Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1896-01-31
JESSE AND FRANK JAMES.
Canton Aroused When the Despera.
does Were Near Here on
Their Escape From
Minnesota.


old timers in Canton were aroused by the
news that the James and Younger gang
of Aesperadoes had raided bank at
Mortified, Minn,, and that three had
their escape down the Sioux Valley:
About nine o'clock in the morning one
dreary rainy day, in the sammer, a young
man named Rongstad, who lived up
near where E. B. Peterson now lives,
rode into town and in "A few minutes it
was noised around that the James broth
ers were east of town and making their
escape south. The horse young Rong-
stad rode had bullet in Its neck. fired
by one ofthe James brothers. In very
short time every man,in Canton who had
gun was tearing around hunting for 4
mount to follow and capture the dariug
freebooters. 1t wasfraining hard ut the
time and the roads were very muddy.
but this didn't prevent fifteen or tweRtY
from sterling out. crossing the river. at
Beloit and thence east to head of the
fugitives. Peter 4Vahl who proved Np
on his homestead in Dayton township
last week, was in this office last Friday
and Incidentally ,mentioned the James
brothers and his narrow escape from
being +illed by them. This brought to
our memory the occasion which produce
ed SO anany heroes in Canton. MI. Wahll
says that the James brothers came to the
Rongstad place "a the evening weSring
rubber overcoats.=and claimed they were
sherifFs hunting horse.thieves. Ia she
morning. they made for the Fowler 6arm
run BY Charlie Fountain. there they
found.mules and passed on to the Larson
place where Andrew Shulson WAS IN
charge. Peter Wahl was there aad had
nicesmare with him. John Wahl wsss
also in the party. II was about 2 =. ,m.,
The James boys told the young men that
they we're sheriffs hunting horse thieves
and wanted fresh horses. One OF tuhe
Jamest.ooys took ssle halter out OF Peter
Wahl's hand. Pete objected aod ssld
him NO man could ride that mare bot
e. .
Before Pete knew it. James
was onshe animalss back. and then pull
ed n big; gun and said stand aside Bub
Pete recognized the importance Of the
threat. The other brother had taken Il,
pony from Shulson and away they went
ia hot haste for the Sioux which they
crossed ~ Carl Anderson's place, and
we're none too soon rs Minnesota sher
itf and posse were scarce half mile be-
hind. Peter Wahl and young Rongstad
got mounts and followed the robbers.
crossing the Sioux few minutes beh,ad
hem. just as the James brothers get
IN top Of the bluff they turned around
md one of them fred at the pursuers.
Peter Wahl lodged and the bullet passed
through the neck Of Rongstsds horse.
odging in the skin on the opposite SIDE
Young Rongstad and his bleeding horse
hen made for Canton, a0d the Canton
tes were prompt to respond to the cry
or help. Peter Wahl watched the
lanes brothers disappear and he got on
or Of the hill oaly to see them flying
cross the country in the direction Of
where [nwood now stands. Pete follow
d as best he could, for he wanted his
ood mare back. bat his horse was no
match for the ones the robbers rode and
'ete had to give up the chase. He met {
he Canton warriors and told them the 8
irectlon the robbers had taken. and he {
0ntinued back towards Canton, stopping
I Beloit, where Ernest Wendt, now of
anton, was running big store, and as .
etc was bareheaded, Mr.. Wendt gave 9
I'm hat Pete lost his hat in the chase :
nd didn't have time to stop. The Can
N hunters returned, none catching
ght of the daring robbers. The james
oys on their way south ran across DR..
oshier, out on the prairie. who lived at
airvlew in early day s. and they needed S
esh horses and made him net only give tt
lem his team, but made him change L
IS dry clothes with them, and told him el
1t to move for an hour, and he didn't
!. several. Moshier got back to Sioux