Fort Sill, Oklahoma Lost Payroll
The tale of the lost payroll at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is a captivating blend of daring robbery, desperate survival, and the enduring allure of buried treasure. This legendary incident, dating back to June 1892, speaks of a time when the Wild West was still untamed, and fortunes could be made or lost in the blink of an eye. The story revolves around a substantial sum of money, nearly $100,000 in gold and silver coins, destined to pay the soldiers and employees stationed at Fort Sill.
The Ill-Fated Journey
The journey began in Wichita Falls, Texas, a bustling town south of the Red River, which marks the border between Texas and Oklahoma. A heavily guarded stagecoach, carrying the precious payroll, embarked on what was typically a routine three-day trek north to Fort Sill. Accompanying the stagecoach driver were two armed guards, seasoned men who had made the journey seven times before without incident. Initially, the stagecoach had been escorted by a military contingent of six to twelve armed troops. However, after months of uneventful trips, the large escort was deemed unnecessary and withdrawn. This decision would prove to be a fatal mistake.
Ambush at Red River Crossing
As the stagecoach neared the Red River crossing early one fateful morning, the tranquility of the plains was shattered. Three masked outlaws emerged from behind a dense thicket of trees, their intentions immediately clear. In a swift and brutal attack, they opened fire, targeting the lead horses pulling the stagecoach. The horses, essential for the journey, were struck down, and one of the guards was wounded in the initial volley.
The outlaws, their faces hidden behind masks, ordered the men to dismount the stagecoach. One of the guards, despite the chaos, managed to return fire, striking two of the robbers and mortally wounding them. The surviving bandit, however, retaliated with deadly accuracy, killing the guard. He then forced the driver and the remaining wounded guard to lie face down on the ground, rendering them helpless.
A Desperate Escape
Bleeding from wounds in his shoulder and chest, the surviving outlaw acted quickly. He transferred six heavy saddlebags filled with coins onto the backs of the dead robbers’ horses. He then ordered the wounded guard and the driver to begin the long walk back to Wichita Falls. With the loot secured, the outlaw mounted his own horse and rode north, leading the two horses laden with the saddlebags. His desperate hope was to reach Oklahoma City, where he could disappear into the anonymity of the growing city.
However, the outlaw was losing blood, and his condition was deteriorating rapidly. He realized he needed medical attention if he were to survive. In a daring move, he decided to head towards Fort Sill, where he knew he could find a doctor.
Seeking Refuge at Fort Sill
The wounded outlaw arrived at Fort Sill just after sunset the following day. He stopped to water his horses at a well near the trading post, a bustling hub of activity on the outskirts of the fort. Before seeking medical attention, he buried the saddlebags approximately ten paces from the well, hoping to retrieve them later.
He then made his way to the fort, presenting himself to the soldiers as a man named Allen who had been wounded in a hunting accident. The soldiers, unaware of his true identity, took him to the post doctor. The physician treated his wounds, administered a pain injection, and advised him to rest.
Betrayal and Imprisonment
However, the outlaw’s reprieve was short-lived. The next day, his horse was identified as belonging to one of the outlaws involved in the stagecoach robbery. Allen was immediately arrested, and the truth of his identity and the events at Red River crossing were revealed. He was swiftly tried, found guilty, and sentenced to prison in Huntsville, Texas, where he would remain for the next 33 years.
The Return and the Lost Treasure
In 1925, Allen was finally released from prison. He took a job on a farm near Levelland, a small town in the Texas Panhandle, but his mind was still set on the buried treasure at Fort Sill. At the first opportunity, he returned to the fort, hoping to recover the loot he had buried decades earlier.
However, the Fort Sill he remembered had changed dramatically. Over the years, four to six feet of fill dirt had been added to the yard, altering the landscape significantly. The old outlaw, disoriented and with his memory clouded by time, could not remember the exact direction or distance from the well where he had buried the saddlebags. His presence aroused suspicion, and a military guard, considering him a vagrant, escorted him away from the fort.
A Dying Man’s Confession
Allen returned to Texas, his health failing. Realizing he might not have another chance to recover the treasure, he confided in a friend, G.W. Cottrell, about the buried payroll. He drew Cottrell a map, hoping his friend could succeed where he had failed. A few months later, Allen passed away, his dream of retrieving the lost payroll unfulfilled.
Cottrell’s Quest
Several years later, the 72-year-old Cottrell traveled to Fort Sill, determined to find the buried treasure. He told his story to the authorities and filled out numerous forms requesting permission to dig on military property. After weeks of waiting, his request was finally granted.
On January 27, 1937, Cottrell returned to Fort Sill. He discovered that the old trading post had been torn down, further complicating his search. However, he persevered, eventually locating the filled-in well in the corner of a maintenance building. Without knowing the exact direction and distance from the well, Cottrell could only guess at the treasure’s location. Despite his efforts, he was unable to find the buried saddlebags.
The Army’s Search
In 1964, the army, convinced by the evidence of the payroll’s existence, decided to conduct its own search. Using heavy machinery, they dug fifteen holes, ten feet deep, just south of the maintenance building. However, their efforts were also fruitless. Despite some believing the search area was too limited, the army eventually abandoned the cause.
A Persistent Legend
The legend of the lost payroll at Fort Sill continues to endure. Despite numerous attempts to locate the treasure, it remains hidden, buried somewhere beneath the grounds of the active army base. The story serves as a reminder of a bygone era, a time of outlaws, stagecoaches, and the enduring allure of buried treasure.
Fort Sill Today
Today, Fort Sill remains an active army base, a testament to its long and storied history. While the search for the lost payroll has been largely abandoned, the legend continues to captivate the imagination of treasure hunters and history enthusiasts alike. The story of the lost payroll serves as a reminder of the rich and complex history of Fort Sill and the American West.