The Dalton brothers, Bob and Grat Dalton, were killed in Death Alley in Coffeyville, Kansas, during their ill-fated attempt to rob two banks simultaneously on October 5, 1892. This pivotal event marked the end of the notorious Dalton Gang's reign of terror.
The Fatal Raid in Coffeyville
The raid on Coffeyville was an ambitious and ultimately disastrous endeavor by the Dalton Gang. Their plan to rob both the C.M. Condon & Co. Bank and the First National Bank at the same time quickly unraveled. Town citizens, alerted to the robbery, armed themselves and engaged in a fierce gunfight with the gang.
Key Casualties in Death Alley
During the intense shootout in what became known as Death Alley, several members of the Dalton Gang met their demise:
- Bob Dalton: The leader of the gang.
- Grat Dalton: Bob's brother and a prominent gang member.
- Bill Powers: An associate of the Dalton Gang.
These three individuals were killed outright in Death Alley. Following their deaths, Bob and Grat Dalton, along with Bill Powers, were laid out in the city jail before their burial.
| Individual | Fate in Coffeyville Raid | Burial Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dalton | Killed in Death Alley, Coffeyville | Elmwood Cemetery, Coffeyville |
| Grat Dalton | Killed in Death Alley, Coffeyville | Elmwood Cemetery, Coffeyville |
| Bill Powers | Killed in Death Alley, Coffeyville | Elmwood Cemetery, Coffeyville |
| Dick Broadwell | Escaped on horseback but died about half a mile from downtown | Hutchinson |
| Emmett Dalton | Severely wounded but survived, later served time in prison |
Aftermath and Burial
After the deadly confrontation, Bob and Grat Dalton, along with Bill Powers, were interred in Coffeyville's Elmwood Cemetery. Another gang member, Dick Broadwell, managed to escape the immediate vicinity on horseback but succumbed to his injuries approximately half a mile from the downtown area. He was subsequently buried in Hutchinson. Emmett Dalton was the only Dalton brother to survive the Coffeyville raid, though he was severely wounded and captured.
The events in Death Alley effectively ended the Dalton Gang's criminal activities and became a significant chapter in the history of the American Old West.
