The Washington herald., 1914-10-21

in Montreal keeping in touch the while
with the Confederate commissioners
from whom they drew funds for their
work
Plans being completed for the ST. Al
bans raid, the Adventures crossed the
! border in small groups and proceeded 10
the neighborhood Of ST. Albans-which Is
fourteen miles from the border-some
days before the date set for the raid,
some arriving in that town as early as
october s.
7 Nearly all were young men of good edu-
cation and good address, and though
they passed several days in studying the
scene OF their proposed operations, they
attracted no unfavorable attention. Two
or three of them went direct to ST. AL
bans. put up at a hotel there sauntered
| about the town, talked with residents
| and studied the habits Of the men in
charge OF the three local banks-for plum
der Of the banks was an important part
of their plan.
Having paved the way for their work
the emissaries TO the town withdrew and
final details were arranged for the raid
LoOtinE the Banks.
Shortly after p. m. on October 19 sew
eral small groups Of young men. to the
number of twenty-five, wearing long
{ coats, and carrying haversacks slung
over their shoulders, appeared on the
main street Of st. Adams The village
streets were almost deserted and the
strangers attracted no particular atten-
tion.
The first intimation the town received
that something was wrong was when
three groups of the strangers appeared
simultaneously at the towns three
banks. while the others proceeded to de-
tain citizens and place them under guard
on the village green.
The raiders worked quickly. At each
bank their method was the same. The
cashier was ordered at the point Of the
revolver to hand over the banks cash,
on penalty OF death.
The details OF the hold-up varied little.
Separate groups went to each bank.
At the First National Bank the cashier,
Albert Sowles, was busy when he looked
up to find a stranger at the wicket. point
ing revolver at him, and saying, IF
you offer resistance I will shoot you
dead"
Two other men now entered the bank.
and with revoIvers in their hands went
behind the counter.
An amusing feature Of the scene was
afforded by the presence in the bank of
an aged man, John Mason, who had been
brigadier general OF Vermont Vol
Gen. Mason was deaf. Looking up from
his paper. and Seeing the strangers at
the counter, he said: What gentlemen
are these? 1t seems to me they are rath-
er rude"
The raiders began to stun their pockets
with greenbacks, and. when these Were
full, TO throw bundles OF money and
securities over the partition to the man
outside.
To the cashier the men stated they were
Confederate soldiers, retaliating on the
North for acts of Sheridan. Having se-
cured $4,000 the men left the bank.
taking Mr.. Sowles with them. As they
came out of the door they were met by
William II. Blaisdell, a clothing mer-
chant who tried to effect Sowles' re-
lease by throwing one Of his guards OF
the bank steps.
This was ineffective. Blaisdell was
made a prisoner and taken with the
bank cashier to the village green oppo-
site.
At the st. Adams bank five of the raid
ers forced Cyrus N. Bishop. assistant
cashier, and Martin A. Seymour, clerk.
CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN.