and guided them to where the villains were. When the party came in sight
of the robbers, the latter were at the house of John Sharphold. Seeing
their pursuers coming they seemed to try to fortify behind a heap of
earth, but when the party scattered out in an attempt to surround them,
they made off. They waded in a slough near by, and when passing over a
rise of ground beyond, Glispin and Will Estes fired at them with their
rifles, just grazing the shoulder and cutting the shirt of one, as they
afterwards learned.
This caused the miscreants to hasten their pace, and while those pursuing
were crossing the slough and going cautiously up the hill (fearing an
ambuscade,) they had made quite an advance. As they were on foot, it was
now evident from the direction they were taking that they knew the
country, and were making for Doolittle’s herd. It was not long before they
reached the Hanska slough which they waded, The party in pursuit, who were
proceeding in a form of line, came to the slough and finding they could
not cross, Glispin and Estes went down the slough and crossed at the house
of A. Swingler, who showed them a cattle crossing. The Sheriff sent
Severson to show those citizens coming, which way to proceed. Vought went
up stream and crossed, and about this time was joined by Dr. Overholt, and
coming down to the right of the robbers, fired occasionally to attract
others. Dr. Overholt shot with his rifle and hit one of the robber’s
canes. Glispin and Estes coming up on the left, fired several shots, and
the robbers returned the fire, and being at close range, the bullets flew
thick about the pursuers, grazing Glispin’s horse.
About half past 12 o’clock Will Estes ran out of ammunition and was
obliged to come to town, informing those whom he met where to go, and as
soon as he arrived here sent telegrams to St. James of movements.
In the pursuit, Glispin, Vought and Overholt saw Doolittle’s herd and bore
to the right to prevent the robbers from capturing the horses, and crossed
the river at J. Doolittle’s; some men were ordered to stay there as guard.