Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-10-24
STEAL $4,000
FROM A BANK
Masked Men Shatter $1,000
Safe at viborg, S.. D.,
and Get Contents.
ONE CITIZEN Is HELD UP
Nels Madsen Is Prevented a
Pistol Point From Giving
the Alarm.
ESCAPE ON A HAND CAR
Took Half a Dozen Explosions and the
Cracksmen Were Evidently Ex-
perts-Ring Brothers Own
ers Of the Bank.

Viborg, S. D., Oct. 17.-With but n
townsman conscious that mischief was
being lone and he compelled to be
silent at the cost OF his life, three
masked robbers shattered the $1,000
safe of the Bank Of Viborg at 3 o'clock
Friday morning and stole $4,000.
Explosion followed explosion, and
when the robbers had taken the $4,000
in gold and silver coin and $1,000 in
currency which the safe contained they
ran to the section house, stole a hand
car and started toward ircne, ten miles
away.
Nels Madison, who sleeps in a build.
ing adjoining the bank and who was
prevented from spreading the alarm by
the third robber, VINO, with revolver
drawn, patrOlled the street in front,
aroused the town as soon as the burg
lars had gone. Madison, with T.. l..
Larson and the section boss, took am
other handcar and gave chase, each
man fully armed. They went as far as
Irene, and discovered from the marks
on the frosty rails that the handCar
with the robbers aboard had gone
through there. They then returned
home.
Robbers Are Seen.
This morning the stolen handcar was
found upset beside the railroad track
DPl IRENE anu yin. Inc 'lEIl
Northern station agent at Violin reports
that very early this morning he saw
two men hurrying across the country in
the direction OF Mission Hill. 1t is sup
posed the men were intent upon reach
ing the Missouri river and crossing into
Nebraska. What became of the third
man is not known, and 1t may be his
home is not far away.
Several different ~Wagonlo2ds of men
orrnn1 ,rith pinpG and ~raNOlVPrS are
driving about the country today look
ing for suspicious characters, but ittle
hope is entertained that the misCrcants
will be apprehended by them.
The Bank OF Viborg is owned by Ring
Bros, n A. H. Ring is cashier. He
reports that the institution carries in
demnity insurance and that the loss
will be made good to them. 1t is c&-
pected the insurance company Will in
stitute q thorough search for the rob
bers.
He Heard Them Pounding.
Nels Madison, sleeping near the bank,
was aroused by the sound OF pounding.
He went to his front window n saw
an armed man patrOlling in front and
he could see the reelection Of a light in
the bank. He realized at once that
cracksmen were at work. There was
no way OF getting out OF his room eN-
CtDllIlS ny lIlt 1NlCGl bO'l III IAoAAN' Si'A
that was to face the rObbCr sentinel.
Madison had no weapon and he hest
tatcd about a sOrtie of this kind. He
decided to try a bluff and suddenly
threw up his window and demanded to
know what was going on.
Quick as flash he was blinking at the
muzzle of a revolver and a gruGf voice
commanded him to hold up his hands.
He did it and he also OlloWed the
further instruction not to talk any more
or make a noise.
Madison stood there in the window
while five or six explosions shook the
earth. He thought others in the town
must near and soon the maraudefs
would be frightened off or caught. But
no one came.
Were Deliberate About 1t.
After setting q charge of nitrogl,
Cerin, the robbers would step Outsi ie
of the building and await the eXplo-
sion. They were obliged to repeat this
performance q half dozen times, but at
no time did they appear alarmed lest
they should be disturbed by citizens.
Finally they got the money and with q
parting warning to Madison fed.
Investigation showed the safe to be
n total wreck. The men were certain
ly experts.
A week ago the clothing store OF G.
M. S%orcnsOn was robbed OF $50 of
money and nine watches, but 1t was
evidently the work Of amateurs.
No suspicious characters have been
seen lately and there is no good clue
to work on.