Mrs. Rolfe asked if they were sick. One said their horses had ran away and
broke the wagon on the prairie, and they were forced to take to horse. He
said he had got the rheumatism and his comrade had broken two ribs in
falling from the wagon. This one gave evidence of a bad wound in the right
side, and could scarcely sit up to eat breakfast. He refused tea and asked
for milk. When they paid for their breakfast they did not unbutton their
coats, but reached up under. It took a long time to mount, and they had to
climb upon the fence and slide on to their horses. Both wore rubber coats,
one torn on the right side, and one had fine boots with small heel and
square toes. The boots were red from walking through the grass. They had
bags filled with straw for saddles, and old ropes looped for stirrups.
They moved slowly away southward. The robbers stopped at the house of
Davis, in Springwater, and were given bread and butter. They staid fifteen
minutes. From here they crossed the road northward from Luverne. As these
reports came in, the citizens were roused and the