Coffeyville, Kansas

We got our window fixed last Thursday and at 3:00pm we were on the road headed for Coffeyville. We stopped for the night at a Walmart in Pratt and then on Friday arrived in Coffeyville. While we were in Kinsley waiting for the replacement window, we also had a small rock hit the windshield of the car. Tomorrow we will get that fixed. Normally we would wait, but the crack is getting larger and is right in the drivers line of sight. We are counting the car windshield as our number 3! While we were in Parker, Arizona, we had a few chips fixed on the windshield of the motorhome. That was our #1. At least that's what we are hoping!

The reason we came to Coffeyville was to see the Dalton Defenders Museum. That's what we did today.

In October of 1892, the Dalton Gang decided to rob 2 banks at the same time in Coffeyville. Bob Dalton was very egotistical and thought that by robbing 2 banks at the same time they would become more famous than Jesse James. That's what he wanted. They made the headlines that day alright but not the way they had hoped. The 2 banks were very close together and they thought that they would have plenty of time to get both banks. Half of the gang went into one bank and they others into the other bank. This is a picture of the one bank. It looks pretty much like it did in 1892.



It seems that someone recognized them coming into town and followed them to the bank. While the Dalton Gang robbed the banks, the townspeople of Coffeyville took up their guns and ambushed them coming out of the banks. The gunfight took about 15 minutes and 4 of the townspeople were killed along with the Dalton Gang. The museum is a tribute to those 4.

We had thought that we would start north to Independence, Missouri. We had planned to do some sightseeing around that area before we went to Forest City Iowa to the Winnebago factory. But since we could not get an appointment at Winnebago until June 29th, we have decided to go over to Branson. We can spend a week or two there and then go to Independence. So our plans in chalk have changed again.