IN MINNESOTA.
Hitherto the brigands, led by the Jameses and the Youngers, had
only committed outrages in those countries with the physical
features of which they were well acquainted. They had ridden
through Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Kentucky, and Iowa was not
so far away from their haunts in Clay county that they could
not reasonably hope to retreat to their hiding places. The list
of outrages already committed by them was extravagantly long.
Commencing at Russellville, Kentucky, they had ransacked bank safes
at Gallatin, Corydon, Iowa, Columbia, Kentucky, Ste. Genevieve,
Mo., Huntington, West Virginia, and a section of the band had paid
a visit to, and plundered the bank at Corinth, Mississippi. They
had stopped trains in Kansas, Wyoming, Iowa and Missouri, and they
had plundered stages in Arkansas, Texas and Kansas. But over the
whole territory intervening between the widely separated scenes of
their depredations, they had often travelled and were perfectly
familiar with the topography of the country, and had friends in
many places.
Having achieved such remarkable success in their nefarious calling,
the brigand chiefs were emboldened to enter upon new enterprises,
and seek new fields for the exercise of their prowess and genius.
They agreed to go beyond the borders of their accustomed field of
operations.
After Otterville, a part of the gang went into St. Clair county,
and the other members of the banditti proceeded to Clay county,
to the vicinity of Kearney, where resided the mother of Frank and
Jesse James, Mrs. Zerelda Samuels. That person was always true to
the interests of her sons, and under no circumstances did she ever
desert their cause or betray their designs. Mrs. Samuels was a very
useful ally of Frank and Jesse, and when hard pressed in other
quarters, they were always sure of a safe retreat and succor in the
vicinity of the Samuels house.
The successful robbery accomplished at Otterville, had created a
profound sensation throughout the southwest, and the law abiding
citizens were vigilant and suspicious, and it was not a pleasant
time to travel in any direction where the least possible suspicion
in regard to the character of the traveller was once aroused.
Therefore, the robbers of the train at Otterville sought their
hiding places and remained quiet for a time.
But idleness under such circumstances became extremely irksome to
the free riders, accustomed as they were to a life of activity and
exciting adventure. The division of the band from St. Clair county,
journeyed into Clay county, Missouri, and then began a series of
conferences in regard to the next campaign which they contemplated
inaugurating.
These consultations between the leaders of the banditti were held
in a thick forest near the residence of Mrs. Samuels. The result
of the deliberations was the development of a plan to pay a visit
to Minnesota, and raid some bank there, the exact place of its
situation to be determined when they should have arrived in that
state.
Who originated the scheme is a question which, in all human
probability, will forever remain unanswered. The credit of the
project has been often given to Jesse James. Whether or not he
originated it, we have good reason to know that he was one of the
parties who went to Northfield, and in all probability he was the
leader of the band.
Be that as it may, a plan was concocted to pay a visit to
Minnesota, and plunder as many of the banks in that state as
possible before the beginning of winter, and then retire to winter
quarters on the Texas and Mexican frontiers. The general plans were
finally agreed upon, and about the middle of August, 1876, the
bandit camp in the vicinity of the Samuels house was broken up,
and the brigands, separating in couples, commenced their long ride
through the country to the flourishing villages of Minnesota.
The party which left Clay county was composed of Frank and
Jesse James; Coleman, Robert and James Younger; Clell Miller,
Bill Chadwell and Charlie Pitts. It is related, on what appears
excellent authority, that Cole Younger and Bill Chadwell preceded
the other members of the gang, to fix upon a suitable rendezvous.
Near Mankato, Bill Chadwell had "a friend," a man who had often
before rendered him substantial service. Preconcerted "signs" of
the route to be taken by the main body of the bandits had been left
by the advance guard, Cole Younger and Bill Chadwell. The final
rendezvous selected by these leaders was at Mankato, and the whole
band then proceeded to Chadwell's friend's resting place, where
their final councils were held.
A gentleman of the highest respectability, well known in Central
Missouri, who is in a position to be informed, assures us that Cole
Younger did not favor an attack on the bank at Northfield; indeed,
that he was opposed to raiding any bank in Minnesota, but that he
was overruled in his judgment by the other members of the gang.
It is said that Cole favored a movement into Canada, where the
prospects for a large haul were believed to be very much better.
But whatever might have been his wishes, the other members of the
band did not accede to them, and, after due consideration, it
was determined to strike a Minnesota bank. Cole Younger was too
far committed to recede, and so he submitted to the will of the
majority, and was among the law's victims after Northfield.
Bill Chadwell was for many years a border rough and horse-thief
in Minnesota. He had committed depredations in many parts of that
state, and was perfectly familiar with the geography and topography
of the country. With a vast number of the dishonest and rough class
in that state, he was on terms of intimate personal acquaintance.
To him, as a guide, the other members of the brigand company looked
with confidence to lead them successfully to a handsome deposit
of spoils, and away from pursuers and pursuit. Chadwell's friends
were relied upon to afford them succor in the hour of need, and
Chadwell's skill inspired them with hopes of great gains, at a
small sacrifice of time and little risk of danger.
All these things had been discussed, and the plans of the gang
were well matured before the departure from Clay county. It was
a long expedition, and the principal members of the company were
unfamiliar with the country into which they journeyed. They based
their hopes of success on the conditions which at that time existed
in Minnesota. It was at that season of the year when the grain
growers were disposing of their crops; when it was supposed grain
buyers and shippers would have their heaviest deposits in bank, and
when the farmers were "in funds," which the robbers doubted not
would be placed in the country banks for safe-keeping. Moreover,
they reasoned that inasmuch as the people of Minnesota were
unacquainted with their bold methods, that, as usual, when they
made an onset, the customary panic would ensue, and the risk taken
would be small.
Thus the preliminaries of the celebrated raid into Northfield
were settled. Never before had this gang of desperadoes failed in
accomplishing their object, and when the last council was held, and
it was settled that Northfield should be the objective point of
their great raid into Minnesota, "the signs" were propitious, and
the superstitious element in the character of the outlaws rested
satisfied.
The remainder of the band divided into couples. Jesse and Frank
James, as usual, travelled the road in company. Bob Younger and
Charlie Pitts went together, and James Younger and Clell Miller
bore each other company by the way. These separate detachments
travelled different roads, and kept a good lookout for favorable
places for concealment in case of necessity, and they also noted
the characteristics of the surface of the country over which they
passed.
Previous to leaving Missouri, Jesse James wrote, or caused to be
written, two letters for publication in the Kansas City _Times_,
denying the charge of complicity in the Otterville robbery, and
denouncing the statement of Hobbs Kerry as "a villainous pack of
lies." These letters were printed, and lead to the belief that the
Jameses were still in Missouri. The latest one of these letters was
dated "Safe Retreat, August 18th, 1876," and appeared in the Kansas
City _Times_ August 23d, 1876.
Divided as they were, their passage through the country excited
no comment. They travelled as respectable persons might have
travelled. In the evenings they would put up at a respectable
village inn, or country farm-house, and in the mornings they paid
for their accommodations as any other reputable citizens might have
done. They did not hurry, because they did not want to break down
their horses. The distance was great, and they were many days on
the road. It was about the 1st of September, 1876, when the whole
band had arrived in the neighborhood of Mankato. Their advance
agents, having found a suitable place for a rendezvous at the house
of Chadwell's friend, met their comrades, and, without exciting
suspicion among the people, they directed the various detachments
to the designated place of meeting.
The robbers were now in Minnesota, but as yet they had not
determined which of more than half a dozen banks they would rob.
First, the claims of some one of the three banks doing business in
Mankato to the distinction were considered. But the proposition to
rob any one of them met with little consideration in the council of
the brigands. They reasoned that three banks in such a place would
naturally cause the business and investment funds of the community
to be divided into three parts, no one of which could be very
large, and as they "played for high stakes" at a great risk, they
concluded to let Mankato banks alone. Then they considered the
claims of the bank at St. Peter to be plundered. But there was not
enough business done in the place, and it was not surrounded by a
community deemed wealthy, and the brigands concluded to pass St.
Peter, believing that they would not get a large haul in case they
should raid the place. Several other banks were considered, and the
probabilities as to the amount of treasure likely to be obtained
were all considered. Finally, indications pointed to the bank of
Northfield as probably richer in the treasures contained in its
vaults than any other in that region of Minnesota.
Northfield, the place selected by the desperadoes as the scene of
their attempt at plundering, is a nourishing town on the line of
the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, situated in the northeast
corner of Rice county, Minnesota. The town is compactly built, and
contains a population of about 2,000 souls. The country around
Northfield is very productive, and there is considerable activity
in commercial pursuits in the village. The bank building is
situated in the very center of the business portion of the town. At
the time the raid was made a large sum of money had accumulated in
the vault of the institution. But Northfield happened to be peopled
by a hardy and courageous race of pioneers who were not made of the
material to submit with a good grace to be plundered by strange
outlaws from another state.
But the leaders of the brigands had selected Northfield, and it
only remained to fix upon a time when the attempt should be made.
That time was set for the afternoon of September 7th, 1876.