'Capture of the century' relived

Younger Brothers 'surrender',

once more, to

Minnesota Seven

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

MADELIA -- Historical markers point to the site of one of the region's most notorious events in 1876, an attempted robbery of the Northfield Bank which led to the "capture of the century" in this quiet community.

Hundreds of residents from throughout the region gathered on Saturday to participate in the third annual re-enactment of the capture of the Younger Brothers on Sept. 21, 1876.

"I have always enjoyed re-enactments," Paul Williston of St. James said. "This was the biggest event in Watonwan County in the days when Minnesota was on the edge of the frontier."

A self-admitted history buff, this was his second year to attend the event, claiming it was even better than it was last year.

"To think that two small towns like Madelia and LaSalle could have played a part in such a major historic event is overwhelming," Sarah Anderson of St. James said. "Hard to believe that we were once the preferred hang out for a renegade like Jesse James."

Those in attendance were able to celebrate the capture, rejoice as the Younger Brothers were brought to Madelia on horseback by the Magnificent Seven posse, and see the mural commemorating the event in Madelia.

"One of the greatest attractions was gunfight that led up to the capture," Paula Schmitz of rural New Ulm said. "It is like a living history museum. It is great being part of history in this way."

In September 1876, eight men came to Minnesota in an attempt to rob the bank in Northfield. The attempt failed, but two Northfield residents lost their lives: Joseph Lee Haywood, the bank cashier, and Nicolaus Gustafson, a local resident.

Frank and Jesse James escaped. Near Madelia, the three Younger Brothers, Ryan, Jonathan and Craig, were captured and Charlie Pitts was killed.

The focus of the re-enactment was not on the Younger Brothers, the James Brothers, or even the robbery, but on the lives of the seven men who made the famous capture.

The story of the re-enactment began with the chase that followed after the robbery attempt in Northfield. The gang was on the run and two members of the gang lay dead on Northfield's Division Street.

There were six wounded men and five horses left after the raid. They began to flee from Northfield, followed by a gang of citizens and posses from throughout the surrounding area.

They were heading southwest, but were delayed in the big woods that covered much of the area. They were fired upon by guards when they crossed the Little Cannon River.

They set up camp between Elysian and German Lake leaving on foot the following morning, but got stranded on an island in the middle of a swamp. They traveled 50 miles in five days.

The gang split south of Mankato near Minneopa. The James Brothers headed past Lake Crystal and Madelia and headed west into South Dakota, then south along the Missouri River.

The Younger Brothers and Charlie Pitts headed on together, south out of Mankato. The Magnificent Seven started to gather together.

Civil War veteran W.W. Murphy formed a posse, stores were locked, work halted, and the posse headed for the Sorbel farm near Madelia.

No record exists as to the actual weapons used by the posse when they first fired on the gang near Hanska, according to the official program.

The Younger brothers eventually surrendered and were carried by horseback to Madelia, met with cheers from citizens along the road.

The seven men who participated in the capture were:

* Sheriff James Glispin, who was in his second term at the time of the raid, he died in 1890 in California.

* William W. Murphy, a veteran of the Civil War, he came to Madelia in 1866 and was elected to the state legislature in 1871. He was 39 at the time of the capture.

* George Bradford, a farmer, teacher, clerk and store owner. He was wounded during the capture.

* Benjamin J. Rice, the son of a prominent St. James citizen. He was clerk at the state legislature, and was 25 at the time of the capture. He died in 1889 in Tennessee.

* Thomas Lent Vought, a veteran of the Civil War, who was 43 at the time of the capture. He moved to Wisconsin after the capture.

* Charles A. Pomeroy, a Justice of the Peace. He was a native of New York and was descended from one of Madelia's earliest settlers. He died in South Dakota in 1941.

* S.J "Jim" Severson, who was 21 at the time of the capture. He was a store clerk at the time of the raid. He spoke seven languages. He later lived in Brookings, S.D.