Back in Time | Aspen

“The abominable miscreants whose exploits in the Dick Turpin line have made them execrable, do not seem satisfied with relieving one unfortunate of two postage stamps, and a boy of a pork-steak, but have attempted their nefarious trade again,” lamented the Aspen Daily Times on Nov. 7, 1885. “Thursday night, at 9 o’clock, John Barnes, who lives at the brick yards, across the river, was on his way home and had just reached the Hunter creek bridge, when he was startled by seeing two men jump out from the side of the road and shout, ‘Hold up your hands!’ John is fleet of foot, and he did not pause to ask particulars of the interrogatory- he lit out for town again at a Maud S. pace. The puds followed a little distance and then finding themselves left behind, one of them fired a shot. In a marvelously short space of time John reached town again and borrowed a revolver. With this, he started for home once more. Sure enough the two were still at the bridge, and again repeated their order to hold up. John let blaze at once and sent three shots in the direction of the pair. They didn’t wait but in a moment were hid in the bushes and were seen no more. When is Aspen to be rid of these pests?”

“Back in Time” is contributed by Aspen Historical Society and features excerpted articles and images from past Snowmass Sun/Aspen Times issues. We can’t rewrite history, but we can learn from it! Visit archiveaspen.org to view the vast Aspen Times photographic collection in the AHS Archives.