The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-11-20

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Haywood has arisen from his seat, and
stepping to the vault, caught hold Of
the outer door, and attempted to close
the same. with the intention. no doubt,
of keeping the robbers out. James and
Pitts both grabbed Haywood, and
pointing their revolvers in his face.
said: "open that safe, now; or you
haven't minute to live" OF course.
accompanying their threats With oaths.
Haywood replied: There is time
lock on, and the safe can't be opened
now. ~ That's a lie," retorted James
and Pitts. and repeatedly demanded
that he open the safe. coupling each de-
mand with threat, and commenced
hustling H. about the room. Seeming
to realize the desperate men he was
dealing with. Haywood called MUIR
der! Murder! Murder!" whereupon
James struck him terrible blow on
the head with his revolver, telling him
to the floor. Some think this would
have killed Haywood had no other in
jury been inflicted. He fell perfectly
limp, and could not have been fully
conscious after receiving the shock,
as no word escaped his lips. Pitts
then drew a knife from his pocket.
and, opening it, said: Let's cut his
id throat" and drew the edge Of
the knife across poor Heywocd's neck.
inflicting slight wound while he was
lying helpless on the floor. The two
dragged Haywood from where he lay,
just at the rear Of his desk, to the
vault, and partially inside, repeatedly
commanding him to open the safe.
While working with Haywood they
occasionally turned to Wilcox and me,
pointing their revolvers at us, and de-
manded that we unlock that safe"
At each demand we simply replied that
we could not unlock it. The safe not
being locked at the time, our answer
was true. The door of the safe was
closed, and the bolts thrown in place,
but the dial not turned OF the combi-
nation. While Haywood was in the
reclining position, probably to further
intimidate him, Pitts placed his re-
volver close to HIS head, and fired.
The bullet went into the vault and
through a tin box containing some
jewelry and valuable papers, left by
some customer for, safe keeping. This
was the first shot fired in the bank.
I, During the time James and Pitts
were. occupied with Haywood, and tor
turing him.. Bob Younger was paying
particular attention to Wilcox and ME.
When I first threw up my hands, being
in somewhat of hurry on account of
the Importantly Of my guests, I did
not wait to lay down the pen I had
been writing with, but held 1T with
the point projecting toward the in
truder. It occurred to me, however,
that it was not as mighty" as the
revolver just at that time, and at
tempted to lay it down. The act near
ly cost me my life. Bob Younger, Wit
Messing the motion, and perhaps think
ing was reaching for a weapon,
sprang at me, and poking his revolver
into my face, said: Here, put up
your hands, and keep 'em up, or I'll
kill you" He then commanded Will
cox and me to "get down on your knees,
below the counter" suppose this was
60 no one outside could see what was
going on within, or possibly 90 we
could not signal to anyone passing by.
At any rate, we obeyed. All the rob
bers were very much excited, and after
swinging his revolver from Wilcox to
me, Bob would turn and tumble among
some papers on the table. or open some
drawer in the desks on the counters,
doubtless in search Of something val
liable to carry away. While on my
knees, l happened to think of revolt
yer kept on a shelf just beneath the
counter by the teller's window, and
edged along toward the place with
the intention Of getting possession of
It and making some defense turned
to see II was near enough to reach
the weapon, while Bob's back was
turned toward me, but Pitts happened
to be looking my way at the time, and
rushing across the intervening space,
secured the revolver himself, and cody
stuffed 1t into his pocket, remarking
as he did 80: 'You needn't try to get
hold Of that; you couldn't do anything
with that little derringer anyway
The revolver was q Smith q Wesson,
80 calibre, and we considered It a good
one, but Of course It was not very for.
midable beside their number As ma
vies.''
The revolver was found on Pitts al
the. time of his capture and death, and
appropriated by some one as q sou.
yenir. L was well for me that ] did
not reach the veaDon. m my assail.