is a thriving, pretty, little village, situated pleasantly upon both banks
of the Cannon river just thirty-nine miles from St. Paul, in Rice county,
on the St. Paul and Milwaukee railroad. A neat iron bridge unites the
northwest and the southeast sides of the town, and just above the bridge
is one of the finest mill races in the State, the water in its incessant
flow roaring like the ocean and appearing like a minature Niagara. There
is a large flouring mill on either side of the river belonging to Messrs.
Ames & Co. The public buildings are not surpassed in the State for their
beauty of design and adaptability of construction, and the Carlton college
is another institution of which the town may well be proud. Placed as it
is in the center of a rich farming district, the citizens are considered
well-to-do, and the bank transacts a large business.
The five strangers appeared on the streets at an early hour of the morning
of September 7th, and attracted a great deal of notice from the citizens,
some of them recognizing two of the men as a party who visited the village
about a week before, stopping at the Dampier House.
At about 11 o’clock two of these horsemen drew up at Jeft’s restaurant on
the northeast side of the river and asked for dinner. Jeft told them he
had nothing ready, but could cook them some eggs and ham. The men told him
to do so, ordering four eggs each. Their horses were left standing untied
at the back of the premises. After ordering their dinner the two men went
out into the street and after some time returned, when they were joined by
three others and all sat down to their meal. They entered into familiar
discourse with the proprietor of the house, and asked him what was the
prospect of the forthcoming Presidential election. Jeft’s reply was that
he took no interest in politics, when one of the men offered to bet him
$1,000 that the State would go Democratic. They still chatted on and
seemed to be waiting for some one. At length they left and mounted their
horses which were a sorrel, a cream color with silver tail and mane, a
black, a bay, and a brown, all fine animals, sleek and clean limbed, and
showing indications of blood. After leaving the restaurant, the five
horsemen crossed over the bridge, two remaining in bridge square and the
other three, riding up to Division street dismounted, and tied their
horses to the posts at the side of the Scriver block. They then sauntered
up toward bridge square, and after talking for some few moments leaning
against a dry goods box in front of Lee & Hitchcock’s store (Scriver
block,) they walked back toward the bank which they entered. Three other
horsemen then came upon the scene and commenced at once to ride up and
down the street in dashing style, and calling upon the citizens who from
their doors were watching the eccentric proceeding, to get back into their
houses, commenced firing pistols in the air with immense rapidity.
Greater confusion could not be imagined than now ensued. Wherever persons
were seen upon the street, a horseman would dash up to them in full speed,
and pointing a long barrelled glittering pistol at their heads order them
to “get in you G—d—s—of a b.” The streets were cleared in a few moments
and stores were closed in quicker time than it takes to tell it.
But though taken at a disadvantage, when many of the men were out at work
or away chicken hunting, the scare of the Northfield boys was but
momentary. Collecting their perturbed thoughts men rushed about in search
of fire arms, but this most necessary desideratum for a successful
encounter with a body of desperadoes or madmen, armed to the teeth, was
found to be very scarce on