The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-21
TWO STORIES OF THE BANDITS
The sontag Boys Minnesota Career.
An Old Crime.


number OF years ago the writer was
visiting Mankato, MINI. At the time
MINORS Of raid by tie James boys were
fife. The Missouri authorities mad noti-
fed the Chief OF Police al Mankato IN at it
was reported to them that the bank at Man
kato was the objective point, and as a
consequence the greatest precautions were
adopted by the bank officials. Armed
guards were kept up day and night and
the utmost vigilance prevailed.
On the morning Of the raid the writer
and little boy were fishing al the junction
OF the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers,
when his attention was attracted By W hat
his companion called a party OF soldiers
coming up the road. They certainly did
resemble soldiers. The party consisted
Of eight or ten well-mounted N en-, riding
TWO abreast, all wearing long linen busters.
which completely concealed their weapons.
On reaching Mankat0 Jesse James, the
leader Of the party. allied MS men opposite
the bank, and dismounsing went in. j.
glance was sufficient TO show him the
armed men sitting and standing around,
and throwing down $50 bill he asked for
change. he then crossed over to v here
his companions were seated on their horses
and was heard to remark, The Jig is up
here"
He then entered saloon and purchased
| a quart bottle Of whisky and remountiug
his horse he and his party proceeded up
the road in the direction of Mortified.
The attack on the bank at Mortified and
the killing Of the cashier and the light that
followed is we'll known.
As soon as the news reached Mankato
| the citizens turned out &c the nunbe Of at
least 500. armed with what weapons could
be hastily collected. and every roadway was
patroled. Prominent among these men
were the Soutag or Conant brothers, John
and George. This was their first baptism
Of fire, and presumably their first lesson in
| the art OF highway robbery.
The day after the raid party of citi-
Zens surprised the bandits and captured
their horses and saddle equipments, leay-
/ ing them afOot.
This part of Minnesota Is cut up by
what are called winter roads"-that is,
/ roads which in winter lead across the
/ frozen lakes-aDd in their efforts TO escape
! the bandits frequently followed these
/ roads and found themselves baked By an
/ impossible sheet OF water and we're
/ obliged TO double back on their tracks.
There are two bridges at Mankato, and
| it became necessary for the James boys to
| cross there. The wagon bridge was
| strongly guarded, but the railroad bridge
! adjoining it WAS not thought necessary to
| guard, and at midnight on the third day
| after the attempt on the bank the outla VS.
secured a handcar and would have made
| their cape but for an unforeseen circum-
| cums,ance. 1t was the custom al a large
| flouring-mill TO blow the whistle at mid
| night; this mill adjoined the railroad
| track, and just rs the bandits passed the
| mill the whistle blew. Taking this for an
alarm signal they jumped from the car
and scattered in the timber. where they
were all captured, and are row doing
| time in the Saltwater penitentiary, with
the exception oftthe two james boys, who,
mounted on one horse, ran the gauntlet of
the guards ON the bridge and made their
escape.
This raid of the James boys at Mankato
In which the Sontag bcys took part on the
| side of law and order must have undoubt-
eddy been potent factor In starting them
upon their lawless career of robbery and
murder.