The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1910-04-13
SAFE BLOWN
AT SEAFORTH
Bandits Stand Off the Citizens
and Get the Cash at
Third Attempt.

Between 100 and 2 o'clock Thurs
day morning, the inhabitants of the
burg of Seaforth were aroused from
their peaceful slumbers by a terrific
explosion. Close upon the first and
before the people were fully awake
or could think what was going on,
came a second explosion. Almost
every second story of the business
building on main street is occupied
by the family Of the owner. SO that
when the second explosion occurred
a good many of the male occupants
of the buildings were at the front
trying to ascertain what was doing,
the first tho t of each being the bank.
Mrs. Jake Becvar rushed out of their
building and started for the Stanek
hardware store which is on the other
side Of Sleigers saloon from their
place. Willie Stanek was viewing
proceedings at the bank as best he
could through the glass front of the
Stanek hardware, when Arion Stanek
caue in through the back door with
a lighted lantern. Immediately
came shot from one Of the robbers
crashing through the glass door with
in a few inches of Williams head,
at the same time came the command
to Mrs. Becvar to get back where
she came from as quick as she could.
In less than Is minutes from the first
explosion, came the third and hardest
explosion, the large plate glass win
dows were broken with the End ex-
plosion so that when the third and
last explosion came the glass came
rafting down and everything was
confusion.
The robbers didn't make the least
pretense of keeping quiet. more or
less talk and swearing being irdulg-
ed in. When the safe refused to yield
at the End explosion one fellow was
heard to say, give it another one. ;"
After the last explosion, one was
asked. Ibid you get it?'' The answer
came. three sacks full" One or
more of the robbers must have
known the ground well. The en-
trance ito the bank was effected by
removing a large portion of the panel
of the back door just above the night
lock. Before beginning operations at
bank, all telephone connections were
cut off as also was the telegraph. The
last wirescut was at thee III. johnson
residence, for here they left the lad
der which was purloined from the
Stanek's back yard. The dray wag-
on was drawn up close to the walk
in front Of the bank as a sort Of pro-
lection or blind, most Of those look
ing on thinking the heavy dray wag-
on an auto in which the robbers were
to make their escape. The doors of
the Wolford building were barracad-
ed by the robbers. If any one doubts
or does not know the power Of nitro
glycerine one look at the wrecked
bank and safe will convince them.
If anyone wonders why the inhabit-
ants Of Seaforth didn't put up a.
scrap, let this be their answer: The
night was very dark and no citizen
was prepared for anything of this
kind, while the robbers proved that
they were we'll armed and up to the
business. Possibly most Of the citi-
zens felt as one man spoke; MY
wife would rather have a living cow
ard than dead hero"
We are indebted to our seaforth
correspondent for the above details
of the bank wreckihg. Sheriff
Schueller was notified within two
hours from Belview, ssaforth being
cut off from communication BIZ wire
by the robbers. Beyond ascertain
ing that the robbers drove from Del
hi with horse and cart belonging to
j. M. Stewart, and which they left
on the streets Of Belview, not much
has been made public SO far. Our
sheriff was most decidedly of the
opinion that the same trio which he
rounded up for the Delhi safe blow
ing was connected with the Seaforth
affair, but beyond the fact of his