New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-01
~ WTLDEST CHICAGO.

Life in the more thicy settled portions Of
Chicago is said to he very agreeable. Tic Irlbun"
would he the last paper in the world to say
ANYTHING against it. Indeed, even outside Of the
business district and at a hard days ride from the
Fostoflicc. existence mast be still agreeable, as
neighhors are usually quite Lear. But what shall
we say OF life on the Great Plains further toward
the outskirts? Here settlers rare and frontier
hardships many. Were it not for the free de-
livery system and the occasional visits OF the
postmen on feet horses, the solitude would, IN
many cases, he unb -3rablc. Occasionally the rest
of the country catches a momentary glimpse 81
these hardy hut isolated people when some un-
usual accident occurs TO attract the public atten.
tions, as for instance. the recent bank robbery a
short account OF which was printed in Tues
DAYS Tribune
The institution when vas robbed was the Mer-
chants Exchange Banl, situated in the southern
part of the city, in the Llano Estacado or Sta7ed
Plain. and south-by cast Of the Lac Qui Parle In
dian Agency on the Flambcau Reservation. j.
is wild and dcsolate region. though it is thought
that when the projected elevated railroad is built
it will greatly improve its appearance and
frighten away many wild animals which are now
very Troublesome to the settlers. Fairly Monday
morning three meE drove up to the Merchants
Bank, ovcGpowered the cashier, and secured all
of the money in the vaults. Hastily throwing it
into a light wagon they leaped in themselves
and drove rapidly a;Eay in northerly direction.
evidently making for the Pcstoffice neighborhood.
Fortunately the police station of the 1o5th Pre-
cinct which comprises the countr between the
Big Bitterroot and the Kicking Horse rivers was
near, and it was Immediately Informed. dozen
officers mounted their trusty broncos and started
in pursuit The robbers coIld be seen some three
or four miles the prairie, with their "seS
going at full speed The police instantly 81, at
it was the thieves intention TO get into the set
Element before night and after dark to slip away
and reach the business centre sumo time the next
day. They pressed after them with all possible
haste.
The race which followed was exciting in the
extreme. The police managed to keep within
about mile of the robbers but could not over
take them. Indeed, in the Eighty-frSt Ward
they lost ground and fell two miles behind 1t
was thought here that the robbers were going to
| take to the Bad Lands, but they were frightened
away by band of Flambeau Indians who were
holding ghost dance there. Crossing the Keya
Paha River they disappeared among the Frozen
| Man Hills of the Seventy eighth Ward. Their
trail was readily followed, however, and after a
few miles of hard riding, in which a nuEcber Of
letter-boXeS fastened to stones and trees were
| passed, the police mounted Lone Butte and saw
| them making away toward Lewis and Clarke
| Lake. Putting spurs to their horses they sue
| ceeded in coming near enough to fire at the rob-
| bers Their shots were returned and running
| fire was kept up for the next two hours while
| passing Thunder Butte, Lodge Pole Ridge and
Hilk-where-th Crows wereKill,d. After crossing
Sitting Bull Creek the thieves struck the first road
| to the business centre, formerly known the St
Louis Trail, but since annexation, called Robert
Browning Avenue. The police now bore down
| rapidly on the robbers. a number of hunters am
| stockmen Joined in the chase with fresh horses.
| Ranches were gradually becoming more numerous,
| and it that they would be captured soon.
| Just as they were entering the SiXty-second Ward
| and near the new Central Park they scared up
| flock Of antelope which frightened their horses so
| that they SHE'D and overturned the wagon. The
| police came up almost Immediately and seized and
| handcuffed the robbers They were taken 10 the
| police headquarters, where they arrived the next
| day.
| AS to who the robbers were, the two ST. Louis
| papers from which we have drawn the facts OF
our narrative differ, one holding that they were
members OF the late Jesse James's gang, the other
| that they were associates of the also late Rube
Burrows. We can only await the arrival Of other
St. Louis papers to settle this point. In any
| event, the incident gives an interesting glimpse
| of life on Chicago's frontier.