The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-06-21
Depot Agent, Who Witnessed Battle
Declares Detectives Hide in Den
At Last Moment
BARELYM1ssEDBYBoLD BANDITS
Invaders Flash Dark Lantern, Then
Make Break, Running Into
Fielding and Helmer.

The story told by A. E. Hodgdon,
depot agent Of the Red Lake road at
Puposky, who is in Bemidji today
and who had been told that there
might be something doing and there
fore was on the alert, is hair raising
and is the first authentic and con-
nected account of the battle.
Here it is in Mr.. Hodgon's own
words:
'The store which the robbers en-
tered, also is used as a postofice.
1t is long building. Next to the
main store is feed store addition,
partitioned off, and it was through
this partition that Sheriff Hazen
watched the robbers.
Sees Robbers Make Survey.
"Next to the feed store is a six foot
alley boarded up with roof over it,
and connecting with the bank build
ing. In this crude room the Pink
erton men under charge of Fielding
and Deputy Helmer remained for
two days, with the sheriff in the
feed store where the day previous
to the robbery he saw, through his
peek hole, the robbers come in and
make a survey of the surroundings.
AT that time the robbers casual
ly noted the postoftice department,
which is half way back in the main
store on the left hand side. The
men purchased some tobacco and
went out.
Den Fixed up in Comfort.
During the 4S hours the officers
were waiting for the robbers they
were made comfortable in their al
ley retreat. They had beds, cush-
ions, pillows, and all sorts of stuff to
eat and drink. The officers took up
their quarters in this den at mid
night Wednesday.
SHERIFF Hazen, who had been as
signed the duty of guarding the peep
hole, had arranged string on a tin
can to signal the men in the alley
den, who were to make hasty
exit from the blind door cut in the
side of the den, and if they had
obeyed the sheriff's signal when it
came in the opinion of the people
of Puposky, Mike Davis, never
would have got away, but the two
Pinkerton men who were to respond
to this signal appear to have got
cold feet at the critical moment.
Now For the Robbery.
Snow to get down to the robbery.
At 1880 Friday night the robbers
went to the railroad tool house, broke
it open and took what tools they
wanted. They proceeded at once to
the postoffice building, being watch
ed by the village constable who had
been told of the trap laid for the
robbers.
''The robbers, and there seemed to
be but two, went to the front door
of the postoffice building, took out
a key, unlocked the door and went
in.
Hazen Sees Them Enter.
"Hazen was on the job at his peep
hole and saw the men enter the
building. They advanced at once to
the postoffce part, laid down a pick,
mall and other tools. At this
moment Hazen gave the signal to the
officers in their den The detectives
started up and in their haste knocked
over box, which caused the rob-
bers to stampede and they made a
wild rush for the front door.
"In the meantime Fielding and
DCpuIy OucI4A I1cluuci Idu OuI VI
their retreat to the front of the store
where they took up position, but
by that time the robbers had come
out of the front door. They then
turned on the opposite side of the
building from which Fielding and
Helmer were running to the front
Robbers Peer Into Den.
''The robbers proceeded to = the
alley den, on the outside, where they
had heard the noise and with their
dark lanterns discovered. the blind
door.
within the den crouching in the