The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-05-28

Sioux City, Of His Adventure
With tho Bandits.
Pioneer Press.
The mystery which has hung about
the two Mortified robbers has never
been cleared up fully. and doubtless
never will be. Who they were. aud
where they finally escaped. have been
subjects Of pertinent inquiry never
satisfactorily answered. The lips Of
Cole Younger aud his brothers have
given ne sign regarding their identity.
and the only thing known Of them is
that given BY DR.. Mosher, Of Sioux
CITY, who accidentally fell into their
clutches and narrowly escaped with his
life. To him only, during all that
long and desperate struggle for life
through Minnesota and Iowa. did
they reveal themselves as the '.North-
field Robbers" confirming their state
ments with actions. which proved the
truth of their assertions. For four
mortal hours was the doctor kept in
durance vile. and his experience and
observation during that time form the
fitting close to the most bold and dar-
ing instance of robbery and murder
ever perpetrated in the Northwest.
1t was nv privilege to hear the whole
story of this remarkable meeting from
his lips recently, and as there are
many facts connected with it which
have never been made public, their
variations may prove Of much interest
to the readers of the Pioneer Press.
The occurrence took place on the
afternoon of Thursday in the latter
part of the month Of September, in
the wear 1876. more than a year and
a half ago. The whole country was
aroused by the story Of the great
robbery and intensely interested in
the efforts made for the capture Of the
villains. They were known to be
heading toward Sioux City. and the
sheriff with a number of picked men
had gone out to intercept them. il
possible. 1t was rumored that they
had been seen at u point fifteen miles
up the Missouri, near Elk river. aud
here the force was picketed, with a
view of preventing their crossing. At
this time the doctor received an urgent
call to visit patient, dangerously i'll,
who lived thirty miles east of Sioux
City. The roads were muddy and
bad, owing to recent rains, which
rendered travel by any other method
than horseback-riding difficult; 50 he
went to the livery stable and engaged
a fine horse, which was well equipped
with a good saddle and bride. He
left Sioux City about two o'clock in
the afternoon, had crossed the railroad
station at q little place called James,
and gone about half his distance, when
he became in doubt as to his route. and
turned his horse towards a German
who was at work half q mile to the
north of him to ask for directions. A
half mile still above him was the Sec
ton line, where was another road
running into Sioux City parallel to
the one he had come out. and to this
he was directed. He took diagonal
course across the prairie towards it,
when he suddenly noticed two men
riding on horseback in the direction of
Sioux City, and thinking they were
parties who owned land in the vicinity,
and had come out to work it, he deter
mined to ask for further information.
He turned his horse IN direction to
intercept them, when within perhaps
ten rods threw up one of his hands and
to them to "Hold on" They |
stopped at once rnd faced him, and he !
rode leisursly up to within few feet
of them. They were mounted, the
smaller of the two men on a gray and
the other on bay horse. The former
was dressed in gray clothes, which
were considerably soiled. had on a
striped cotton or bingham shirt, with
no collar. a light felt hat and kip
boots, which looked as though they
had seen serious wear. He was q man
about Eve feet eight or nine inches.
we'll proportioned and muscular, and
would probably weigh about $50. His
hands were short, yet white and small,
indicating that he was not accustomed
to physical labor. His eyes were
either dark or gray, face rather square
" built, hair a sandy brown, while his
whiskers and mustache bore evidence
IF having been cut roughly of with
pair of shears. The latter had been
eft about half an inch long. and afford
ID a partial covering for a pair of
irmly set lips. There was about the
nan an expression of intelligence,
although his dress and appearance
Indicated hard travel. |,
The other man was mounted on a
nay horse. that was evidently suffering
rom hard driving. He was a tall,
'ather slender person, about six feet
high; had on a pair of black pants, a
nufI-colored coat and vest. a fine shirt
made of ladies' cloth. a black felt hat
md fine calf boots. the backing all !
worm off by evident travel through .
mud and wet grass, and torn with
numerous holes by contact with brush ,
r stones. His hands were white. ,
ong and slender face long and thin, ,
lose straight. eyes blue. eyebrows quite ,
ight in color and light alsoin quantity,
'alr a reddish cast. and whiskers ,
vldently trimmed, as had been his !
His expression was in
he highest degree intelligent and ,
igni6ed. resembling" said the G
octor, ''the countenance Of a Presby-
erian minister" Neither of the men @
ad any jewelry visible on them, ex- :
epting a gold collar button worn by {:
he latter. For q saddle he had a i
az stuffed with hay, while his CON- $
ade had only blanket thrown over
is horse. a