River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-09-14
RAID BY ROBBERS.
The Missouri Train Robbers Undertake 10
go Through Minnesota Bank,
but meet a Bluody Re-
eeptiOn.
Three Men IkiIIed ana Two wounded.


The history of highwaymen and
bandits never recorded a more bold,
dashing and yet unsuccessful attempt
at robbery than was made at North
field, Mimi, on Thursday. the eth inst.
An account of 1t is remindful of the
days when British knights of the road
said"Stand and deliver, and when sur
rounded by ten times their number
put spurs to their horses and defied
sword and bullet.
Mortified is, be it stated for the in
formation of those not acquainted with
the fact, a quiet little city of about
two thousand inhabitants, situated in
Rice county and on the line of the Iowa
and Minnesota division of the Milwau-
kee & st. Paul railroad, about forty
miles from st. Paul.
The inhabitants are peacefully dis
posed, and the morals of the city are
notably of the undemonstrative char.
acter; its people prosperous and
happy.
On the morning stated three
men rode leisurely into town and
took dinner at a restaurant ON the west
side of the Cannon River, which flows
through the town, took everything in
liesurelv manner, ate heartily, dis
cussed politics amo"g themselves. paid
their bill, and one of the number, to
all appearances the leader of the gang,
offered to bet the restaurant proprietor
ono hundred dollars that this State
would go Democratic. The bet was
not accepted, and the three men
mounted their horses and drove across
the bridge.
They tied their horses near Gee &
IIitchcock's corner, very nearly in
front of the bank. For few moments
they stood leisurely talking among
Il emselves at the corner, afterwards
moving toward the bank which they
entered. At the very same time there
rode across the bridge into the large
open square, three men, mounted and
armed to the teeth, and heading their
horst S into gallop commenced yelling
and firing their reyolvers, ordering
everyone inside. The shots were fired
in every direction, as the ma ks on the
buildings indicate. The square was
immediately cleared, store doors closed,
AMI surprise that produced only COM
pliance with the sudden and desperate
command prevailed. simultaneously
there rode down from the west into
the main street, two or three other
men, who observed the same kind of
tactics as the three that had Just
crossed the bridge.
With promptness that speaks vol.
umes for the bravery of several of the
citizens of Northfeld, and an intuition
of what the intent of the desperadoes
were, that is simply remarkable, armed
themselves and did effective service.
DR.. llenrylWheeler, young physician
suddenly recollecting that there was
an old breech loading carbine in the
Dampier House, fronting on the open
square, where the robbers were dash.
ing about and firing shots in every di-
rection, issued from drug store, and
Drawing fusilade of bullets from the
robbers, ran for his life down half a
block, secured the rusty old weapon,
loaded it, and from position in one
of the hotel windows commenced TO
lire on the intrepid horsemen.
Meantime Mr. A. r. Manning, who
keeps n store four doors from the cor.
ner, had also secured rifle, and Joe
Hyde brought mp the rear with a shot.
gun. Geo. ID. Bates took position in
the door OF llanam's clothing store, di.
rectly opposite the corner, and under
the window occupied by Wheeler, and
with an empty revolver sought TO in.
timidate the robbers. The firing CON-
menced In sharp earnest.
The rob- ers had in the interim con.
gregated in front Of or about the bank
and had vacated the square. MIR. Man.
ming took position at Lee 4 Hitch.
cocks corner, and slipping out at In.
teryals discharged his rifle. When he
FIRST put his head out he discovered
several crouclling behind a horse pre-.
senting q broadside 20 Mr.. Manning.
lie let lily and killed the horse, thus
summarily disposng Of that fortified.
tiUn. One more shot he got in and
which he believes brought down
horseman who had adopted the Indian
tactics Of hiding behind his horses
neck and firing a running ERE. Boyd
had meantime succeeded in discbarg.