St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-08-26

self and Miss Palmer.
One of the robbers is described as beng
about six feet tall, slim. dark complexioned,
low, square Jaw, and had on a stiff hat and a
long linen duster: his appearance was that OF
4 Jew. The other apparently is five feet high,
with a red face, blue clothes with brass or
pearl buttons, and Il slouch hat. He had no
beard. He carried u worn leather sachcl.
Parties are securing the country i'll every d-
recton, and great excitement prevails. For
GOODNESS, this robbery is unequaled i'll this sec
ton of the country.
Especial to Chicago Tribunel
kEwANEE, August Il.
Your correspondent arrived here, the scene
of last nights daring bank robbery, at an
early hour this morning and has. by the con-,
nccted version of all the actors save the two
principal ones, gathered the correct details of
the horrible affair. The deed rivaS in auda-
cousness any of the works done by the James
or Younger brothers, and it would seem as if
the veritable spirit of Jesse had matcraizei
and returned. President G. G. Blish. of the
kewanee National Bank, occupied an hour
this afternoon iii explaining how the work
was done. he bank has capital of $4,000.
a surplus OF $ 5000, and undivided profits of
5000. The deposits run from :15o0N to $aO,-
600. Yesterday there was $4,000 in til, vaults
colaterals. 1t has been the custom to do bust
ness with farmers after banking hourS-four
o'clock p. mind frequently they would call
until six in the evening. The bank occupies the
first floor of the east half of the city-hall. 1t
has very strong vault of BRICK, five by nine
feet, and seven and One-haf feet in height.
Within the vault is common safe in which the
more precious packages are kept. The Cash
Ter of the bank. c. $. Wentworth, has been in
st. Paul for several days. and in his pace were
the assistant. young man named j. j. Pratt,
and the book kceper, VI SIS Char ty Palmer. Il
young lady sixteen years of ;g,. She has been
in the bank three years, and is called an expert
book-keeper. The young lady found at
her home at noon, confined to her couch,
but she was free to recitc her
story of the crime as best she could. She was
badly bruised there being two severe sears on
her forehead while her face was scratched
and bru shocSingly. Miss Palmer said,
AFTER opened the door they rushed upon ME
SO quickly did not have time to think. One
grabbed my throat with his hand and pulled
me along the floor through to the other room.
l thought of shutting the door, and tried to do
it. but | could not. He choked me and blinded
my eyes, and tried to poke his fist down my
throat. | could hear them whisper, but could
not tell what they said. AMI then don't re-
member any more. When l came to was in
side the vault. Then l saw what the situation
was. l had my handkerchief in my hand
when went to the door, but it was partially
showed down my throat
Then the young lady told the Tribune CORE
spondent us to how she and Mr.. Pratt began
freeing themselves, and how they finally got
out. 1t was about six O'Clock last evening
when the work was done, rather when it
was commenced. The President had gone
home some time before, leaving in the bank
the AssistantCashier-Pr att-and Miss Palmer
There was d rap ut the window, and Mr.. Pratt.
who was within the vault putting away the
money. said to e.: Go to the door and see
what is wanted 1t had not been an unusual
thing to do, in view of the custom alluded to
above and when it was remembered that dur
ing the afternoon two strangers had called
and asked permission to leave a sachel,
which was readily granted. To reach the
front door Mss Palmer opened the door lead
ing into the Directors room. and also the door
out of it into the main room. She left both
doors ajar. The very instant she opened
the front door she WAS caught as she relates in
her story. Mr.. Pratt was III the vault when he
ii. st heard the no Sc, aid sprang for the open
door to the Directors room, intending to lose
1t; but, as he was in the act OF dong so, a
was knocked down. and lay upon the floor in
sensible. Then the fiends began pounding their
TWO helpless victims They had deliberately
planned the work in all its details. They had
provided themselves with Il roll of strong
bandages. With h sc the robbers gagged Mr..
Pratt and Miss Palmer, and tied them hand
and DOT. Mr.. Pratt was thrown into cor
ner of the vault and Miss Palmer upon top of
him. 1t was during this time of non-rcsistance
that the bandits took their booty. They then
locked the vault and left, gong out of the front
door i'll plain sight of twenty men not five rods
away, with their $lS0o i'll valise. They
walked leisurey out of town. Mr. Pratt
finally worked his hands loose and be-
gan to release his companion Both were weak
from the loss of blood, and nearly sufocatcd.
He finally got hold of silver dune an |. using
this for Il screw-drver, turned two screws in
the comhination-lock from the inside ard got
out. His recital OF the struggle makes it ap-
parent that it was only by accident the two
persons got out alive. Mr. Pratt, upon reach J
ing the window gave the alarm, and help was
at hand within sixty seconds. Posses were
organized numbering l.3 men
and the country searched all night. Up to
four O'Clock this evening the robbers were at
large although they had peen closely pursued
All the shops, factories and stores have shut
down to-day, and the tielis fOr miles around
are filled with boys and men, wit everything
possible and impossible i'll the shape OF hre-
arms. The utmost excitement prevails ana
lynching is rs openly talked of as the daring
robbery itself