Site of Farmers and Merchants Bank
Here stood the Farmers and Merchants Bank of which Andrew Trew Blachly was co-founder and cashier. Across Main Street was the Simpson Hardware Store. On September 7, 1893 the bank was held up by the notorious McCarty Gang. Blachly although covered by two guns, gave the alarm and was instantly killed. The bandits fled north on horseback along the alley back of the bank. W. Ray Simpson, Kentucky sharpshooter, hearing the shot, ran down Third Street with his single shot Sharps rifle where he was fired upon by the robbers. He returned their fire and although they were leaning over their horses necks, blew the top of the head off of one bandit 240 feet away. As Simpson reached the alley, a second robber over a block away, looked back. He got a bullet hole through his head from the Sharps, falling 345 feet beyond the first corpses. One robber escaped. Most of the money was recovered.
The murder left Mary Adele Blachly with eight little boys. She moved to a desert ranch on Garnet Mesa where, alone, she reared them all to manhood. This marker in memory of that day and that mother is placed here by her sons.
Erected by the Blachly Family.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is September 7, 1893.
Location. 38° 44.557′
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Regionally, this marker is in the Western Slope. It is also in the American Mountain West and in Colorado Plateau. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stockham Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Delta County Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Central School Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Mangum Memorial Wind-Chime (within shouting distance of this marker); Delta Jail - 1890 (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert E. Lee Steamboat Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Leslie J. Savage Big Bell Collection (within shouting distance of this marker); 326 Main, 100 Years a Hardware Store (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Delta.
Also see . . .
1. Dust Up in Delta. True West website entry (Submitted on November 8, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Historical Highlights: Once Upon a Time in Delta - The Sharpshooter and The Fall of The McCarty Gang. High Country Shopper website entry (Submitted on November 8, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Andrew Trew Blachly. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on November 8, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
4. William Ray Simpson. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on November 8, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 519 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
