Chapter I: Preface

This story of twenty years of active service as a detective, an autobiography of many thrilling adventures, on mountain and plain, among moonshiners, cattle thieves, tramps, dynamiters and other strong-arm men, has been delayed for a long time in coming from the press. The delay was due to the protests of the author’s former employers. These protests were undoubtedly rightful, but it was considered in the beginning that no harm could come therefrom, for the reason that the identity of persons involved was not disclosed except in reference to past facts, matters that were done and over with. Now this difficulty has been overcome and the objections removed by the use of fictitious names in many places. But the story in no wise loses its interest, and it is believed the reader will find in the volume much with which to entertain himself.

The author is not a literary man, but has written as he speaks, and it is thought that the simplicity thus resulting will not detract from the substantial merit of the tales, which are recitals of facts and not of fiction.

CHARLES A. SIRINGO.

Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 6, 1912.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

The Anarchist Riot in Chicago--My First Work for the
Dickenson Agency--In Jail for Slugging a Slugger 11

CHAPTER II

Archuleta County Uprising--Rope Secured to Hang
Me--Running Down a Wells Fargo Robber in Old
Mexico--We Capture the Noted Bassick Mine 25

CHAPTER III

To White River as an Outlaw--The Ute Indian War--Riding
and Roping Under Name of “Dull Knife” at Denver
Cowboy Tournament--Off for Wyoming as an Outlaw 44

CHAPTER IV

In Jail with Denver & Rio Grande Holdups--Aspen Ore-Stealing
Case--Testing Railroad Conductors--The Mudsill
Mine-Salting Case--In Longmont as a Bronco-Buster--In
the Bull-Pen with Hobos 66

CHAPTER V

Two Wealthy Mine-Owners of Tuscarora, Nevada, Blown
Up with Dynamite--A Confession Secured after Nine
Months of Strenuous Life in Nevada and Indian Territory 91

CHAPTER VI

Shooting of Ancheta--I Join the “White Caps” of New
Mexico--Taken Down with Smallpox and Given Up to
Die 114

CHAPTER VII

The Bloody Coeur D’Alene Strike--I Become Recording
Secretary of the Union--During the Riot I Sawed a
Hole in the Floor to Escape from Bloodthirsty Dynamiters 135

CHAPTER VIII

United States Troops Fill the “Bull-Pen” with Miners’
Union Dynamiters--My Evidence Convicts Eighteen of
the Union Leaders 172

CHAPTER IX

In Jail with Two Murderers--Testing Railway Conductors--Tramping
as a Hobo through Colorado, New Mexico,
Arizona, California and Texas--Robbery of the Treadwell
Gold Mill in Alaska--We Capture the Thieves and
Recover the Gold 192

CHAPTER X

Chasing Leon Carrier through the Republic of Mexico--Running
Down “Bad” Men in Arizona--Big Ore Robbery
on Bull Hill--Golden Fleece Ore-Stealing Case--Hobo
Operation--Big Mining Suit in Arizona--Running Down
Banker’s Son in British Columbia 229

CHAPTER XI

Bill Blank Cattle-Stealing Case--Christmas Dinner and a
Dance on the L X Cattle Ranch in Texas--Left Afoot
on a New Mexico Desert Without Water 247

CHAPTER XII

Jersey Lillie and Butterfly Mine-Salting Cases--Tramping on
the Oregon Short Line Railway Company’s System--A
Big Ore-Stealing Case in Salt Lake City, Utah--Trip to
British Columbia--Playing Outlaw in Cripple Creek,
Colorado 268

CHAPTER XIII

A Lawsuit in Bent County, Colorado--A Big Murder Case
in Benkelman, Nebraska--Ernest Bush Sent to the Penitentiary
for Life 288

CHAPTER XIV

On Trail of Union Pacific Train Robbers through Utah,
Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Indian Territory,
Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Montana and the Republic
of Mexico 305

CHAPTER XV

A 1,000-Mile Horseback Ride from Grand Junction, Colo.,
to Alma, New Mexico--In with “Kid” Curry’s “Wild
Bunch” Crowd, in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico
and Wyoming 339

CHAPTER XVI

A Big Railroad Stealing Case in Texas and Old Mexico--A
Bullion Stealing Operation in Salt Lake, Utah 381

CHAPTER XVII

A Mining Case in Alma, Colorado--A Prospecting Trip with
a Half-Breed Mexican--Taking Prisoner to Kansas City,
Missouri--Working on United States Senator Smoot 387

CHAPTER XVIII

The Wentz Kidnapping Case--Eight Months among the
Moonshiners of Kentucky and Virginia 395

CHAPTER XIX

A Hurrah Life among the “Moonshiners”--I Escape Possible
Death by a Scratch--The Body of Ed. Wentz
Found 418

CHAPTER XX

A Mining Case in Kelly, N. M.--Big Robbery in Prescott,
A. T.--Incendiary Case in Wyoming--Mrs. Shaw Kidnapping
Case in Pueblo, Colo.--Chase After “Bad” Man
in Sonora, Mexico--Cattle Case in Wyoming and Montana--“Frenzied
Finance” Operation in Roswell, N. M. 454

CHAPTER XXI

A Cowboy Operation in Eastern Oregon--A Trip to Sombrerete,
Old Mexico--A Visit to the Coeur D’Alenes with
James McParland--Laying for Train Holdups in Nebraska--An
Operation in Mexico City 486