Text from the Buffalo Journal, Oct. 3, 1903. Reprinted in the Tri-County News on Oct. 7, 1971. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Wright County was the scene of a genuine border sensation yesterday, when six bandits were captured by sheriff Young and a posse near South Haven, after a bloody battle in which one man was killed instantly and five were wounded, two seriously. Wednesday night Gunnary’s store at Annandale was robbed of a lot of clothing. On Thursday some of the stolen goods were sold at Kimball, and Friday morning a gang was seen in South Haven where goods were offered for sale. A telephone message was sent to sheriff Young, and he and deputy sheriff John Nugent Jr. and county attorney Cutting left for South Haven on the morning train, arriving about noon. When they got off the train they were told one of the suspects had boarded the train. Nugent went to the front and Young to the rear of the train and they started through, but the man got off and Young arrested him as he was approaching a freight car. He turned him over to constable Marquardt at the elevator where he was held in custody for a while. Then Young, Nugent and Marshal Walters of Annandale, who had also been summoned, entered the freight car. There were five men in the car and one was cutting bread about the center of the car. Nugent commanded him to surrender and was searching him when he was struck on the head from behind with a revolver. The officers were covered with guns and Young was also knocked down; both he and Nugent lost their revolvers. They retreated towards the elevator, covered by the bandits, and the gang shot at them, one ball entering the building a few inches from Young’s head. They rescued the man from Marquardt, getting his gun, as they had all the advantage. They then started east on the track and were followed a short distance by three local men who went back again for reinforcements. A posse was organized promptly, and also Annandale was notified by telephone to send out parties to head them off. The officers and a party followed the men on a hand car, but they left the track about a mile east of South Haven, turning south. They went through one piece of woods and were seen by a farmer to cross an opening to a second woods. This was surrounded, and scouts kept ahead to watch, one seeing them. The posse closed in on them, the six lying in a circle with feet together, and the sheriff commanded them to surrender. A volley of shots was the answer, when the posse opened fire with shotguns and revolvers. Members of the party say it sounded like a 4th of July celebration for a time. It was three o’clock when the firing began. The gang soon gave up, and one was shot dead, three badly wounded and the other two slightly wounded. Each had a big Colt’s revolver with wrist straps and plenty of ammunition. They left in the box car a red railroad lantern and two dozen signal cartridges, used to stop trains, and it is not impossible they had planned a train hold-up. The dead man had a union labor card from Rochester, N.Y., but otherwise the men were unidentified. An inquest will be held over the remains today. The others, three on cots, were brought to Buffalo on the evening passenger [train] and are at the court house, the court room being used as a hospital. Last night the doctors dug shot out of them, and only one is in danger of losing his life. The goods they were selling were identified as stolen from Gunnary. The capture was a great credit to the officers, and all concerned, and that none were shot is remarkable. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The above article was published the very day after the infamous raid. In two weeks, read more details and learn the fate of some of these heroes. Women in the military … Stand up and be counted as someone special! Included in a unique blend of past and present, Women-in-the-military guest speakers are Roseann Petty of Kimball, Dickie and Diane Voth of St. Augusta – a mother-daughter team – and others who share their military life stories as members of the armed forces of the United States of America. Come and honor the past and celebrate the future: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at Kimball’s historic City Hall. Reminiscing and refreshments will follow. Remember that Historical Society membership renewals are due. If you have questions, call (320) 398-5250 or 398-5743, or (800) 252-2521 if out of town.
