Driving the D-Y Trail to the...
Driving the D-Y Trail to the Cow Island Ferry crossing.
On another trip, Lone Writer and Caveman brought a small raft and put it in the water at that point. They floated down the river to Grand Island, the most primitive hideout used by the outlaws after the Exeter Creek train robbery. After visiting the island, they hiked up Hideaway Coulee searching for remnants of the Kid Curry hideout cabin but did not find it.
On that trip, Lone Writer and Caveman continued their trip downriver all the way to the modern bridge at the Kipp Recreation Area. They had left a vehicle in an inconspicuous location near there. They used that vehicle to return to the Cow Island Ferry crossing and retrieve the second vehicle.
On this trip, Lone Writer left the Cow Island crossing and returned to the previous intersection. He followed the Two Cow Creek Road going east. That section of the road provides fabulous scenic views of the Missouri River from high above the hilltops along the southern ridge of the river canyon. There are numerous drop-offs and hillclimbs that had Lone Writer reaching for 4-Lo in the Jeep's transfer case.
At the Two Cow Creek crossing, another road can be used to access the Missouri River, but Lone Writer continued east and eventually reached the highway at the Kipp Recreation Area. After stopping for a break, he followed the highway across the bridge and continued northeast on Highway 191 to the historic marker for Landusky and the Little Rocky Mountains.
When Kid Curry and Ben Kilpatrick reached the Cow Island Ferry, they used its services as casually as any other travelers. They boarded the ferry with their rented horses, rode across, and then left the ferry behind. A few miles north of the ferry, they checked to be certain no one was watching then left the main road and cut cross-country to the entrance for Hideaway Coulee. A few hours later, they were resting peacefully inside Kid Curry's cabin. A string of fresh horses was in the corral waiting for them, and the cabin was newly stocked with supplies. Curry's longtime friend, Jim Thornhill, had everything waiting as previously planned.
The following day, Curry left Kilpatrick at the cabin while he rode to Landusky to visit Thornhill and get the latest news. Thornhill would also need to know what supplies and horses the outlaws would need during their stay in Hideaway Coulee and also for the robbery. As usual, he would be their primary source for anything needed without being directly involved in anything illegal.
Lone Writer reached Landusky late in the afternoon. He stopped at the national forest campground to use the facilities then drove into Landusky. There is not much left of the original town. The older buildings are being replaced with modern ones. There are no services available in Landusky.
The saloon where Kid Curry officially turned outlaw was burned down many years ago. There are numerous stories concerning that day. The most popular seems to be that many years of bad blood between the Curry brothers and Pike Landusky just came to a boil. Pike has been described as a cruel and violent man who took out his temper on anyone within reach. A love affair between one of the Currys and Pike's daughter added fuel to the fire.
The town of Landusky still...
The town of Landusky still has a few original buildings standing.
Pike Landusky was a lawman in the town named after him. One night, he arrested Kid Curry and tied him up in a barn. According to one account, he spent many long hours in a drunken stupor beating the younger Curry to a pulp. Eventually, Curry escaped. For him the battle had only begun, but first he needed to heal his wounds.
On the night of the deadly duel, Kid Curry entered the saloon and walked directly to Landusky. He began delivering punches without warning. The fight quickly got bloody and Landusky found he was no match for the younger man in a fair fight. Landusky was knocked to the floor. As Curry approached, Landusky pulled a gun, pointed it directly into Curry's face, and pulled the trigger. Under normal circumstances that would have been the end of the fight, but Landusky's gun did not fire. Before he could cock the hammer again, Curry pulled his pistol and put the old mountain man to rest.
Curry decided he could not win a court battle over Pike Landusky's death. He left in a hurry and never returned to the ranching profession. His visit with Thornhill in May of 1901 came many years after that fatal fight. Through all those years, Thornhill was the only one in the town of Landusky Curry felt he could trust.