Event Details

Turtle Soup: "Webster Bandit Buster"

January 18, 2019 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Feed your mind and your belly with the Turtle Soup Story Series. Turtle Soup stories feature a presentation on historic Black Hills figures or events along with a bowl of soup provided by Angel’s Catering.

This Friday, Dr. Arley K. Fadness presents, "Doc Sorbel: Webster Bandit Buster."

Dr. Arley K. Fadness

This week’s program is about the capture of the Younger Brothers of the Jesse James Outlaw Gang and the man responsible, 17-year-old Asle Oscar Sorbel.

In 1876, there was a fatal bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota. The robbers took off with hundreds of people after them. They got away by stealing horses and impersonating people, but they suffered from wounds and the cold rain.

Two weeks later, the Younger gang - three brothers - and another man had split off from the others and were near Madelia, Minnesota, asking Sorbel’s family for food. Sorbel suspected them, jumped on a horse and headed for town to raise the alarm.

The Younger Brothers Gang

A posse was formed to capture the group, called the Magnificent Madelia Seven. After a gunfight, the brothers were caught and the other man killed. But Sorbel was nowhere to be found. After several years, he appeared in Webster, South Dakota and became a well-known horse doctor.

In his presentation, Fadness describes what became of the Younger brothers and why Sorbel kept his role in the capture a secret for all his life.

The topic is fitting to the presenter’s roots, as he was born in Webster. Fadness is a retired pastor who has served Lutheran parishes in South Dakota, Arizona and Minnesota. He’s the author of several Christian titles and has also written on the art, science and history of ballooning.

Enjoy a bowl of chili this week, provided by Angel’s Catering. Admission for Turtle Soup is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and half-off for members.

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