The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-10-13
BLOW BANK SAFE
AND SECURE $500
Three "Yeggmen" Make a VERY
Rich Haul at Spring
field, S. D.
CITIZENS WE'RE A r
Aroused by Explosions They Feare.
to Attempt to Stop Gane-safe
Blowers Stole a Team at
Avon 20 Miles Away.

Yankton, s. d, Oct. T.1Thursda.
nigat, part of the posse which ha,
been searching for the Springfield bank
robbers returned II reported no trace
of the gang. Marshal Hickey and
Sheriff Wright organized a second
bottom and bluff roads. Guards have
been stationed AT the poutoon bridge,
and close tab is being kept on all skirts
and rowboatS.
The officers, while not discouraged,
have almost given up hopes of speedy
capture. 1t is thought the robbers
have doubled on their trail and lodged
the Springfield posse. If this is the
case they have probably reached the
hills near Running Water, where they
Wi! be immune from arrest, for a time
at least.
The reward of $3.50 for the arrest
OF each member of the gang has been
increased TO $1,000 for the gang or
amy part of it by the Bon IIomme
county officials.
Springfield, s. D., Oct. Aroused
by two explosions at an early hour
Thursday morning, residents of this
town were made aware in Il short time
that a gang of "yeggmen" had blown
the safe OF the Bank of Springfield,
securing 5000, practically ali the cash
in the institution.
Fearing To leave their homes, the
citlZens waited Il few minutes. and the
bbc escaped by means of a rig
winch they stole some time last night
from ID. Greenfield of Avon, a town
lying about twenty miles northwest of
here.
To Earl Craig n small boy, who es-
capped by a back window of his home
across the street from the bank, the
officers here owe the warning they re-
celNed. The boy spread the alarm too
late, however, To enable the officers to
elleet a capture or even to secure a
good description of the robbers.
About ! o'clock in the morning be-
lated residents homeward bound saw
three strangers strolling along the
mann street of the town. No particular
attention was paid TO the men. al
though 1t is remembered now that one
was short and stockily built.
Across the street from the Bank Of
Springfield a family named Campbell
resides. At 2:40 o'clock they We're
awakened by a heavy explosion, and
slh1'cing out saw a man pacing back
ana forth In front Of the bank. They
realized that a safe blowing was in
progress, but being too badly right
eied they did not attempt TO alarm the
town. NN
Second Explosion Heard.
In a few minutes another explosion
was heard and then one of the mem
bers of the family called to a neigh
Dor, named Craig. who lives close by.
MIS-. craig awakened her son, Earl, a
boy OF is and putting him out a back
MlldoW or the house started him on
his mission. He reused the town mar
sllal n other citizens, but by the time
iney arrived at the bank the robbers
had fled taking With them all the cash
In the institution. A resident on the
outskirts of the town heard a team
driven at a sallop past his place short
~ before 3 o'clock and it is supposed
the robbers fled east toward Yankton.
1t Is possible they escaped across the
Missouri river into Nebraska, although
not been discovered.
Examination at the bank showed the
robbers had forced their way through
the front door. They had then smashed
the combination by means Of nitro
glycerin. Gaining access to the vault
they tackled the safe. A heavy charge
or nltroglycerin vas inserted in the
door, he robbers first having thor
oughl soaped the cracks. Then a fuse
was attached and the charge exploded.
The door was blown from its hinges
n the books and papers in the safe
badly damaged. The windows of the
building were also broken.
Bank Was Insured.
Officers Immediately started In pur-
suit. Cashier Carl Hill. of the bank.
notified surrounding towns by tele-
phone and the Sioux City police de-
partiment was also Informed OF the rob
berry. The bank is insured in the Amer
lean Bankers association. which has
Pinkerton detectives at its command
A reward of $3.50 for each member Of
the gang Is offered.
Communication with Avon resulted In
the discovery that a team and buggy
was stolen rom the barn of DR.. Green
neld. The robbers probably drove the
twenty miles to this city, arriving here
about midnight. The rig is described
as follows:
one dark bay mare, left hind foot
white, and small white spot on left
shoulder, aged 10 years; one small, light
bay mare. rather heavy: double har-
ness. with collar and fynets; single
buggy, with cushions.
Robbers Used Railroad.
Springfield is located on the Marion
junction branch OF the Milwaukee and
st. Paul railroad, in the southwestern
corner of Bon Homme county about six
miles from Running Water. Avon is
located about twenty miles northwest
of here. in Charles Mix ounty 1t is
on the Platte. line of the Milwaukee and
st. Paul road.
1t is the theory of the officers that the
robbers are members of the gang driv-
out Of Mitchell, S. D., during the
corn palace. They may have
to Avon, there stole the Greenfield rig
Il drove to this city.
ON STATE ISSUES ONLY.
Columbus. Oct. 5.-Chairman CARRIER Of
the democratic state committee today de-