Outlaw David Lant
Dave Lant was one of those outlaws who wasn't particularly well-known. In fact, if it wasn't for his association with Harry Tracy, a well-known habitual criminal, he still may not have been known. The infamous Robber's Roost/Hole in the Wall area of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming was where he hung out and committed his crimes.
David Barnabas Lant was born on September, 14, 1874, at Payson, Utah Territory. His parents, David T. and Elsie Tanner Lant, were devout Mormons. There were nine children total. Elsie was the second wife of Lant. David Barnabas was their first son, who lived in a separate home with his mother away from Lant's other wife and family. His father supported the family by raising a dairy herd and by preaching. His mother died when he was thirteen. It was about this time lant began to rebel. He left home at about sixteen. He made a living largely by herding sheep in the Vernal, Utah Territory area. It was there that he had his first brush with the law.
On February 4, 1897, a drunken Lant staggered into the Exchange Saloon. He started to argue with proprietor, James McNaughton. Lant struck him over the head with a liquor bottle knocking him down. When David went to pick up another bottle, McNaughton's partner, William McCaslin, thought he was going for a gun. He drew his gun and fired three shots. Two shots missed their target, but the third shot hit Lant in the shoulder.
From there, Lant went to Woodruff, Utah, near the Wyoming border. On August 19, 1897, Lant, Charles Ferguson, and William Johnson robbed the Cook Brother's General Mercantile Store. They each stole several sets of clothing. They were captured, but they were released because the stolen clothing could not be found. Two days later a sheriff caught them with the stolen merchandise and arrested them again. While waiting for his trial, Lant and his friends tried to escape, but they were caught again. On September 7, 1897, the three men were found guilty. Lant and Johnson were each sentenced to eight years in prison, and Ferguson to four years.
Within thirty days, Lant, Harry Tracy, W.H. Brown, and Frank Edwards hatched a plan for escape the state prison near Salt Lake City. On October 7, 1897, the men escaped from a prison work crew while working on a water ditch. They were chased by a posse for over a month, but were never caught. They returned to the Vernal area and from there went on to Wyoming and the Hole-in-the-Wall. They stayed for just a short time before moving on to Powder Springs. They stayed there a short time before moving on to Robber's Roost. On the way there they hooked up with Pat Johnson, who was also on the run for killing a ranch hand at Valentine Hoy's spread at Brown's Park.
Latest Articles