The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-06-07
. THE NORTHFIELD ROB
BEERS.
"Reminiscences OF an Event OF two
Years Ago.
st. Paul Pioneer Press -.

the two Northteld robbers has never
been cleared up fully, and doubtless
never will be. Who they were, and
where they finally escaped to, have
been subjects of pertinent inquiry new
er satisfactorily answered. The lips
of Cole Younger have given no sign
regarding their identity, and the only
thing known of them is that given by
DIR. Mosher, of Sioux City, who acct
dentaliy fell into their clutches and
narrowly escaped with his life. To
him only, during all that long and
desperate struggle for lie through
Minnesota and Iowa, did they reveal
themselves as the MORTIFIED Rob-
bers," confirming their statements
with actions which proved the truth
of their assertions. For four mortal
hours was the DIR. kept in durance
vile, and his experience and observa-
ton during that time form the fitting
close TO the most bold and daring in
stance of robbery and murder ever
perpetraUed in the Northwest. 1t was
my 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 nara
ton may prove of much interest to the
readers of the Pioneer Press.
The occurrence took place on the af-
ternoon of Thursday, in the latter part
of the month OF September, in the year
1875, more than year and II half ago.
The whole country was aroused by the
story OF the great robbery and intense
ly 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, If possible. 1t was rumored
that they had been seen at a point If
TEEN miles up the Missouri, near Elk
river, and here the force was picketed
with view of preventing their cross
Ing. AT this time the doctor received
an urgent call to visit patient, dam
gerously Ill, who lived thirty miles
east of Sioux City. The roads were
muddy and bad, owing TO recent rains,
which rendered travelling by any other
method than notwithstanding, diff
cult; so 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 a little place
called James, and gone about half his
distance, when he became in doubt as
TO his route, and turned his horse to-
ward a German who was at work half a
mile to the north of him to ask for di-
rections. A half mile still above him
was the section line, where was anoth-
er road running into Sioux City paral-
lei to the one he had come out on, and
to this he was directed. He took di-
agonal course across the prairie toward
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 de-
termined to ask for further informa-
ton. He turned his horse in direc-
ton to intercept them, and when with
in perhaps ten rods threw up one OF
his hands and shouted to them to 'hold
ont" They stopped at once and faced
him, and he rode leisurely up to with
in few feet of them. They were
mounted, the smaller of the two meI
on gray and the other on bay horse
The former was dressed in gray
clothes, which were considerably soil
ed, had on u striped cotton or ging.
ham shirt, with no collar, light fell
hat and kip boots, which looked as
though they had seen wear. He was
a man aboutl five feet eight inches
high, well proportioned and muscu-
lar, and would probably weigh about
$50 lbs. His hands were short, YET
white and small, indicating that he
was not accustomed to physical labor.
His eys were either dark or gray, face
rather square built, hair sandy
brown, while his whiskers and nous.
Cache bore evidence of having beer
cut roughly off with a pair of shears
The latter had been left about half an
inch long and afforded q partial COW
ering for a pair of firmly set lips
There was about the man an expires
sion of intelligence, although his dress
and appearance indicated hard travel
The other man was mounted on {
bay horse, that was evidently suffering
from hard driving. He was tall
rather slender person, about six fee
high, had on a pair of black pants,
snuff colored coat and vest, fine shir
made of ladies cloth, black felt ha
and fine calf boots, the backing al
worn off by evident travel through
mud and wet grass, and torn with nu
merous holes by contact with brush o
stones. His hand were white, Ions
and slender; face long and thin; nos,
straight; eyes blue; EYEBROWS quit
light in color, and light also in quaint
ty; hair of reddish cast, and whisk
ers evidently trimmed, as had been hi
companions. His expression was il
the highest degree Intelligent and dig
nified, resembling said the doctor
the countenance of q Presbyterian
ministerr Neither of the men ha
any jewelry visible on them, except
ing q gold collar button worn by tn
latter. For a saddle he had a ba
stuffed with hay, while his conrad
hal only blanket thrown over hi
horse.
The first words of inquiry made b.
the doctor when he reached then
were:
DO you live about here?'
we do was the answer.
do you know a family here by tn
name of L. Mann?'
1We do
where does he live p was the mex
inquiry, and the answer was so vagu
and unsatisfactory that he was abou
20 inquire further, when the direC
question was put to him:
Who are you?
Il am DIR. MOsher, of Sioux City, an
am going to visit patient. Are 20
hunting the robbers? p
I'VE are,' was the response; 'can 20
tell US anything about them =
In the innocency of his heart he in
formed them that they had been hear
from fifteen miles up the river; tina
the sheriff and large force were afte
them with a strong probability of thei
capture. All the news that had bee
received up to this date was retailed Il
detail to some evidently interested list
eners, who had In the mean time slow
ly advanced their horses on either sid
of him. When he had finished tn
smaller one suddenly spoke and said
we guess you are one of the rob
bers and you had better go with as
This angered him, and he replied:
tSuch smart, Intelligent looking me-
as you ought co know better; 20
know do not look like a robber.'
The response was as quick as flas
of lightning. Two revolvers wer
snatched from their hiding places De
meath the clothing of the two men an
leveled at his head, while at the sam
instant the smaller one shouted:
we are two of the Mortified boy
and you are a detective, and C.
d-n you, we will kill your
There are times in some person
lives when under the most extrem
conditions OF danger their nerves ar
the strongest and Judgment the coolest
and this was the case with DIR. Moshel
He to0lr In the cIfua tfOn in q N inata nj