Jack Slade and the Virginia Dale Stage Robbery
What was the treasure that Jack Slade got from the Virginia Dale stage robbery? Was the treasure worth what he went through?
What was the treasure that Jack Slade got from the Virginia Dale stage robbery? Was the treasure worth what he went through?
Joseph Alfred "Jack" Slade was one of the most notorious figures of the Old West. He served as a division superintendent for the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company, responsible for keeping the stagecoach line running through one of the most dangerous territories in the country.
Virginia Dale was a stage station in northern Colorado, on the Cherokee Trail. It was one of the most important stops between Denver and points north. Slade was station master there for a time, and the legends say he used his position to help himself to some of the valuables that passed through.
The most famous story involves a robbery at the Virginia Dale station. According to the legend, Slade made off with a strongbox containing a fortune in gold. The treasure was said to have been buried somewhere in the vicinity of the station, but was never recovered.
Slade's end came in Montana, where he was hanged by vigilantes in 1864. He had become a drunkard and was terrorizing the town of Virginia City. The vigilantes gave him no trial—they simply strung him up from a corral post in the main street.
Did Slade really bury treasure near Virginia Dale? Many have searched, but the treasure—if it ever existed—has never been found.
Johnny Walker
Johnny has been prospecting Colorado and Arizona for over 20 years. He runs Prospector Center with his wife Laurie, sharing practical knowledge gained from countless hours in the field.
