Along the Cheyenne to Deadwood Stage: Robber's Roost

Along the Cheyenne to Deadwood Stage: Robber's Roost. . , The Dreaded Crossing. Along the Cheyenne-Deadwood stage route, stories still are told of outlaws and buried gold. Bandits haunted the Cheyenne-Deadwood Stage line during the gold boom that began in Deadwood in 1876. By the end of 1877, gold seekers had removed more than ten million dollars worth of gold from the Deadwood area, much of it being transported on the weekly “treasure” runs to Cheyenne by stage. , Located at the Cheyenne River crossing near here, Robber's Roost was a station of the Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage and Express Company. Built in 1877 on a new shortcut, the crossing was the spot most dreaded by stage drivers: steep riverbanks slowed the coaches to a crawl and provided concealment from which lurking road agents could watch the approach of their intended victims. According to legend, Robber's Roost station was burned by Indians. , (sidebar on left) , A Robbery at the Roost. In September, 1878, near here, station agent D. Boone May and John Zimmerman surprised desperadoes in the act of robbing the southbound coach. The outlaws opened fire and on of them, Frank Towle, was fatally wounded. Outnumbered, May and Zimmerman escorted the cash to safety and the outlaws made their escape. Towle was buried by is companions. May later found the grave, removed Towle's head and took it to Cheyenne in a sack to try to claim a reward.