In this post I am adding an article from the Frontier Times Magazine that tells the story of the robbery by one of the outlaws, Dan Harvick, first published in 1926 in a Los Angeles, California. I have edited it in some places that I will write in another post. Hope you enjoy reading it.
Pictured in this post are photos of the four outlaws, who were sent to the Yuma Territorial Prison. These men were sentenced to 25 years for robbing the Atlantic & Pacific train at Canyon Diablo, Arizona the photos were taken after they had arrived at the prison.
The top photo is of Jack Smith, next is of Long John Halford, the third is of Dan Harvick and the fourth of William D. Styron.
The last post has an error in it. The third photo is of William D. Styron and this photo above is of Dan Harvick.
Above is another drawing of rock art that is found at the site in Sanders, Az. which dates to more than two thousand years. As stated in the last post the Zuni Indian told Beale and Thorburn that the site dated before the great waters came. He is referring to a flood that is similar to the Noah flood that is recorded in the Bible. There are several Indian tribes in the United States that record that the flood was so great that only a few people survived in its wake. The great flood story has been recorded in many nations in the world.
Above is an aerial photo of a Pit House Village located some three miles south of Sanders, Az. It is one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Northeastern Arizona. It is the site that one of Lt. Beale’s Zuni guides tried to get Beale to visit when the expedition was camped at Navajo Springs, Az in 1857. More posts to follow on this site.
Photos of the Posse that chased and captured four of the outlaws.
Fred Fornoff undercover U.S. Secret Service Agent ordered by superiors to join the posse to go after the men who robbed the train at Canyon Diablo, Arizona
Sign placed at the Cedar Creek Animal Clinic on Highway 39 between Lexington and Asher Oklahoma.
Dr. David Miller standing next to the above shown sign.
Archaeologist Jack Beale Smith standing next to a Beale Wagon Road sign placed two miles due north of Asher, Oklahoma near the old townsite of Avoca.
Map that was placed on the above shown sign.
The sign placed at the Sacred Heart Church northwest of Konawa, Oklahoma. More information on this location is on the Pott. County post.
The Canyon Diablo Train Robbery occurred in March of 1889. According to all written documents and articles four men held up the train at Canyon Diablo and got away with the sum between $500.00 to $70,000. No two articles give the same amount of money taken from the train. The most recent article written by Paul Heitter states that the sum of $1.300.00 dollars was taken from the train. The title of the article is: “No Better than Murderers.” He states that the records at the Yavapai County Court House in Prescott, Az. say that the above amount of money is correct. This is impossible due to the fact that the records on the train robbery were burned in a fire around 1900 and no one knew the correct amount was lost in that fire. Two important records add serous questions as to the exact amount. Number one: If only $1,300.00 was taken from the train than why was a U.S. Secret Agent operating under cover out of Santa Fe, New Mexico was ordered by his superiors to go and join the posse in pursuit of the outlaws. Number Two: Why did federal officers search for three months after one of the outlaws, named Jack Smith, who had served 3years and 9 months at the Yuma Territorial Prison for the crime committed and released with a full pardon go after him. He had paid his debt to society so there was no reason for the feds to worry about a mere $1,300.00 supposedly taken from the train. They did find him living with a Mexican family in Guaymas, Mexico. Federal agents watched the movements of this man until 1905 waiting for Smith to make a move to recover the buried money. Smith never went to northern Arizona until 1915. So it is obvious that a large amount of money was taken from that train in March of 1889, and the money taken belonged to the federal government. More will be discussed in future posts. Below are photos of the four outlaws. Also more will be discussed about the other four outlaws who were involved and not captured by the posse.
Long John Halford, Dan Harvick, William Stiren, and Jack Smith.
Train on the Canyon Diablo bridge and insert of The Canyon Diablo Train Station
Another view of the 1909 bridge on the 1859 Beale Bridge abutments. The old river channel can be seen below now dry as the river changed course in 1948. Thanks to Gene Mccluney of Fort Smith Arkansas for this discovery. He is an expert on old bridges and abutments. Photo by Mike Shockley of Holdenville, Oklahoma.
