The Last Outlaws: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang

The Dalton Gang’s failed attempt to rob two banks at once in Coffeyville, Kans., in October 1892 was “arguably final confirmation of the end of the Wild West,” according to this detailed and digressive history. Journalist Clavin (Tombstone) sets the stage for a fine-grained narrative of the shoot-out by first explaining the Daltons’ place in the history of the Old West’s train- and bank-robbing gangs (the Daltons were cousins to the Youngers of the James-Younger Gang) and profiling individual Daltons and the lawmen known as the Three Guardsmen who pursued them. Coffeyville was a prosperous, relatively peaceful place when the Daltons trained their sights on it. On the morning of October 4, the gang of five rode into town, three of them headed for First National Bank and two for the Condon Bank. The Condon Bank trio lost valuable time due to a cashier’s lie that the safe was on a time lock and would open in 10 minutes. The two outlaws at First National had more success, but town residents had raised the alarm and armed themselves, some with guns commandeered from a local hardware store. The resulting shoot-out left four citizens and four gang members dead. Though Clavin’s build-up takes too many detours, the exciting climax entertains. Patient Wild West history buffs will be rewarded. (Nov.)