![]() The big bandit legend is based on a series of robberies that eventually bled into one story, she says, and over time details and embellishments have been added. What we do know is there was an uptick in documented train robberies from 1884 to 1887, Hohl said. "The theory is there was too much to carry, and they hid it in the cave figuring they would come back when things cooled off," Hohl said. What happened to the stolen money is unclear, but four empty mailbags were recovered, Hohl said. "Now there was a gunfight that ensued and supposedly only one survivor, Phil Carver, made it through the gunfight," Hohl said.Īs the legend goes, Carver served almost two decades in prison in Yuma and never confessed to where the treasure was. Turns out they escaped through a secret exit and were spotted bragging about their haul at a saloon in Willcox. Hours go by, days turn into weeks and there was no gold. He figures the thieves have to come out eventually. The sheriff poked his head in and got shot at. It led them to what's now the main entrance of Colossal Cave. When Sheriff Bob Leatherwood got word of this, his posse followed a trail of blood through the desert. The messenger on the train was able to pop a shot off at them, but they managed to get away. After the third time, they get a little cocky, setting explosives on the tracks. The four men stole from passengers making off with mailbags and maybe up to $72,000. There are different versions of the story, but she told KGUN9 the bandit legend begins sometime in the 1880's.Ī band of outlaws robbed a few trains near Pantano. ![]() Hohl has worked at Colossal Cave Mountain Park for more than 20 years. "There's so much history here and it's important to try to find the truth, but there's nothing wrong with letting your imagination take over as well," said Lauren Hohl, the cave operations lead and education coordinator. Over the years it has brought treasure hunters through all of the cave's crevices and corridors. ![]() Those stories turned into a legend of ill-gotten loot that was never recovered. If you've ever paid a visit to Colossal Cave, you may have heard stories about the bandits that once used it as a hideout. ![]()
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