force, and were strung out over several miles of country before evening.

“The leader of the pursuit, Harry Adsit by name, who had ridden up onto ridge to view the surroundings was suddenly startled by:

“ 'Hello, there! Harry, old boy.'

INTO A TRAP.

He had unwittingly ridden right upon the desperadoes and was at their mercy. He saw the man who accosted him but did not recognize him, although he himself was apparently well known.

Mr. Adsit, fully realizing that he might have been killed and thankful that this advantage was not taken proceeded to take the back track toward his companions and was unmolested. When it is considered that the parties in pursuit had nothing at stake and the pursued had not only the $21,000, but their lives to protect, the non-success of the disorganized party in securing a capture is not to be wondered at.

“The hunt is still on and with a determination to capture dead or alive the culprits, but it is feared that ere this the desperadoes have succeeded in reaching their rendezvous and are now among the gang of outlaws which for years have infested southern Utah and northern Arizona.”

THE ROBBERS KNOWN.

Two of the desperadoes are known, as is also some of the stock ridden, but for purposes best known to those having the matter in charge they are for the present withheld from the public. The officers of the San Miguel Valley Bank are sparing no pains or expense to secure their capture and have offered a liberal reward. The hank has long been one of the solid institutions of the San Juan, having a surplus far in excess of the' amount lost. The depositors will not suffer and the loss will be distributed among the stockholders, so that no one will lose any great amount. In evidence of the esteem in which the bank is held all the merchants have been depositing their cash so as to supply any needed currency until a supply can be secured from outside correspondents, which is expected tonight.

 

Commentary

H.H. Corbin was a mine owner and operator that could be considered among the town’s founding fathers.  But most of what Corbin provides is admittedly hearsay.  Corbin was in his office when he heard the gunshots which occurred as the outlaws left town.

He describes bank manager Charles Painter as being out of the bank.  Only cashier H. Hyde was present. There was no mention that Hyde was accosted during the holdup.

There were four men dressed as cowboys.  Before entering the bank, the men either loitered outside or entered a brewery across the street from the bank for an unspecified amount of time. Three entered the bank and one remained outside.

The gang left the bank with  $21,000 in currency and gold but left $1,000 in silver.  During the escape, one man fell from his horse when he missed a stirrup but remounted.

"The robbers rode through San Miguel City, one and a-half miles below Telluride, and at this point took a fine horse from the brush for use in case of accident, and also procured their Winchester rifles and belts, which had been left at that point."

This horse is likely the one purchased or taken from Harry Adsit.  If the entire story of the robbery was known by Corbin, you would assume he would have been aware of Adsit since he recognized two of the bandits (Matt Warner and Tom McCarty).

Corbin says the posse was created within twenty-five minutes.  It is more likely than not that Adsit met the posse on the trail before he had time to get from the Society Turn area into town on horseback or wagon.  It is interesting that weapons were secured along with a “fine horse” on the trail.  Where were the weapons?

There are several key points I want to focus on.  When the outlaws left town they were firing their guns in the air.  And, of all people, Harry Adsit is the first from the posse to find the outlaws (above Trout Lake).

Experts claim that the Telluride robbery was Butch Cassidy’s first and perhaps best-planned robbery. I do not want to get ahead of myself, but if you wanted to escape a robbery, why would you alert everyone in town as you departed?  Why not mask yourself? When the James and Younger gang robbed Northfield, it took only moments after the first shot for the town to organize and seek justice.  Surely a smart robber would plan better.

Next, if you are a member of a posse and you are trailing four or more armed outlaws, would you leave the safety in numbers?  I find it a stretch to believe Adsit outran the posse to catch the robbers and succeeded only to be turned around.  Are we to believe that Adsit then returned to the posse when he knew the outlaw’s location?

I am interested in your thoughts or other details of the robbery I might be missing.  Family lore is great and gives many leads, but please try to support your thoughts.