The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-25
Six Thousand Dollars Stolen in
Broad Daylight.
AJos WORTHY THE JAMES BOYS.
Five Armed Men Hold Up the Cashier
and His Assistant.
who Have Horses Ready and Fly to
the Hills With the goodle-Numer.
Gus Pursuing Parties After Them.

Sipes & Co.'S bank at this place was
robbed of over Sc, 900 at 1 80 o'clock today
by five heavily-armed and mounted men
in q manner that rivals the work of the
James boys in their pal niest days. Today
was pay day at the Rosyn eoallmines. and
the money to be distributed among the
employees, amounting to about $40, 900. ar
rived from Tacoma on the early morning
train. 1t was possibly tie supposition
that the coin was deposited in the bank
pending the opening of the paymas.er's
Office that prompted the robbery, and it is
evident that the work was done by per-
sons who had some knowledge of the sys-
tenn usually employed by the company in
paying off the men. The plans for the
robbery were skiIlfully laid and success
fully executed.
was engaged in copying some letters when
stranger stepped in through the door
and walked toward the Counter. The in
terror arrangement Of the bank was in
every way favorable to the carrying out of
his purpose. The counter over which
business is transacted is liz no way pro-
tected by wire network or otherwise, and
Cashier Abernathy, when he turned to wait
upon the man, found himself facing a As
caliber Colts revolver, with a demand to
hold up his hands. DR.. Lyons, one of the
company's physicians. walked into the
bank just behind the first robber, and as
soon as he beheld the fash of the gun he
turned to get out, when he dashed against
a pair of Colts in the hands of the second
robber. His hands went up promptly. A
third confederate immediately appeared
on the scene. He stepped behind
the counter, picked up Mr.. Abernathy's
own revolver, which was lying on handy
shelf, and struck the cashier over the head
with the weapon, telling hitn to the floor.
As Alternately attempted to rise he was
given a second blow, with sn injunction
to remain quiet. The third man then
walked to the safe which was open, took
the coin and bills from the vault and de-
posted the money in q canvas sack strung
across his shoulders.
Just about this time a fsssillade began
on the outside of the bank, tiae other con-
federates who had been placed to guard
all approaches to the bank firing at every
person who put in an appearance. Sew
eral shots were taken at City Marshal
Beaie. Prof Jcnkinsyo of rhe city schools,
was stood up against lamp post, and Mrs.
Moher, wife of a merchant doing business
next door to the bank, together with her
little children, who had rushed to
the door when the shooting began,
were covered with revolvets, and every
person who had courage to come out was
promptly given to understand that no i'm
reference would be tolerated. +. A. Fra
zier, assistant cashier of the bank, was sew
eral blocks away when the shooting
started. He rushed into a store, grabbed
a shotgun and made for the bank. One of
the robbers stopped his progress by plant
ing bullet in his hip. 4 colored man
was shot in the leg. and several others had
narrow escapes. One Of the robbers had
the reins of five horses, and az soon as the
bank vault was looted the rfsen came out,
mounted, fired up and down the streets.
put spurs to their horses and s.ashed away.
Every boy and man in town who owned
or could get gun started in pursuit at
long range. and the robbers shortly dis
appeared on a trail over the mountains
north of Roslyn. The sheriff was imme-
diately notified, posses were organized in
Eilensburg. Cle-Elum and Resign. and an
attempt will be made to run down the
gang. It is believed that they cannot es-
cape. as the peculiar topography of this
country will aid the officers in the work.
Parties of determined men, heavily
armed, have been organized 20 follow the
robbers.
Manager Abrahams. OF the arm of Ben
f. Snipes & Co.. arrived this evening and
has offered 81 900 for the apprehension of
the robbers, dead or alive. This is
supplemented by $1,000 reward Of
fered individually by Cashier Aber-
nathy. Several hundred dollars in silver
was overlooked by the robaers in their
hurry. On Friday $4,000 was expressed
by the bank to Seattle. Leaving balance
of about s., 600 in coin in the sank. Three
hours later than the time az which the
robbery was committed, over sc, 600 would
have been deposited. On Monday the
bank will be ready for business, as usual.
From the character of their work. the
robbers could not be considered amateurs.
They were dressed rs cowbogs. wearing
large white sombreros, aud bad a very
rough appearance generally. They rode
good American horses and e4ch showed
expertness with the pistol. Trey will not
be taken without desperate struggle, and