The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1906-09-18
ROBBERS ESCAPED
NO TRACE OF THE ROBBERS ARE
FOUND.
Suspicious Characters Are Being
Watched-Eys Witness Tells Story
of the RObbery-Drussist Aroused
by Explosion Forced to Seek Safety.


Bismarck, N. D., Sept. 1s.-The bank
robbery at Underwood is the first
crime of that kind to occur in this
part of the state for number of years
and in point of cool daring takes the
lead of any in the state. Underwood
is a small place of about 600 people,
whom 1t has acquired in three years.
1t is in the heart of rich agricultural
country and while a village has long
been known as hummer at this time
OF the year. 1t is filled with transient
blind tigers, tin horn gamblers and a
class of hangers-on who live off farm
hands. Just at this time pluclSing
is particularly good, owing to the great
number of men in the country for
threshing and to work on the extern
sion of the 500.
In this rough class, 1t is surmised,
sIeqqoI YuBq IeuoIsseJoId 10 SUES 9
sought cover, and improved the unusu-
ally dark and stormy night of Friday
for the deed. The Security bank was
first attacked. Adjoining is a drug
store owned and occupied by A. o.
Wike.
Tells of Robbery.
Mr.. Wike had an experience he will
long remember, and while known as a
man of nerve, had to conclude dis
erection was the better part of yalor.
Being interviewed by your correspond
ent, he said:
1T was 2:10 a. M, when I was
awakened by a heavy, dull explosion
that shook my building. ! pulled on
49, a.
the cause, when a big fellow wearing
SLOUGH hat, mask and long overcoat,
poked big gun in may face and or
dered me back into the store, and
told me to stay in or get my id
head blown off, and you bet hasten
ed to comply.
Just then there was another ex-
plosion, though not SO loud. I rush
ed to the back door, intending to give
the alarm realizing the bank was be-
ing robbed, but was met by another
robber and turned back.
Il got out my rifle had in the store,
and tried to get shot at the man in
front, but it was so dark / could not
see him and was afraid he would pick
me IL opened the door. j could hear
men pounding in the bank, as the two
walls adjoined, and then three of them
crossed the street to the First State
bank, They forced the door with q
Jimmy and entered. A few moments
later they came out, and then there
was an explosion about as loud as at
the other bank
"They went inside and again came
out and moment later a second ex-
plosion followed. l heard some one
talking, then two of the men went in
side, and one stood guard in front of
little one story real estate office
next to the bank. After a time the
two came out of the bank with bag
between them and crossed over to the
Security bank again. Ones of them
looked in my window as he passed.
Still Kept Guard.
Shortly after there was small ex-
plosion in the bank next door, and
then long silence. The man across
the street still kept guard over the real
estate office, so knew he was keep
ing some one inside. After a long
time three men came out Of the Secur-
ity bank with two large bags in their
hands. They were Joined by fourth
man and they walked quite leisurely
down the street and turned north,
where / could no longer see them.
mot knowing how many there were
in the party and supposing was still
being guarded, remained quiet for
some time. but finally mustered up
enough courage to venture out and
found the coast clear.
ut was just getting daylight about
o'clock. gave the alarm and
found that two men strangers to me,
had been held up in the real estate Of
flee across the way just as had been.
"The whole town was quickly arous-
ed and armed and the, search began"
The story of the men in the Office
was relatively the same as Mr.. Wilkes
as was their experience.
The safes of the banks were rem
dered useless and the windows of the
buildings were blown out. The banks
stand on corners diagonally across
from each other.
They are little one-story affairs of
three rooms They each have cap
ital of $4,000 and have been prosper
GUS from the start.
1t is usual for them to carry large
balances in cash on hand at this time
OF the year, but large drafts We're
made Friday for wheat purchases, or
the loss would have been much great
err.
The charges of dynamite must have
been guaged by experts, as they did
the work most effectively and with so
little noise that persons sleeping two
buildings away did not hear the ex-
plosions. and many of those who did
attributed the reports to pistol shots
by drunken men.
No Trace Of Bandits.
The officers of the Security bank
are j. f.. johnson, president; Krist
Kjelstrup, cashier: First State bank:
r. E. Kenaston OF Minneapolis, presi-
dent, A. w. Raw, cashier.
The prairies about Underwood have
been thrashed over thoroughly, but no
trace of the bandits have been found
Their trail in the mud was found lead
ing north from Main street. but was
soon lost In the grass.
1t Is now an almost settled convic-
ton of the officials that the robbery
- t.szs