Who was Red Buck and did he really have any money to hide? Three years after his escape from the train that was taking him to prison in 1890, he is a recognized member of Bob Doolin’s “Wild Bunch” outlaw gang. His first noted recognition was in the shootout with Federal Deputy Marshals at Ingalls, Oklahoma Territory. The Wild Bunch gang was organized from the remnants of the famous Dalton gang after their failed attempt at the “Robbery of Two Banks at One Time” in Coffeyville, Kansas.
The Dalton Gang consisted the Leader Bob Dalton, brothers Grat and Emmitt along with George Newcomb, Charley Bryant, Bill Powers, Charley Pierce, Dick Broadwell, William McElhanie, and Bill Doolin. Their robberies were mostly trains in Oklahoma Territory. At the time of the Coffeyville two bank robbery attempt, the gang had pared down to Bob, Grat, and Emmett Dalton, Bill Powers, Bill Doolin and Dick Broadwell.
All but lucky Bill Doolin attempted the Coffeeville two bank robbery. Bill Doolin had concerns about the success of such a robbery and on the way to Coffeeville claimed his horse threw a shoe. He withdrew to have it replaced at a nearby ranch before reaching Coffeeville. As for the remainder of the Dalton Gang and their robbery, the citizens of Coffeeville would have nothing of it and before it all over Bob and Grat Dalton, Bill Powers and Dick Broadwell were dead. Only Emmett was able to escape with his life.
In 1892 with the Dalton gang decimated, Bill Doolin organized his own gang known as “The Wild Bunch”. This group included Bill Dalton, George “Red Buck” Waightman, Little Bill Raidler, Bob Grounds, Bill “Tulsa Jack” Blake, Richard “Little Dick” West, Dan “Dynamite Dick” Clifton, Roy “Arkansas Tom” Daugherty, Alf Sohn (Son), George “Bitter Creek” Newcomb, Charley Pierce, and Oliver “Ol” Yantis. Their life of crime was short lived as all were dead within four years.
In all it is reported that in the four years that the “Wild Bunch” operated they stole $165,000. In today’s economy that would amount to $4,390,615. What did the gang do with the money? Following a robbery, the take would be divided between the outlaws, a future meeting place would be decided on and each would go their own way. Undoubtedly, most was squandered and little saved.
It is revealed in the book, Oklahombres by US Marshal Evett Dumas Nix (1929), that Bill Doolin claimed to have hid portions of his take from the robberies. There is no record the hiding place was ever revealed. An Outlaw turned Lawman, “Hook” Miller, is reported to have shared the location where Red Buck had hidden $8,000. It is not recorded if this was money from his time with the “Wild Bunch” his own gang, after he was dismissed from the “Wild Bunch” for unnecessary killing.
$8,000 Dollars? In today’s economy that would be over $225,000. Considering it would most likely be in silver and gold, the value would be considerably more.
But there is another story, this from an unnamed source in Childress, Texas who was hunting for money taken in a stagecoach robbery by Red Buck North of Childress, Texas. Just when did this occur? The date is unknown, but Red Buck operated in Old Greer County, Texas, drifting in and out on different occasions before his death. As stated in Part 1, Red Buck’s mother came to Childress County, Texas from Jones County, Texas.
As for any stagecoaches operating out of Childress County, Texas, the Collingsworth County, Texas Historical Society reveals, “From the late 1880s through early 1900s a stagecoach line ran from Clarendon, Texas, to Pistol Palace, which was a few miles southwest of Wellington on Buck Creek, then to the Red River and on to Sherman, Texas. Another stagecoach line ran from Memphis, Texas, to Wellington. A third stage line ran from Childress, Texas, to Wellington then north to Mobeetie, Texas.
Buck Creek is an important landmark in our story whose importance will be revealed in future posts.
So, just where did Red Buck bury his money?
To be continued:
Interesting . . . Mom and Dad worked on a ranch in the Loco community. John was born there (somewhere around 1932). If there was any loot buried in that area, it’s a cinch my folks never found it!