Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-10-05
THE NORTHFIELD ROBBERS.


II MN III 4h6o AOooAh0s
Details OF the Capture--An Interview hh tho
Wounded Desperadoes
From the st. Paul Pioneer Press and Tribune
James Glispin, Sheriff OF Watouw-
an county, overlook the four robbers
just as they had crossed Lake Hanska
slough. This slough is not passable
for horses, but as Glispin was within
gun-shot he cried out to the robbers
to halt. The robbers broke into
run at the Sheriff's command, going
due South toward the Watouwan river
Glispin and two of his party fired at
the fleeing robbers without effect, and
the robbers were soon out of range.
At this moment party of four far.
mers with poor guns joined Glispin.
Glispin divided his party, four going
east to go around on that side of the
slough, and then going west about
two and half miles to find a crossing.
Before Glispin and his party could
cross the robbers had made Z distance
of over two miles to the south, being
only about three-q quarters of mile
from the river. Ghspin and Will
Estes were in advance, and riding up
to within twenty rods of the robbers
they called out, "What do you want?"
G!ispin replied, ''rhrow up your
hands and surrender" The robbers
answered: "Come up and we wont
hurt you," and continued walking off.
Glispin and Estes opened fire on the
robbers, and the robbers re-
turned the fire, each one FIR
ing. Glispin and Estes were obliged
to dismount, a ball just grazing Glls-
pins horse, and others whizzing
round. Many shots were exchanged
and the skirmish ended, the robbers
retreating to the Watouwan River,
and Sinking in the brush. BY this
time Glispin's five parties had joined
and forming a skirmlsh line, advanced
around the robbers and pursued them
into the river and into the willows and
plum brush on the south lside. Citi
zens now began to arrive in numbers,
and the day had reached two o'clock
p. NJ. Captain Murphey volunteered
Sheriff Glispin to skirmish the brush
with any men who would accompany
them. Promptly Col. Vaught, James
Stevenson, Benjamin Rice, George
Bradfo ford and Charles Pomeroy vol
unteered. Hardly ten rods of ground
had been passed when one of the rob-
bers rose from the thick brush, only
distance of fifteen feet from the line
advancing and opposite Murphey and
Glspin whose places were in the line
next to the river. The robber drew
his revolver upon Glispin, Glispin at
the same time drawing his rifle on the
robbers. Both fired nearly at the
same instont, Glispin bringing down
his man. Glispin dropped to his
knees to reload, when CAPTAIN Muir;
the stopping robbers, who were oil
firing rapidly at tho advancing line.
ALI OF Giispin's men opened fire at the
same moment, and the engagement
became general. In FIVE minutes
over thirty shots had been fired by
the robbers without taking effect, one
ball striking Captain Murphey on the
riobt stomach, but providentially
striking q large rosewood pipe in
Captain Murphey's vest pocket, and
thus saving his life. George Bradford
was struck on the wrist making
slight flesh wound, but so true was
the fire of the citizens that three OF the
robbers we're laid PROSTATE on the
ground, one being dead and two pad
" wounded, the last man beng the
man who was wounded at Northheid,
threw up his hands and said: 81 give
mn: the rest of the boys are all shot to
pieces!' He advanced to the citizens
and surrendered hismelf to Captain
Murphey, who took his pistols. This
--.,'n- led to the place where lay ms
three companions. Ullsph hao slne
dead and wounded placed in wagon
and brought to Medalia, where Drs.
Oversholt and Cooley dressed the
wounds of the living and they were
placed in beds in the Vaught Hotel,
where they are now lying.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ROBBERS
first called on Cole and James
Younger, who occupy bed togeth-
| er. Both are terribly wounded and
their faces much disfgured. They
certainly,do nat look like such des-
peradoes as they are. Cole, who has
bright red whiskers. had his right eye
bandaged, and said he was suffering
from seven wounds. James has q
fearful looking mouth, the lower jaw
bone being shattered. These men
suffer much and their talk is some
times delerious. Both are brave, new
err moaning, and are receiving every
| possible attention. / foun1 Bob, as
| he is asked to be called for Short "
| ing in bed, shackled and suffering
| from wound in the arm received at
Mortified, and from wound in the
breast got yesterday. He said he had
tried desperate game and lost. They
were rough boys, used to rough work
and must abide the consequences.
OF course he regretted his situation,
but all the chances were weighed be-
fose starting in. He had looked over
the other banks before deciding, and
knew all about those in the larger
places, and wished now that he had
undertaken one of them as the chance
to retreat was much better than a
small place.