Baxter's Curve Train Robbery
BAXTER'S CURVE
TRAIN ROBBERY
IN THE EARLY HOURS OF MARCH 13, 1912,
BEN KILPATRICK, A FORMER SIDEKICK OF
BUTCH CASSIDY AND SUNDANCE KID, AND
OLE HOBEK ATTEMPTED ONE OF THE LAST
MAJOR TRAIN ROBBERIES IN WEST TEXAS.
THE TWO ROBBERS BOARDED THE
GALVESTON, HARRISBURG, AND SAN
ANTONIO RAILROAD TRAIN WHEN IT
STOPPED AT DRYDEN ON THE WAY TO EL
PASO. THEY ORDERED THE ENGINEER ON TO
BAXTER'S CURVE, A SHARP BEND IN THE
RAILWAY'S-RAIL BED. THE BAGGAGE CARS
WERE UNCOUPLED FROM THE COACHES,
BUT WHILE THE TWO SEARCHED FOR
VALUABLES, WELLS FARGO EXPRESS
MANAGER DAVIDA. TROUSDALE
BLUDGEONED ONE WITH AN ICE MALLET
AND KILLED THE OTHER WITH THE FIRST
ROBBER'S RIFLE. KILPATRICK AND HOBEK
WERE BURIED IN SANDERSON, AND
TROUSDALE WAS RECOGNIZED AND
REWARDED FOR HIS BRAVERY.