INTRO        

Most old towns of the west have their stories to tell

   although some they would rather forget.
And in Willcox they say there came such a day

   to the Greenhorn Bandidos’ regret.

 

In 1895 two cowboys, both out of work and both rookie robbers, decided to hold up the Southern Pacific train just west of Willcox, AZ.  This is the story of how they fared in their greenhorn venture.

 

     ---- BEGIN SCRIPT ----

 

MUSIC           “Streets of Laredo” or similar

 

NAR                Two young cowboys sat down in the Palace Saloon,

Both dejected and sipping a brew,

For no work could be found at the ranches around

Though they asked ev’ry rancher they knew.

 

AUDIO        Village bar background

           

SAM             “Waal, I don’t know fer certain whut I’m gonna do,

                      There just ain’t any work to be found.

                      And I’ve done looked everywhere, but it’s quiet, I swear.

                       I’ve the emptiest pockets around!”

 

BOB                “Thet’s shore sorry to hear, but now listen to this,

It’s the best news I’ve heard in a year.

Jes’ last night I went down to the depot in town.

What I heard was a joy to my ear!

​

There’s a train comin’ through with some silver on board

On the Southern Pacific tonight,

And I got me a notion to cause some commotion

And to help myself jes’ out of spite.”

 

SAM               “Waal… thet’s risky fer shore, but it sounds good to me.

                        Just imagine the cash it’ll bring!”

​

BOB                “So now, whut do ya say? Let’s go rob it today!

                        You’ll be rich and can live like a king.”

 

SAM               My Gawsh I don’t know, ’cuz I ain’t never robbed

any train since the day of my birth.

But I guess there’s a time I can bet my  last dime

And to chance it... whatever it’s worth!

 

AUDIO         Train coming, whistle blows,

 

NAR                The boys hid in the rocks by the turn in the tracks

and they thought of the money they’d spend.

Soon they heard chuffs and squeals and the squeak of the wheels

as the train slowly chugged ’round the bend.

 

MUSIC        “She’ll be Comin’ Around the Mountain” or something similar.

​

AUDIO          Continue Train coming under music, no whistle.

 

NAR             When the engine went by Haley jumped up on board;

Doggett hopped on the tender in back.

 

AUDIO         Scuffle, men fighting or wrestling (under narration)

 

NAR         They were quick to subdue the old freight train and crew

then they came to a halt on the track.

 

AUDIO          Scuffle OFF

NAR                The express car they knew was connected behind,

and the rail guards were nowhere around. 

Doggett opened the door and he saw on the floor,

the big safe at the front chained and bound.

SAM               “Waal now! There sits the safe lookin’ strong as a bull

                        so we’ll just have to blow her fer shore!

BOB                Thet ol’ dynamite’s blast will shore open her fast

and make shreds of the safe’s iron door.”

 

NAR                They had gone into Willcox to buy their supplies

and some dynamite for the affair.
With their gear safely stowed they placed sticks from the load
right on top of the vault waiting there.

 

SAM               “Hey now, whut are these bags sittin’ by over here?

                        Looks like each is a strong, heavy sack.”

BOB                “Shore! Those bags filled with sand will be perfectly grand

To hold down the loose dynamite stack! “

 

NAR                So they placed all the bags on the dynamite load

Lit the fuse, ran and jumped out the door.

With a mighty “ka-boom!” the blast shattered the gloom

Strewing cargo all over the floor!

 

SAM               “Yee-hah! Whut a blast! It’s fer shore done the job,

                        So come on let’s go pick up our pay! “

 

BOB                “And it’s right where she blew, waitin’ shiny and new;

                        fer our horses to cart it away!”

 

NAR                The boys cheered at the blast and they laughed at the thought

As they raced back to check on their haul.

Then they screeched to a halt, stopped and stared at the vault,

‘Cuz the safe stood unharmed by it all!

 

BOB                “Oh, my gawsh whut is this? Whut has happened in here?

I don’t see any silver about!”

 

SAM               “Gad! it’s solid as rock! The durned safe stood the shock,

and it still holds the silver no doubt!”

 

NAR                All they saw when they looked was the wreckage inside,

not a sign of their ill-gotten loot.

They both stared with chagrin - there was nothing within!

All the sacks had been scattered to boot!

 

What they thought had been bags full of sand on the floor

were all filled with pure silver instead.

Now the coins lay around over acres of ground

And the boys stood there scratching their heads.

 

BOB                “Waal now dang! If this don't beat all that I've seen!

They were all bags of silver not sand!”

 

SAM               “Shucks, our Luck has its ways, but today of all days,

Lady Luck dealt a cold loser's hand!”

 

BOB                “Aw, come on let’s mount up and be hittin’ the trail

’fore the posse and sheriff get here!

Let’s cover our tracks and ride home to our shacks
and we’ll drown all our sorrows in beer!”

 

NAR                “They were pesos from heaven!” the local folks laughed,  

and they gathered the coins through the night.

For the die had been cast when they ran to the blast

and the Greenhorn Bandidos took flight!

​

​

 

 

 

*Inspired by the story “Robbers Scatter Silver Pesos“

from No Place for Angels, by Roscoe Willson, pp. 237.