In the meantime there had been mounting in hot haste, and detachments in
wagons and on horses had started from Northfield to undertake to head off
the bandits on what is known as the Dodd road. This road the robbers
seemed to have missed, and, notwithstanding their earlier start, they did
not arrive at the town of Shieldsville, fifteen miles away, until after a
squad of five men had reached that point. These men were in a saloon
refreshing themselves and telling their wonderful tale, when the rough
riding marauders dashed up in front of the place. The boys were attracted
to the door by the noise of the horses’ hoofs, and two or three started
for the wagon in which their arms had been left. This movement was
promptly checked by the leader, and the lads slouched back to the saloon.
The bandits leisurely proceeded to water their animals, and while doing so
an inquisitive old party standing by enquired “where they were going?” All
laughed at this query and one, pointing to Bob Younger whose arm was still
bleeding, replied that “they were going”
“TO HANG THAT D——D CUSS.”
After having watered the horses the desperadoes seemed in no haste, but
practiced with their pistols on the pump shattering it to pieces. Soon,
however the order was given and all dashed away, going toward Waterville.
The dash and daring of the robbers had electrified the people of the town
so that nothing was done, but after they had got well off, the gallant
squad of pursuers started on the trail. Soon they were joined by others,
augmenting the force to seventeen, and the bandit band was sighted in a
ravine about four miles from Shieldsville. The attacking party opened fire
from the brow of a hill but their arms consisted of rusty shot guns, and
small pistols, hence nothing was accomplished. When the attack commenced
the bandits wheeled in platoon and discharged a harmless volley at the
pursuers.
The horse of one of the robbers fell, and it was supposed that he had been
shot, but he quickly recovered. As the bandit sought to mount him again,
he found his girth broken, and in obedience to an order from the chief, he
mounted behind his comrade, and the gang moved off at a round trot. The
abandoned horse was found to be the one taken from Empey, and the saddle,
the one borrowed near Millersburgh.