Crowsnest Alberta - It's been 100 years since passengers of a train travelling through Crowsnest Pass were robbed at gunpoint by three men who fled with money and other valuables.
 
To remember the anniversary of the train heist and subsequent deadly shooting, manhunt, final arrest, controversial court case, and hanging, the Crowsnest Heritage Initiative is hosting historical events online and in-person this weekend.
 
"The Sentinel Train Robbery and Bellevue Cafe Shootout made international headlines 100 years ago, but are almost forgotten today. Part of the reason may be the abundance of other large-scale dramatic events in Crowsnest Pass history, the Frank Slide, the Hillcrest Mine Disaster, prohibition rum-running, and many other things. We are the most historic region in Alberta," said Ian McKenzie, a volunteer with the Crowsnest Heritage Initiative.
 
The Crow's Nest railroad line, completed in 1898, was key in the establishment of a dozen coal mines, mining camps, and towns in the southwestern area of Alberta.
 
The area was known for being a challenge to law enforcement, with the first killing of a police officer in Alberta in 1908, and some of Alberta's greatest historical losses of life with the Frank Slide in 1903, the Bellevue Mine Explosion in 1910, and the Hillcrest Mine Disaster in 1914.
 
But Crowsnest Pass's most tragic episode of criminal violence began 2 Aug 1920 when three men robbed a train at gunpoint at Sentinel Siding, taking about $400 in cash and other valuable items, including the conductor's pocket watch.
 
The thieves, George Arkoff, Alex Auloff, and Tom Bassoff, boarded Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) number 63 in Lethbridge and waited until the train was in the Crowsnest Pass, clear of Coleman, before they moved into the baggage car, assaulted the conductor, and fired a warning shot.
 
They fled the train into the woods with their haul.
 
Police were alerted at the train's next stop and a manhunt ensued.
 
Knowing they were wanted criminals, Auloff left for the United States, but Arkoff and Bassoff stayed in the area.
 
The two were spotted at the Bellevue Cafe on 7 Aug 1920.
 
Alberta Provincial Police constables Frewin and Bailey, and RCMP corporal Usher, attempted to arrest them in the cafe by entering with guns drawn.
 
Arkoff reached for his own gun and was shot by Frewin, Bassoff managed to grab Usher's gun hand and was shot in the leg.
 
But in the following frenzy, Frewin left the building, Usher was fatally shot, and Bailey tripped over Usher's body and was also fatally shot, witnesses recorded.
 
As they escaped, Arkoff succumbed to his gunshot wound and died in the street, but Bassoff made it out of town.
 
Local citizens were deputized to join the manhunt for Bassoff.
 
Shot and exhausted, Bassoff found help from a nurse at the Holloway ranch house, where his leg was bandaged and he was fed with the promise that police wouldn't be called.
 
They were called, as soon as he left, but he slipped away.
 
He avoided capture until 11 Aug 1920 when he was found by detectives at the eastern end of Crowsnest Pass.
 
Bassoff was found guilty at trial, though there was a lack of ballistic evidence.
 
He was hanged 22 Dec 1920 in Lethbridge.
 
The trail for Auloff had gone cold for three years, until a CP pocket watch with the conductor Sam Jones' name inscribed on it popped up in a pawn shop in Portland, Oregon.
 
APP detective Schrappe was called to investigate and Auloff was arrested in Butte, Montana.
 
He was sentenced to seven years in the Prince Albert penitentiary, where he died.
 
The scene of the train robbery remains a CP siding and the Bellevue Cafe stands as a historical building.
 
And the conductor's pocket watch is part of a collection at the Crowsnest Museum.
 
"Crowsnest Pass celebrates its extensive history every August long weekend with our Doors Open and Heritage Festival. But with COVID-19, we have had to replace our normal events with some online events, and some in-person but socially distanced events," said McKenzie.
 
The virtual and in-person events are being held from 31 Jul 2020 to 12 Aug 2020.
 
The events include a livestream memorial service for fallen police, a virtual bus tour of the principal crime scene, a museum exhibit, mystery town tour, public art gallery, and self-guided town heritage brochures.
 
Stephanie Babych.