into the brush, when they saw H. Thompson, and gave some necessary
instructions there—the Sheriff being absent with T. L Vought at J.
Doolittle’s. Capt. Murphy after having a hurried consulation with. Ben
Rice, put his horse in charge of Alba Crandall, who led several other
horses, whom he posted on a slight knoll. Then he stepped to the edge of
the bluff and called for volunteers to skirmish the brush, which is in a
circular form and contains about 5 acres and is situated in the northeast
quarter section 20, township 107, range 31. This brush is willows and
plumtrees, interspersed with vines. Ben Rice and Geo. Bradford immediately
volunteered, followed by Chas. Pomeroy and James Severson. At this moment
T. L. Vought arrived, who immediately dismounted and joined. Sheriff
Glispin then came up and joined the party just as they were starting off.
The Capt. gave the men orders to keep in line at an interval of 3 or 4
paces and in case the enemies were found, to rush upon them; to examine
their guns carefully, and to shoot low. The line advanced as fast as
possible into the brush and passed through to the river, then made a wheel
to the left and passed up the river westward, with the right of the line
near enough to see the water. After advancing in this direction about ten
rods, a shot was fired from a very thick clump of willows, at a distance
of fifteen feet from the right of the line. As the shot was fired, the
robbers were seen obsecurely in a kneeling position, close together.
Glispin returned the fire on the instant with a breech-loading carbine,
and dropped to load. As four of the robbers commenced firing as fast as
possible, they being armed with Colt’s, and Smith and Wesson’s six
shooters, army size. Capt. Murphy opened fire at this close range with a
Colt revolver; Rice discharged his carbine, then fired his pistol; Vought
and Pomeroy fired with double-barreled shot guns, and Bradford and
Severson with carbine and rifle. Just at this time Captain Murphy received
a 44 calibre pistol shot, the ball striking a