The Reno Gang: The Most Daring Band of Train Robbers

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Obviously some scammer has decided to trade on my fame. They say impersonation is the sincerest form of flattery... To be clear: I do not use "WhatsApp," and if I respond to a comment, I do not fill the comment with blue hearts. The impersonator has been reported, but please do not respond to them.

[@shawnharrington9548]

Yeah, the blue hearts were a giveaway.

[@kkattavega117]

The price of Fame.. I guess

[@ericmelto7810]

No one is like you THG. they can try. but not a chance

[@patrickrose1221]

Thank you . By the way , my great grandfather was working in the canteen at Hucknall Aerodrome during the war . It was at the time a secret testing ground where apart from being the testing ground for the p51 mustang with a merlin engine , it was also where they tested the ' Flying Bedstead - the first vtol aircraft. One day he came home from work and told everyone that they'd caught an escaped German pilot who tried to steal a hurricane from the runway . The one that got away ' Hans werra I think was the pilot . He did manage to escape from transit to a Canadian pow camp by rolling out of the train window and drifting across to America in a boat he was returned via Brazil I think back to Germany . You probably know the story , it's just that connection with my great grandfather being there at the time. Love your show , well presented and very informative , keep it up pal .

[@greygibson6925]

The highest compliment that is possible for a work of art is to have it stolen. You are the only true THG by having the certification of being on your own program. Keep up the good work.

[@hobbified]

"An opportunist, a lawyer, and politician" - but I repeat myself.

[@stevehunter261]

Now that wis funny!!! It's also a true starment

[@davidhollowood6580]

I’d like to see an expose on the Pinkerton Detective Agency. They weren’t always on the up and up and I’m pretty sure some historical events might have gone differently without their influence.

[@stevedietrich8936]

Congrats on starting your second million off with a bang THG. Really loved the intro graphics by the way. My wife grew up 50 miles from Seymour and had never heard of this gang.

[@b.t.2796]

“Fast is fine, boys, but accuracy is finer”. Wild Bill Hickok

[@em1osmurf]

Calamity Jane: "Always shoot twice."

[@thegreenbird795]

"Don't go for that gun Reno"

[@brianarbenz1329]

I grew up in New Albany, Ind. and the Reno brothers being jailed in our city was always prominently taught in our schools, though the lynching was not highlighted. Thank you, HG, for filling in a lot of detail, even the grisly parts.

[@danamunkelt3276]

In a bit of linguistic irony, the first train robbery in the West was on the Central Pacific RR, Nov. 4, 1870 near Reno Nevada. $41,000 in gold coin from the San Francisco Mint was on it's way to Virginia City Nevada to pay the miners (paper money wasn't used here). The robbers, led by "Smiling" Jack Davis, boarded at Verdi Nevada, took control of the train, stopped at Lawton Hot Springs, 4 miles west of Reno and a mile from my house, and took off with the gold. No one was injured. The Washoe County sheriff captured them all in a few weeks, but "Smiling " Jack apparently hid $3000 In coin somewhere and it has not been found. Care to look for it? Say, are train robbers pirates?

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

Verdi is a good ambush point

[@majorlee76251]

When I was on the california zephyr, we had guides from the California railroad museum who advised that some of the bad guys were army deserters. Nice ride btw.

[@leegoddard2618]

🤦 Nooo, they're train robbers. Hence the name "Train Robbers". 😜

[@kkattavega117]

Never occurred to me...?are train robbers pirates???🤔 Nice one....😁😎

[@MikeJBeebe]

I wonder if those were the gold coins found buried near Saddle Ridge in California a couple of years ago? The dates on the coins and the amount stolen match up very closely.

[@lordgabe92]

Hey this is my family!! Thank you for doing this video!

[@jeffstrite8190]

The writing on the prison wall (noted in John Reno's autobiography) was from the King James Version Bible: Proverbs 13:15 "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard."

[@tonyhoneyman3693]

Rage at Dawn 1955 movie, starring my favorite actor Randolph Scott, was a good movie about these Brothers. Need to watch. Love your coverage of history. Thumbs up!!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

The movie is now public domain. There is a clip in the video.

[@GasCityGuy]

I grew up in the Seymour, IN area, we loved having towns in the area mentioned in a Hollywood film but had to chuckle, especially in the opening credits of Rage at Dawn with classic scenery of the southwestern desert and saguaro cactus. We didn't quite find those things in south central Indiana.

[@nathangreer8219]

@@GasCityGuy Wasn't the "small town" of John C Mellencamp's song Seymour, IN?

[@turnerdan53]

@@nathangreer8219 Yes it is and the farm house is close to Rockford where the Reno's were from. This is less than 10 miles from where I live now.

[@GasCityGuy]

@@nathangreer8219 Yes! Seymour is the hometown of John Mellencamp! Other Seymour claims of fame are 2009 Miss America Katie Stam and, depending on the list, the Nations 2nd or 3rd largest high school basketball gymnasium which holds an SRO crowd in excess of 8,000 fans. Not too shabby for a town with a population of 19,000.

[@HM2SGT]

1 million & growing, he must be doing something right! Can you think of anything else that has been so consistently excellent? This guy is so good so often I am running out of superlatives! Lance the history guy Geiger, thank you kindly!

[@raywood8187]

That's a whole lot of bow tie followers!

[@jjphank]

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. Proverbs 13:15 - 17 Repent or you’re going to burn in hell for eternity, Jesus said 11+ times in the New Testament! Read the Bible stop ignoring God

[@HughesEnterprises]

Mark felton productions

[@jjphank]

@@HughesEnterprises Ignore God, you will be on the hell, so you need to read the Bible! start in the New Testament That’s the day and age we live in in the book of John!

[@chrisclark8467]

I enjoyed this. I was born and raised in Seymour Indiana { as was John Mellencamp }. I heard about the Renos all my life. I grew up about three miles from Rockford in a community called Madden Hill. My eighth grade history teacher wrote a book call the Masked Halters about the Reno Gang. His name was Edwin Boley.

[@MatrixGamer1988]

As another person who grew up in the area around New Albany, I heard of the Renos as a kid. Mean as snakes. Nobody regretted their lynching. My dad, George Engle, did a painting of them in the 1960's.

[@exidy-yt]

There are so many interesting stories of the American frontier era that are all but forgotten today and that;s a shame. Thank human nature for bring out The History Guy to keep at least some of the best from being forgotten.

[@exidy-yt]

@The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Reme▫️ Sorry, I don't reply to fake profiles.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Yup- that, obviously, wasn't me.

[@troymundy7420]

Wow that history I didn't know! And I'm a lifelong Indiana resident as matter of fact I'm from Lawrence county Indiana! Jasksons county next door ! Thanks what a story!

[@legacyShredder1]

The jail cell they were once booked in is on display here in Seymour next to the old train depot that serves as a community area. Also their graves are in a cemetery on highway 11/Ewing St leaving town.

[@Jeremy-cp7zr]

I grew up in Seymour, Indiana outside of Rockford and lived across the street as a young teen from the Reno brothers gravesites.. Thanks for the video...

[@navret1707]

“Bounty jumping” - first I’ve about this. Interesting.

[@WildBillCox13]

That kind of thing is why there is a national database now. Not to protect the individual, but to maintain order in the society.

[@bloodybones63]

@@WildBillCox13 Maybe apply something along those lines to the voting process?

[@weirdshibainu]

Same. I guess you could get away with it for a longtime, unless you just happened to cross paths with someone again in authority who had processed your boutny once before.

[@trh55]

It was mentioned in the Ken Burns series on the Civil War. They mentioned a guy that did it 32 times before he got caught. $300 was a lot of money back then, but from the carnage I've seen of that war, it was worth it.

[@dp-sr1fd]

It was done in England during the Napoleonic wars by volunteers who "took the King's shilling". They would then desert and go to another town and volunteer again. When caught they would receive a suspended sentence.

[@Sabrasmkk]

Ah, yes. I first ran across this story after seeing Rage at Dawn with Randolph Scott. Not sure how accurate that movie was, but I was always fascinated by this story since my relatives on my Mom's side live in Indiana.

[@darthstanley166]

Born in Seymour and grew up with this history! That whole area used to run on trains growing up! Also check out local historian Edwin Boley. He was my history teacher and he did a lot of work on the Reno Brothers.

[@andreweden9405]

I'm from Indianapolis, but I have many ancestors from Brownstown, Medora and Vallonia. I'll always remember my great-grandmother pointing out Hangman's Crossing whenever we would pass it in the car!

[@sunnyjacksmack]

I moved my family to Seymour In 1991. The first thing I learned when we settled was about the notorious Reno Brothers. Until now I was never able to get all the facts.

[@charlesclager6808]

Loved your story. Never heard of the Reno Brothers or their exploits until now. Thanks.

[@markc4050]

Another gang to look up on wikipedia is the Doan Gang. Distant relations. They would steal your horse and sell it to the Red Coats.

[@dsalab]

My Grandfather was Reno. He talked about this but I was just a kid so don’t remember the stories. Should have paid more attention.

[@fireangel6038]

Congrats on your 1 Million history guy. I’ve been watching your videos since mid 2018 and have loved seeing your channel grow and evolve. Here’s to the next million 🍻

[@michaelmonaghan2717]

We could use some of that justice today! As long as they are guilty, no harm done!

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

Another outstanding episode about history that should have remembered. Thank you so much.

[@newalbanywickedwalk2310]

I lead a ghost/crime tour in the city of New Albany, IN (The New Albany Wicked Walk) and share parts of this story (esp the end of the Reno Gang) on many of my tours! Thanks so much for covering this!

[@tdsilverado7470]

1 million subs, Congrats ! And as always a great video. Keep it coming. And thank you.

[@MarkHorningJazzer]

My father's family lived in Rockford during this period. One of the members hanged is a distant relative of mine. Nice history lesson!

[@andreweden9405]

My mom's family is from this area, and I'll always remember my great-grandmother showing us Hangman's Crossing as we would pass it.

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Happy for your 1 million. Your stories with the emotion that your pics being it are bound to hit 2 million

[@dukecraig2402]

That Navy recruiting poster behind you, there used to be an authentic (not that your's isn't but they are making reproduction one's now) one behind the bar in the Antique Bar and Grill in Brownsville PA. Brownsville also has the first all iron bridge in America, the Dunlaps Creek Bridge built in 1836.

[@MatthewSchuller]

This is not the first time you listed places in a wild west town and mentioned a Masonic Lodge. As a freemason myself, I love that you add that detail. These fraternities were so important back then. There are great freemason stories from the Civil War such as a time sailors from a Union ship found a Confederate unit and approached them under a white flag saying the commander of the vessel was a mason and he had been killed (he, sadly, actually shot himself). He had asked for a Masonic Funeral service, so they asked the confederates if there were any masons among them. There were. They did the service and even buried the commander with an Episcopalian ceremony. This sort of temporary unofficial truce happened several times during the war. Masons reenacted this funeral in 2013. Masons did fight and kill each other during the war since your loyalty did not change, but they did respect the fraternity. There were cases of buildings in the south being burned, but masons saving and protecting masonic regalia. This regalia usually included some jewelry and a bible and may some other bits of masonic historical significance. Northern grand lodges would hold this regalia and after the war, when it was possible or feasible, would return the items to the southern grand lodges and individual lodges. I can't find a specific reference, but I also understand that on occasion homes were protected from being burned down. In one case, a wife asked if there were any masons among the northern soldiers and showed proof that her husband, who was either killed or being held prisoner, was a mason. Many masons and northern grand lodges were considered by some to be traitors for these actions. I personally think that if things that bring us together and things we have in common save even a single life, then it is worth it.

[@jliller]

"I personally think that if things that bring us together and things we have in common save even a single life, then it is worth it." I think exactly the opposite. Freemasonry (and fraternal organizations in general) result in some individuals getting special treatment because they went through some stupid initiation ritual.

[@Aphercotropes]

Quite simply the most underrated channel on KZbin.

[@dankauffmanmusic]

The way of the transgressor is hard. Haunting words no matter what side you find yourself on.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Great job on this! I love the old west history!

[@joeyw7325]

Best story teller on KZbin. Anyone else get Mo Rocca vibes when listening sometimes?

[@johnwood551]

The way of the transgressor is hard, unless you’re a politician.

[@Face2theScr33n]

Right, they should've eventually used the money to become politicians! Kept robbing and thieving too long and too large.

[@em1osmurf]

hell, Liar Joe's been practicing his art for 40 years, and hasn't gotten caught (yet). nothing to show for it except millions of bucks in the bank, so i guess he's a success. hell, he said right on tv i was guaranteed $2000, and "sent" me $1400. and america just swallowed that whole load without choking.

[@bliztix2]

Best comment

[@DT-sb9sv]

I was wondering if they are related to the Clinton family in some way.

[@sidraket]

harder to break a law when you are the one writing them

[@ctopanga14]

Thank you for this great video. My grandfather was raised in Jackson County, and one of the family stories is that my great-grandfather remembers seeing the bodies of the gang swinging from Hangman Crossing as a child. 😳

[@randelbrooks]

well done especially most of the graphics and film footage that you supplied. Of course the shot of the girl riding with a quill pen is wrong for the time. Metal pinpoints had been perfected in the 1840s no one wanted to spend their time having to cut and trim a quil I’m an old calligrapher so I learned a lot about those things over the years along with my filmmaking and historical reenacting and costuming and all that other stuff. Thank you Lance.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

5:31 He was a opportunist, a lawyer and a politician; I see nothing has changed. I am glad the vigilance committee took care of business that obviously needed attending to.

[@webstercat]

I’d enjoy seeing that today.

[@talisikid1618]

While violating US /International law & international treaty backed by the president? Maybe not.

[@mattphillips1910]

Yet another fantastic video by the History Guy. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us. More American history please!

[@c.w.johnsonjr6374]

Rage at Dawn (1955) with Randolph Scott also portrays the Ringo Gang's exploits and demise.

[@robinconner9450]

Bounty jumpers would be a great topic to discuss in history classes! I know it would have captured my attention!

[@davidbonds6241]

I sent something wrong. Your voice is the only one I like to hear. It’s perfect to listen to. And I mean no disrespect to any of your family. I love your work and I follow you. Thanks for your love of history. And again keep up the good work

[@rnedlo9909]

Thank you, I had heard of the Reno gang, but did not know the full story. Please think about a future video on the Loomis gang from Upstate New York.

[@vernwallen4246]

Or do an expo on the Schumer/Pelosi gang in DC.😜😜😜

[@rnedlo9909]

@@vernwallen4246 Why stop there, the McConnel gang; Trump Mafioso; Taylor/Gaetz duo: Roger Stone/Stevie Bannon 1/6 coup attempt. Or you can keep you politics out of this. Either way.

[@robertmoulton2656]

Thanks!

[@tomg5187]

Brutal story! Incredibly interesting thank you!

[@therifftones2198]

Happy One Million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Teho231]

Thank you for this wonderful download. History is so interesting.

[@windellisgreat]

Might be some very distant kin of mine. We just had the Reno/Reneau reunion this past weekend and many of those folks have traced heritage to Marcus Reno and Jesse L, both distinguished generals. Great video and congrats on the million!

[@frankgulla2335]

What a great insightful episode about crime in the midwest.

[@twillison8824]

1:00 back when clark county IL went all the way to the northern border. The first land sales for the area that would become Chicago were sold in York illinois, an old river town that at the time was a sprawling town, now but a handful of buildings and empty lots.

[@richardthornhill4630]

"The wheels of justice turn slowly but they grind exceedingly fine." All will reap what they have sown.

[@JeffDeWitt]

Unless the criminal is in politics.

[@rcknbob1]

Train robbers! Manhunts! Pinkertons! Lynchings! Why wasn't this part of Indiana History class when I was a kid? Thanks, History Guy!

[@ParaBellum2024]

Very interesting! Especially the way the vigilantes sorted the bad guys out. At 13:42 you said "complacent", but did you mean "complicit"?

[@laserbeam002]

After the day I have had I needed to sit back and enjoy a good youtube post. I went to THG. You did not disappoint. Thank you for posting.

[@dougwilliams1741]

I've also found of some interest the Newton gang... unique in their own way. Thanks for all the good work you and your wife do in bringing these videos.

[@wendesmith6240]

This story reminded me of the plot of a Randolph Scott (love him) western I have called Rage At Dawn so I just looked it up. It is. Scott plays a Pinkerton agent who brings the Reno gang down.

[@darrellpickering8535]

I grew up watching Randolph Scott on the Late, Late Show in the '50s. I've several of his movies including Rage at Dawn.

[@JosipRadnik1]

Great work History Guy! But honestly - that train at 10:38 looks rather german to me. It's as if Brownstown isn't in Indiana but in the Black Forrest instead. Come to speak of it - ever considered doing a segment on the Wutach Valley Railway, from which the footage probably originates? It has a nice story behind it - albeit far less bloody than that one.

[@pro-n-stal1]

I live in Bedford, IN... Just down the road from Seymour... Look into the stone quarries here and the Empire state building... Also the 3 Apollo Astronauts from here... Maybe a history story to be remembered! Thank you!

[@RGreer-yh6ii]

Your videos fell off my feed and I need to see them everyday again

[@nilo70]

Thank you again for making this happen

[@hbear30]

another great history lesson that i never knew. thanks for your great stories and congrats on hitting 1 million subscribers!

[@Ravenoflight2275]

Loved this one. Thanks History Guy!

[@adamboone8738]

I'm from near N'Albany, and never heard this story. This is fascinating!

[@allendouglas4942]

Back in the 1970s there was a restaurant in Versailles, Indiana (not too far east of Seymour) called the "Hanging Tree", which had an abridged version of this tale appearing on the menu.

[@ajwiegman]

Cool. I actually suggested that you cover this. It’s been a year or two ago. Thanks.

[@tub3y654321]

I just saw you on Expedition Unknown! I'm so happy that I recognized you!

[@patfromjersey]

I love watching your videos! Great job and thank you!

[@AaronHahnStudios]

THG - Have you guys done a video on the "Card Deck"? The good old standard playing cards? Been around for along time.

[@dannybruce2027]

Great story! I’m ready for the Reno Brothers movie now. Or Netflick series.

[@rlr50]

Enjoyed this tale of frontier justice.

[@giantmanice]

Every video uploaded from THG is better than the last. I love history

[@dantheman5745]

Great presentation as always, especially for a story I'd never heard about before. Have to be honest, though, the new quarter at 9:05 took me out of the 19th century and I missed the next couple of minutes of what you said. (that particular obverse first showed up on U.S. quarters in 1999 with the State Quarter series). It was sort of like watching "The Ten Commandments" and seeing one of the extras wearing a wristwatch. I had to rewind and re-listen to what you said because my mind was stuck on the quarter. A small detail, to be sure, but it took away from your presentation just a bit.

[@MojoFromMempho]

Another fine episode!

[@alanmoffat4454]

ANOTHER ONE THATS WORTH WATCHING , THANKS 😊.

[@RazeAVillage]

I'm really glad I found your channel. I think most of your videos can be used as inspiration for DMs wanting to spin good stories.

[@phillipdavis3053]

Grew up in Southern Indiana and heard many stories of the gang and their exploits, including rumors of buried treasures..

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Their treasure was never found...

[@aaronlamp2597]

I was really excited to see you on Expedition Unknown!

[@ffmedicmtfd]

Feeding the algorithm. Thanks for the story. There is a great bluegrass song that talks about them. The first train Robbery by Larry Cordle. Its pretty good.

[@patmcstuff671]

Congrats History Man! Love ur channel and ur content, thank you

[@MJTAUTOMOTIVE]

Congratulations on getting to 1 million Subscribers THG. Well deserved. 👍

[@aylaeh]

There is a song called the first train robbery that is all about the Reno gang. It's a really interesting song and I enjoy it. The first time I heard it I ended up doing research on the Reno brothers. Really interesting stuff.

[@alanhope1190]

The Randolph Scott film, Rage at Dawn, tells the story of the Reno Gang, and was filmed largely in and around Columbia, CA in my home county of Tuolumne. Good film, and I believe it’s on KZbin.

[@SarahsAtticOfTreasures]

Danny Holt sent me here. I have been a fan for a long time. I had to subscribe again. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@timbeam1943]

As always sir, . . .OUTSTANDING!!! PLEASE keep it up.

[@victorespinoza6210]

What an amazing story! How is this not a movie?!

[@ronfullerton3162]

There is a movie based on this staring Randolph Scott. They even have the hanging in the jail. Also gives us an idea about the whys of the vigilante actions.

[@korbell1089]

Thanks THG, I live right across the river from New Albany but had never heard of these guys.

[@ELCADAROSA]

Go Navy!!! (Oh, sorry ... saw the recruiting ad in the background!)

[@roncross1945]

Great video. I’d love to visit Missouri to see these historic sites.

[@powderriver2424]

It just shows how incompetence, corruption, and the lack of action by officials Leeds to citizens handling it on their own. It’s coming to that again on a national scale.

[@tomh6183]

One can only hope so.

[@mikemunro2905]

Oooo I love the new graphic opening!!

[@whattowatchrightnow]

The way of the transgressor is hard is the theme of Cool Hand Luke, a movie that inspired another Seymour, IN native, John Mellencamp. He quotes the movie in several songs.

[@BlueBaron3339]

Nice touch with the famous and influential final scene from The Great Train Robbery, but - unlike most folks - I'm not convinced people of this sort deserve to be remembered 😉

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

But the corruption that permitted them to operate outside of the law with impunity needs to be remembered, along with the consequent vigilantism. Those willing to ignore corruption of the Law by violent criminals will sooner or later face the same environment of vigilantism.

[@BlueBaron3339]

@@DavidFMayerPhD You have a point, David. They just don't hold my interest is all.

[@sterfry8502]

Third! Love the history guy! It’s my favorite show on KZbin!

[@dirtcop11]

The old Jefferson City prison has been replaced by a new prison. I had visited the old prison while it was still in operation. No, I was not an inmate. But I did know some of the inmates. It was the one place that those convicted of felonies did NOT want to go. It was dark and foreboding, the only thing missing during my visit was a thunderstorm, that would have made it more like one of those old prison movies and movies about a certain count who was really bloodthirsty.

[@marvconnelly989]

Outstanding presentation!

[@OffRampTourist]

So enjoy your videos, old and new. Thanks.

[@brucewallace3860]

No doubt about it - this is Top of Your Game video/information. Thanks for your efforts.

[@rodneybiddlecome1649]

Riden & Ropen & Train Robin ohh how l miss it . 😩🌵😭

[@matthewpoplawski8740]

AS ALWAYS THE HISTORY GUY, AN EXCELLENT EPISODE!! Gee...THE HISTORY CHANNEL website ACTUALLY HAS HISTORY?!?!.AMAZING!!! They DON'T HAVE IT on the actual channel. 🤔🤔🤔🤨🤨🤨✌✌✌✌

[@legacyShredder1]

I live right next the Reno brothers graves where there is quite a lot of history in itself.