True Crime Chronicles: Annie Oakley had nothing on Crawford County hero pioneer woman Polly Burnap

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In the remote wilderness of Crawford County, during the early spring of 1876, frontier life was harsh and dangerous. Mail routes crisscrossed isolated areas on horseback, making carriers prime targets for robbers. It was in this setting that Polly Burnap, a pioneer's wife, became a local legend by outsmarting and defeating two-armed intruders intent on robbery and murder.

Jacob Burnap, a pioneer settler, lived with his wife Polly and their nine-year-old child in a cabin near Horsehead, about fifteen miles from the nearest neighbor. The area was sparsely populated, with threats from outlaws common after the Civil War.

Jacob often hunted and traded furs, leaving Polly to manage the home. Before departing downriver with a boatload of furs and skins, he armed her with a light rifle and a brace of pistols. Polly was no stranger to firearms--she was skilled with the rifle and had hunted alongside her husband many times.

While Jacob was away for four days, Polly handled the isolation with her child. On one evening, Lant Morton, the mail carrier for the route, arrived on horseback. Morton, a small, muscular man around forty years old, was a regular visitor who always stayed overnight at the Burnap cabin.

He carried valuable mail, which made him a potential target. Polly welcomed him, prepared supper, and they discussed news from the eastern valley, including a recent robbery on the creek. Morton retired early, exhausted from his ride, while Polly continued sewing clothes for her child at the table.

Around 10 p.m., two men slipped into the cabin silently, having removed their shoes outside. The leader was Dick Gallus, a notorious outlaw with a distinctive scar on his left cheek. Polly recognized him from her husband's warnings.

His accomplice was unnamed in records. Gallus held a cocked pistol and threatened to kill anyone who made a sound. Their goal was clear: rob the mail carrier of his valuable load and likely eliminate witnesses, including Polly and her child.

The robbers demanded to know where the mail carrier was sleeping. Polly, staying calm under pressure, suggested they wait until morning but complied when ordered to lead them. She guided them to a side door that opened inward to a deep cellar excavation, accessible only by a perpendicular ladder. As the men crowded forward, Polly flung the door open, causing both to tumble into the pit below.

Seizing the moment, Polly grabbed the rifle from above the fireplace, cocked it, and advanced on the cellar. Hearing the men curse and fumble for the ladder, she positioned herself strategically. As one robber—pistol in hand—emerged at the threshold, Polly shouted "Back!" and fired, striking him down. He groaned and fell back into the pit.

The gunshot woke Lant Morton, who rushed in with his own pistols drawn. As the second robber appeared in the doorway, Morton shot him dead on the spot. Polly's quick thinking and marksmanship had turned a deadly ambush into a rout, saving Morton's life, her own, and her child's.

Jacob Burnap returned the next morning, having sold his furs quickly and cut his trip short. Polly embraced him, and Morton explained the events. Jacob, initially skeptical, inspected the cellar and confirmed the bodies. He praised Polly as his "jewel," proud of her courage in defending their home.

Morton rode to the nearest settlement to report the incident. Officers arrived that afternoon, examined the scene, and removed the bodies. No charges were filed against Polly or Morton; the killings were ruled self-defense, a common outcome in frontier justice where law enforcement was scarce.

Word spread quickly, and the local settlement hailed Polly as a "border heroine." Her actions exemplified the grit required in post-Civil War Arkansas, where women like her often had to protect their families amid isolation and outlaw threats. Morton's comment--that if he had a wife like Polly, he wouldn't settle for being just a mail carrier—underscored her impact.

Polly Burnap's story highlights the dangers of 19th-century frontier life in Crawford County, where mail robberies were frequent due to the lack of secure transport. Her clever use of the cellar trap and skilled shooting not only thwarted the crime but also saved lives without hesitation. In an era when women were expected to stay in the background,

Polly's heroism showed the vital role they played in survival. Though details of her later life are scarce, her 1876 stand remains a testament to everyday courage in Arkansas history.