Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-09-19
TOWN IS HELD UP
AND BANK ROBBED
Regular Jesse James Crime Is
Perpetrated at Valley
Springs, 8. D.
GOT AWAY WITH THE CASH
Minnehaha County Bank Loses About
ST. O0-Sensational and Dramatic
Capture Of a Town-The
Robbers Escape.

iAC - -
der a hot fire poured into them by the
citizens of the town, a band or des-
perate robbers between 2 and 3 O'Clock
a.. IN. Saturday blew the safe of the Min
nehaha County bank, wrecking the In
terror of the building, secured between
$500 and $1,000, and escaped on a hand
car. which they took from the tool
house of the Omaha Railway company
They departed In the direction OF Sioux
Falls, thirteen miles distant.
AT daybreak a posse of citizens mead
ed by Editor Charles Hill left here. and
two hours later Sheriff Huston, Deputy
Charles Voelsch and Policeman Tim
Doney Of Sioux Falls, who were sum-
moned, headed another posse which
went to the north. Up to noon today
no trace of the gang had been found.
not even the hand-car on which the
robbers escaped has been discovered.
The affair was conducted In regular
Jesse James style. Shortly after 2
o'clock the town was aroused by heavy
explosions, nine In number. Druggist
f.. l.. Skillman, who resides across the
street from the bank, was the first man
on the scene. AS he hurried into the
street he saw six or eight men in and
around the bank, which was filed with
smoke. He had barely stepped out Of
doors when a masked man showed a
gun in his face.
Ordered Hands Up.
up with our hands!" he command
ed. You can't but In here"
Skillman obeyed. The robber whis-
tied and was soon Joined by one OF the
men from the bank.
''There'll be hell to a pretty soon"
said Skillman's captor, and we'd bet
ter fix his man."
Don't do it; I've got n better PLAN"
The other robber said, Selling the drug
gist's arm.
The robbers with Skillman between
them started On a run toward the rail-
road track. They hurried to a box a
and pushing open the door, picked
the druggist up bodily and hurled him
through the opening. Then they closed
and locked the door and returned to
the bank near which place they en-
.ountered Cashier NJ. S. Hetland and
mis- two sons, who were hurryIng to the
scene. The robbers Immediately -four
shed their guns and ordered the men
to fall back. The Hollands were un-
armed and obeyed.
by InlS time ClllZtIlS, HuIIlculy ulNSS-
ing, were running here and there In the
streets. Whenever they came within a
block Of the bank they were met by
heavily armed men who ordered them
back on the pain of death. The town
lad evidently been picketed. One citi-
zen, failing to understand the situa-
ton, attempted to break through the
line and was fred on. He retreated
hastily.
Town Was Excited.
In the meantime the news had spread
that the town was in the hands OF des-
peradoes and the widest excitement
prevailed. Women and children, half
dressed, ran screaming and crying
through their homes and the men
hastily got out such armament as they
had and prepared for battle. Doors were,
bolted n b~arricaded and from the
upper windows OF the residences, a
heavy fire was poured in the direction
Of the bank.
In the dim light OF lamps which the
robbers used in the wrecked building,
the citizens could see a half dozen men
hurrying about in the ruins, busily
working on the safe, which had been
blown almost to pieces. The robbers
tackled the vault, but were finally com
PEELED to retreat owing to the approach
OF a party OF the nervier citizens who
as close as they dared to the
bank.
From behind buildings and trees the
citizens fired volley after Volley In the
direction Of the bank and finally the
gang fled. In the confusion they es-
capped toward the railroad track.
From his place in the boXcar, where
he had been locked q half hour before.
Druggist Skillman heard the band as
1t ran past in the direction of the tool
house. There was a crash Of wood az
the robbers beat down the door with q
sledge and In a moment the handcar
went up the main track, propelled at
q high rate of speed by the robbers.
The car went westward toward Sioux
Safe Blown to Pieces.
1t was perhaps a half hour before the
citizens dared to enter the bank. When
Cashier Hetland made his way into the
building, he found the safe blown to
pieces and the cash drawer containing
nearly 81 900 rlfed. Papers and books
were strewn about in the wreckage.
The explosions had smashed the bank
furniture and fixtures and some Of 1t
had been hurled through the windows.
The robbers had attempted to break
INTO the vault, but had failed. There
was between 5000 and $4,000 In the
vault.
Cashier Hetland had placed the 81, 900
In the safe on orders Of the National
Bank association which had advised 1t
that a gang of desperate cracksmen
were working toward Sioux Falls.
After the excitement a abated
Skillman's cries for help
were heard and he was released from
the box car in which he had been a
prisoner for more than an hour. Skill
man was able to give but a meager
description of the two men who cap
tured hin. Only one was masked-the
who held him up.
AS quickly as possible a posse OF
citizens under the leadership of Charles
Hill, editor Of the Valley Springs vi
dette, was organized and heavily armed
left at daybreak following the Omaha
tracks toward Sioux Falls. Sheriff
and deputies arrived about 9
and headed another posse
which went to the north.
The gang is supposed to be the one
operating in this vicinity the past
weey. Wednesday night the safe of
the postof1ce at Tea was blown open
and $25 and a lot Of stamps taken. The
explosion aroused the citizens but the
escaped without being seen
Thursday night the Rock Island deNof
at Sioux Falls was entered. The rob-
bers opened the safe without the use
Of explosives. They overlooked a bag
Of money in the pigeon hole of a desk
near nv.