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July 14, 1898 -
Southern Pacific No. 1 Robbery
These days all that’s left of the
Humboldt House is a historical marker and scattered rubble. You’d be
hard pressed to call it an oasis, but in the late 1800’s that’s
exactly what it was. Located approximately 38 miles west of Winnemucca,
Nevada, the Humboldt House with its trees, clean water, fruit and
vegetables was a virtual paradise in the middle of the desert. A bustling
hotel and train depot, the Humboldt House was known as one of the best
eateries in the west.
It was 1:25 am on the morning of July 14,
1898 when the Southern Pacific passenger train #1 pulled out of Humboldt
House making its way east. Unbeknownst to everyone on board, two men with
robbery on their minds tagged along. The outlaws made their way to
the front of the train and ordered the engineers to stop about a mile up
the tracks. Waiting for them was a third man, described as black, along with their horses.
Realizing a robbery was taking place, the
rear brakeman managed to jump off the train without being seen. Running
back to Humboldt House, he telegraphed Winnemucca authorities of the
situation. The officials in Winnemucca quickly organized a posse car to
intercept the bandits.
Back at the train dynamite was used to
convince a reluctant express messenger to open the doors to his car. The
outlaws managed to take about $450.00 in cash along with some jewelry
before disappearing into the night, never to be seen again.
In
the days after the robbery, two men named Shaw & Bowie were arrested
for the crime only to be acquitted due to lack of evidence. It is said
that the true identities of the bandits were none other than the Sundance
Kid, Harvey Logan and "Flat
Nose" George Currie.
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