Wham Paymaster Robbery

Date: May 11, 1889 • Location: Graham County, United States

Bandits attacked a U.S. Army paymaster's escort in the Arizona Territory, stealing more than $28,000.

The Wham Paymaster robbery was an armed robbery of a United States Army paymaster and his escort on May 11, 1889, in the Arizona Territory. Major Joseph W. Wham was transporting a payroll consisting of more than US$28,000 in gold and silver coins from Fort Grant to Fort Thomas when he and his escort of eleven Buffalo Soldiers were ambushed. During the attack, the bandits wounded eight of the soldiers, forced them to retreat to cover, and stole the payroll.