Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1901-03-01
CANTON SOUTH DAKOTA. FRIDAY. MARCH !. 1901.
FRANK JAMES.

FRANK JAMES.
In recent interview with this
noted and notorious gentleman of
the highway, now resident of Kansas
City, he stated he was once badly
scared by mule stampede during the
war when he was hiding from federal
soldiers.
Many of the old residents Of Canton
will remember an exciting event in 1876,
two days after the Northfield bank
robbery in Minnesota. when every man
in the Sioux Valley was on the lookout
for the James and Younger bandits.
The Younger brothers were captured
near Madelia, Mimi, but Frank and
Jesse James managed to make their
escape and headed for the Sioux river
east of Sioux Falls. Their pursuers
were active and determined and the
hunted men were as equally determined
to make good their escape. Their trail
was lost in Iowa east of Sioux Falls,
and the Minnesota officers reached
Sioux Falls about the time The James
brothers crossed the Sioux river and
sought shelter with Rongstad who
lived on the river bank about nine
miles from Canton, in Dayton town
ship. Next morning early word came
from Sioux Falls that the James boys
had crossed the Sioux and were head
ing west through this country. This
announcement was enough to set
Canton wild, and every man who could
rustic rifle, shot gun or revolver was
getting ready to go man hunting with
visions of blood and glory and imper-
ishible renown. No one seemed GER
tain which way to 20 but everybody
was dying to catch sight of the robbers
About 10 o'clock boy, son of Rong-
stad rode into town on horse which
had bullet in its neck fired by one of
the James boys. There the horse stood
a mute witness Of the Workmanship of
the freebooters: A hundred or more
Cantonites examined the horse and felt
the bullet, which had been stopped by
the skin on the opposite side Of the
neck from where it entered. The boy
was cool and brave and told how two
men claiming to be sheriffs had taken
two of Pete Wahl's best horses and said
they would bring the horses back. The
boy studied the matter over for some
time and came to the conclusion that
the men had no right to take the horses
and he followed them across the Sioux
and was going to get Wahls horses
back. Just as the boy was climbing
the Iowa bluffs on horseback, one of the
James brothers dismounted and taking
deliberate aim fired and hit the boys
horse in the neck The boy concluded
he could not get the horses and rode
back to his home and from there came
to Canton and told his story. This
aroused the Cantonites to pitch of
excitement never witnessed before or
since. It was now war, bloody war,
and the James boys must be killed. It
began raining just as the company Of
hunters got their horses ready, but
nothing short of q shower of lightning
bolts could have stayed the maddening
rush Of the gallant scouts as they
thundered down Main street and head
ed for Beloit, expecting to head of the
James boys somewhere on the Rock
River. Harvey Stafford one Of the
Canton merchants then, had two re-
volvers and . double bs1reled shot
gun, and Harvey was good shot. Dan
Hawn had a rifle, Jim and George
Kellar had shot guns, Duke Rudolph
had q rifle, and he was . fine shot
We don't remember all who went, but
q good crowd, all who could get guns.
The writer had no gun and could not
borrow one, and had to stay behind.
Towards evening some of the hunters
returned, and others kept coming home
all through the night. The James
boys had crossed the Rock river before
the Canton boys got there. It is just
as well they did, for had our boys over
hauled or cornered them, some of the
Canton hunters would have been killed,
as their guns and marksmanship were
no match for the outlaws.
This is another time in the life of
Frank James when he was scared, be-
cause the whole country was aroused and
arming for their capture or death. One
of the James brothers was wounded, as
the Rongstad's learned after their de-
parture from the house, but they never
mistrusted them. not having heard of
the bank robbery and murder at North
field.
Frank and Jesse James finally made
their escape into Missouri after one of
the greatest man hunts on record, rs
thousands 0f mon from start f0 finish