The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-09-21
ROB TWO BANKS:
$4,000 IS TAKEN
MOUNTED ROBBERS MAKE OAR.
ING RAID ON UNDERWOOD,
NORTH DAKOTA,
WHOLE TOWN IS T[RROR|z[D

Bismarck, N. D., Sept. 18.-Not
since the days when the Younger and
James gangs made their desperate
raid on Northfield. Mimi, has there
been in the Northwest such a thrill.
Ing bank robbery as that at Under.
wood, small town in Mclean coun-
ty, north of Bismarck, early Saturday
morning.
About o'clock four armed men. ac-
cording to information received here,
rode horseback into the town, ham,
| mered down the doors of the two
banks, wrecked the safes with power
full explosives, packed up the booty OF
about $4,000, held the crowd at bay
| and rode away into the night. A
posse was quickly formed and started
in pursuit, but no advices yet received
indicate whether the hunters were
successful
Underwood was asleep when the
| raiders arrived
Explosions Arouse Villagers.
A woman living in the outskirts OF
the town was aroused from her slum-
| Der by the clatter of hoofs. Peering
out into the darkness she saw the dim
| outlines of the cavalcade She aroused
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had ceased they went back to sleep
| A little later they and everybody else
in town were aroused by the noise OF
| several explosions.
Soon a score Of men who had hasti
ly dressed stumbled along toward the
/ main street A few women followed
| timidly and at distance.
There, in front of the First State
bank, was a bunch of horses that
pranced about nervously. The front
OF the building appeared to be wreck
| ed Several men came out.
There was no chance for the citi
| zens, who were unarmed, to make a
demonstration against the raiders.
One Of the latter stepped out and yell
| ed for everybody to be quiet and to re-
| turn to their beds If they didn't want
to get hurt.
Held Citizens at Bay.
Down the street another noise at
tracted the citizens and they moved
cautiously in that direction. 1t was
| Immediately realized that the Secur
| ity State bank was also to be looted
or had been There were several
strangers in front of that building;
others were going in and coming out
each time fastening bags Of some
kind to the saddles of the horses.
1t was difficult for the citizens to
act concertedly. One man suggested
that they slip away to their homes fo,
weapons and return to a given point
| Several men started out with this end
in view. Several were halted by the
raiders and compelled at the points OF
guns and pistols to remain where
| they were.
Finishing their work at the banks
| the raiders. still in complete posses
sion, braved possible dangers by
| breaking into several stores.
Getting together again, at a whistle
signal, they mounted and rode out oi
| town.
BIoodhounds on Trail.
The moment they were gone the
citizens aroused themselves to ac
ton. Those who had gone for arms
| for defense rallied the others. Horses
were procured quickly and the small
band started out in the direction
taken by the raiders.
At daylight other citizens were
ready for the chase. More horses
were procured, and the posse set out,
inquiring at farm houses and in other
villages for news Of the strange horse
men.
AS soon as the telegraph Office was
opened messages were sent by the
Underwood authorities to Bismarck
and other cities and towns asking for
assistance In capturing the raiders.
The securities of the banks were
not touched and are intact Both
banks were insured and the loss to
them will be small, il any.
Bloodhounds from the penitentiary
have been sent to Underwood, and It
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