The San Francisco call., 1897-06-29
Four Bold Road Agents
Make a Big Haul in
South Dakota.
They Stand Off Seven Men and
Secure Ten Thousand
Dollars.
After a Running Battle Posse of
Pursuers Captures One OF
the Desper ADDE'S.

DEADW0OD, S. D., June 2S.-At noon
to-day Belle Fourche was the scene of an
old time road agents attack on the Bank
of Belle Fourche. Four masked robbers
looted the place of $4,000 in spite of the
presence OF four bank patrons and three
officials OF the bank. Entering the bank
with rsvolvers drawn they ordered the
customers present and the bank officials
to hold up their hands.
a little hesitancy on the part of Cashier
Marble drew a snot from the gun of one
of the ROBBERS, which clipped off large
portion of the cashiers right ear and ell
forced com pliaBce with the command.
The safe and counters were relieved of the
cash they contained, AMI the robbers,
mounting their horses, which had been
conveniently stationed near, rode away.
An alarm was imme mediately given and in
few moments well mounted and armed
posse was IN pursuit OF the bandits. With
in few miles of town the posse came
up with the fugitives and a running fight
ensued, which resulted in one of the rob-
beis throwing up his hands and surren-
dering. The others, being better mounted,
continued their flight, but are now being
closely pursued and have very few chances
OF escaping. The day was favorable tor
raid on the bank, as the weather was such
that it kept the town people off the
streets and the robbers had little opposi-
tion and had quite a start before the alarm
could be given.
Just before noon the bandits entered
the town from the north. They passed
toward the bank at brisk trot. There
were but three horses, ole OF the mounts
being double. When within block of
the bank they dashed forward priskly,
dismounted at the door and, as the fourth
man held the horses, the other three
rushed into tie place with their guns
presented. They worked cooliy but rap
IDLY, laughing and joking with their tem-
pOrary prisoners.
When they we're surprised in ravine a
few miles 10 the north they were dividing
their booty, but showed fight Tor several
minutes until the posse brought their
rifles into play. when the bandits de-
camped. The dismounted man attempted
to hide, but when discovered threw up his
hands without a show of fight. Though
all The men were plentifully supplied with
-evoIvers, none of them carried rlhes. 1t
is believed they had their Winch ssters
hidden further north in the mountains for
which they are making. They know they
cannot stand off posse that is armed
with WinchesteTs unless they have some
thing better than their pistols 10 use. The
absence OF the fourth horse is a mystery,
as it is hardly probable that the men would
attempt 10 rob a bank, with pursuit GER
tain, unless ali were mounted. The pris-
oner refuses to open his mouth on the
subject. Some talk of Iynching has been
| indu ulGed in, but, as no one was killed,
they viii probably let the law take its
course. Bank-robbery in this State is
cApItal offense.
The men in the bank when the robbery
occurred were armed. but were unable to
get their guns out without first suffering
shots from the bandits, and they were not
disposed 10 risk that. All the men are
strangers in the Mills.