The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-13

! BANDITS IN MINNESOTA. !
Claude Duval and Dick Turpin,
- -cS-01.s ~; .:.>cg4~ ~, !
A Gang Of Outlaws attack a Bank in Broad
Daylight, Kill the Cashieran Engage ="
b.. the Citizens ina Battle for "
go. tn, full Fifteen Minutes. .,,,s
! Full Particulars Of the Bloody An.sir.
On the 9TH inst. Minnesota became
the theater of operations of the most
desperate band of robbers whose
exploits were ever > !, recorded.
The town of Mortified was the scene
of action, and its citizens to this day
have not recovered from the shock.
1t appears that at an early hour in
the morning tour strangers entered the
town-tine looking, well dressed, and
mounted on good horses. Two Of these
strangers went to restaurant on the
north side of the river, near the depot
and asked for dinner, ordering -four
eggs each with ham. They left their
horses standing loose outside. While
they were eating they chatted famil-,
iarly with the proprietor, asking him
what he thought Of Tilden S chances,
saying they were willing to bet ST., 900
he would be elected. They had scarce
ly finished their meal and gone when
two others came in and ordered the
same lunch.
The horses they rode were very fine
animals, sleek and clean limbed, and
showing indications Of blood. These
men attracted attention from many
persons. They were well dressed, and
nobler looking fellows were never
seen; but there was a reckless, bold
swagger about them that seemed to in
dictate that they would be rough and
dangerous fellows to handle. At about
2 O'Clock the four went toward the
bank, where they were joined by four
others, equally we'll mounted. Three
l entered the bank, one stood at the
I1door, and the other four rode up and
Idown the street, crying out to every
lone they saw ssGit in. you sons Of
60 and firing wildly about. The
people at first were greatly scared, and
lretreated to their stores and shut the
Idoors, but recovering themselves they
soon began to search for firearms. Tn
fortunately there were very few in the
lPlace, many of the citizens being out
Hunting, but a sufficient number were
at length found to make it lively for
the desperate scoundrels. The utmost
GOODNESS and pluck was shown by Mr..
Manning young Wheeler and Mr..
Bates, these men keeping the villains
actively engaged. Bates, especially,
showed 1'grit'' astonishing to all who
know him, as he had nothing but an
empty pistol.
| About two o'clock these men rode
up to the bank, dismounted and en-
tered the bank. In few minutes
were heard several shots fired in rapid
succession. and four other men sim.
ilarly mounted, rode up the bank on to
the street shouting continually, ''Git
in there, you ---." and firing
right and left.
Mr.. Bates, whose store is nearly op-
posite the bank, seized a fine seven
shooter which was not loaded, and as
the men came down again, (they were
riding to and fro, evidently intent up
on keeping people from going toward
the bank), he standing behind the
door jambs, called out. .':Now, I've got
you, and pointed the empty pistol as
If drawing bead on them. They
turned their horses suddenly and fired
at Mr.. Bates, the ball crashing through
the plate glass. This ruse he prac-
tlced over and over again with the
same effect.
Mr.. Bates says Mr.. Manning, of Mill
Square, whose store is in the same
block as the bank, next came upon the
scene. He ran out of his store with a
Remington repeating rifle, and took a
deliberate aim and fired from the cor
ner, Mr.. Bates calling out, ''Jump back
now, Oh they'll getyou." Next Mr.. j.
3. Hide came up with Il dOuble-barrel.
led shot gun and discharged the two
barrels, and retired to reload. Rev.
Phillips also took turn at the scoun-
drels, and L. Stacey delivered cool
deliberate aim. MIR. Bates next heard
report over his head and saw one of
the desperadoes fall from his horse.
The horse made a faltering plunge for
ward and then suddenly stopped and
the man pitched over with his face on
the ground and in few moments was
dead. This shot was fired by Henry
! Wheeler from an old carbine from out
one of the windows of the Danpier
House, from the very room in which
this report is written. Mr.. Manning
was still firing, and as he crept to the
corner to fire, Mr.. Waldo called out
stake good aim before you fire. I'M
mediately after this shot one Of the
horses started up the street and the
rider began to reel and sway to and fro