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This Day in Arkansas History

April 6, 1894

Three men convicted of carrying out what proved to be the last train robbery in Arkansas were hanged outside the city jail in Newport (Jackson County). The robbery took place in the small town of Olyphant (Jackson County), when bandits robbed the seven-car Train No. 51 of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, killing the Irish-born conductor, William P. McNally, in a shootout. The train had been pulled off to a side track so that the Cannonball Express, a much faster train, could pass. What followed the robbery was a sensationalized manhunt and the execution of three of the four bandits involved in the incident; the fourth served as a witness against the others.

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Jeff Davis

Rocky Comfort (Little River County) native Jeff Davis, whose 1901–1907 governorship was one of the most tumultuous in Arkansas history, is shown here in 1904 on a visit to Chicago, Illinois. Davis railed against corporations in his campaigns and often resorted to race baiting. Named after Confederate president Jeff Davis, Davis had a divisive tenure in office, creating many enemies. However, Davis dominated Democratic politics in the state in the early years of the twentieth century, being thrice elected to the office of governor and going on to become a U.S. senator.

 

Rocky Comfort (Little River County) native Jeff Davis, whose 1901–1907 governorship was one of the most tumultuous in Arkansas history, is shown here in 1904 on a visit to Chicago, Illinois. Davis railed against corporations in his campaigns and often resorted to race baiting. Named after Confederate president Jeff Davis, Davis had a divisive tenure in office, creating many enemies. However, Davis dominated Democratic politics in the state in the early years of the twentieth century, being thrice elected to the office of governor and going on to become a U.S. senator.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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