The Doolin-Dalton Gang, also known as the Oklahombres and the Wild Bunch was formed by William “Bill” Doolin in 1893 after his cohorts in the Dalton Gang were killed in the Coffeyville, Kansas raid on October 5, 1892.

Operating out of Indian Territory (Oklahoma), the gang was comprised of a number of members during various times including George “Bitter Creek” Newcomb, Charlie Pierce, Oliver “Ol” Yantis, William Marion “Bill” Dalton, William “Tulsa Jack” Blake, Dan “Dynamite Dick” Clifton; Roy Daugherty, alias “Arkansas Tom” Jones, George “Red Buck” Waightman, Richard “Little Dick” West, and William F. “Little Bill” Raidler.

For three years, the gang specialized in robbing banks, stagecoaches, and trains in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas becoming the terror of the Wild West. For whatever reasons, Doolin held something of a “Robin Hood” image and was well-liked by many people, who helped him and his gang to evade the law. Some of these people also helped the gang in its famous battle in Ingalls, Oklahoma with U.S. Marshals.

Here on the afternoon of September 1, 1893, occurred what is known as the Ingalls Gunfight. While several members of the gang were holed up in George Ransom’s saloon, they were involved in a gun battle that left nine people killed or wounded, including one deputy who died immediately and another two people who died of their wounds the next day. Three of the outlaws were wounded and Arkansas Tom Jones was captured.

The robberies and killings continued until Doolin was captured in a Eureka Springs, Arkansas bathhouse by Deputy U.S. Marshal Bill Tilghman in January, 1896. Tilghman returned him to the Guthrie, Oklahoma jail. Later, however; Doolin, along with “Dynamite Dick” Clifton, and several others escaped and Doolin eluded apprehension for several months.

However, a posse led by Heck Thomas tracked him down near Lawson, Oklahoma Territory on August 25, 1896. When Thomas demanded he surrender, he pulled his six-gun and fired twice before a blast from a shotgun fired by Deputy Bill Dunn and rifle bullets fired by Thomas cut him to pieces, thus signaling the passing of the Wild Bunch.

Of the other members of the Oklahombres:

By Kathy Weiser-Alexander, updated February 2020.

Also See:

William “Bill” Doolin

Ingalls, Oklahoma Gunfight

Marshal, Evett Dumas “E.D.” Nix

U.S. Deputy Marshals