How a 27-year-old Roosevelt became a lawman hunting thieves in the Dakota Badlands

Roosevelt’s 300-Mile Manhunt Through North Dakota’s Frozen Badlands

In 1886, Theodore Roosevelt faced a choice: let boat thieves go or hunt them down.

When red-haired Mike Finnigan and two others stole his boat from Elkhorn Ranch, the 27-year-old deputy sheriff built a new one and gave chase.

For three days, Roosevelt and two ranch hands fought through ice-choked rivers in freezing temps until they found the thieves near Cherry Creek.

After a tense standoff, he caught all three men at gunpoint. Then came the hard part.

Roosevelt guarded the bootless prisoners for eight days, reading Tolstoy while waiting for ice to thaw. Finally, he marched them 40 miles to Dickinson, Winchester in hand.

The Badlands of North Dakota still echo with this tale of frontier justice at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Thieves Stole Roosevelt’s Boat at Elkhorn Ranch

On March 24, 1886, Teddy Roosevelt found his boat stolen from his Elkhorn Ranch on the Little Missouri River. The $30 boat was vital for crossing the river to check on horses and go hunting.

Roosevelt found a cut rope and a red wool mitten with leather palm on the ice.

He quickly pegged three troublemakers living 20 miles upstream as the culprits: red-haired Mike Finnigan, mixed-race Ed Burnstad, and German “Dutch Chris” Pfaffenbach.

Local ranchers blamed these men for stealing cattle and horses, with some even wanting to lynch them.

Maine Woodsmen Built a New Boat for the Chase

Roosevelt refused to let the theft go unpunished, believing that giving in would only lead to more crime. His ranch hands Bill Sewall and Wilmot Dow, expert woodsmen from Maine, built a flat-bottomed boat in three days.

They packed flour, coffee, bacon, bedding, guns, and cooking gear for what might be a two-week journey. On March 30, 1886, Roosevelt started his hunt as deputy sheriff of Billings County.

Most locals thought Roosevelt was nuts for chasing thieves over a $30 boat in such risky spring conditions.

Freezing Temps Tested the Pursuers’ Grit

Roosevelt and his men pushed through the ice-filled Little Missouri River, winding between colorful clay hills. The temperature dropped to zero degrees during their chase.

Ice formed high crumbling walls that scraped against cottonwood trees along the banks. They passed empty Gros Ventre Indian winter camps and worried about running into unfriendly Sioux.

The thieves felt safe, thinking they had taken the only boat for miles around.

Smoke From a Campfire Gave Away the Thieves’ Hiding Spot

On the third day’s afternoon, Roosevelt spotted both boats tied up near Cherry Creek. Smoke from a campfire curled up through the bushes about 24 miles downstream from Elkhorn Ranch.

Roosevelt and his men quickly took off their heavy coats and snuck toward the camp. Only the German thief was there, with his weapons on the ground.

They caught him without a fight and waited for Finnigan and Burnstad to return from hunting.

Roosevelt Caught the Thieves With His Winchester Rifle

Roosevelt heard the two hunters coming from far away, rifles resting on their shoulders. Sunlight bounced off the steel barrels as they walked toward camp.

When they got within 20 yards, Roosevelt stood up with his loaded rifle, ordering them to raise their hands. Burnstad obeyed right away, his eyes looking “fairly wolfish” and knees shaking.

Finnigan paused, thinking about a shootout, but gave up with a curse when Roosevelt walked closer, aiming at his chest.

Barefoot Prisoners Couldn’t Run Through Cactus Country

Unable to tie up the prisoners in freezing weather without causing frostbite, Roosevelt made them take off their boots. The cactus-covered ground meant barefoot travel would cripple them.

Roosevelt kept guard with his shotgun while the prisoners huddled 20 yards away. The captives knew they would be treated well if they stayed quiet.

The next morning, they headed downstream in two boats, with the prisoners in their own leaky boat with just one paddle.

Anna Karenina Helped Pass Eight Boring Days

The group hit an impassable ice jam in the river. Roosevelt, Sewall, and Dow waited eight days for the ice to break up, not wanting to leave their supplies behind.

Roosevelt said he “combined the jobs of a sheriff with those of an arctic explorer. ” He stood guard constantly while reading Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina to pass the time.

The prisoners read their own books about Jesse James and high society novels.

Ice Wouldn’t Budge So Roosevelt Changed Plans

When the ice stayed stuck, Roosevelt reached the C Diamond Ranch and hired a settler with a covered wagon and two wild horses. Sewall and Dow would continue downriver with the boats and supplies.

Roosevelt decided to march the prisoners 40 miles overland to Dickinson.

The settler couldn’t understand why Roosevelt didn’t just hang the thieves, as many would have done in the lawless frontier.

Forty Miles Through Mud and Snow Without Sleep

Roosevelt put the prisoners in the wagon and walked behind them with his Winchester rifle. He trudged through thick mud and snow-covered Badlands wastes.

Roosevelt walked the entire 40 miles, staying awake by reading Anna Karenina at night. He never slept during the almost 40-hour journey, constantly watching the prisoners who weren’t cuffed or tied up.

The total journey covered about 300 miles from where the chase began.

Law and Order Prevailed in Dickinson

Roosevelt handed the prisoners over to Dickinson authorities on April 10, 1886. He earned $50 in deputy fees and mileage for the capture.

The authorities asked why he didn’t just shoot the thieves instead of making the long march. Roosevelt filed complaints with Justice of the Peace Western Starr alleging grand larceny.

Charges against Pfaffenbach were later dropped because Roosevelt said he lacked the sense to do anything good or bad.

Finnigan Sent a Thank You Letter From Prison

Finnigan and Burnstad faced trial in Mandan on August 19, 1886. Both were found guilty of grand larceny and got 25-month sentences in Bismarck penitentiary.

Finnigan told Roosevelt in court: “If I’d had any show at all, you’d have sure had to fight!”

Later, Finnigan wrote Roosevelt a friendly letter from prison, thanking him for fair treatment and asking him to visit. After his release, Finnigan returned to crime and was eventually hanged.

Burnstad was committed to Jamestown hospital and died in 1926.

Visiting Medora & Theodore Roosevelt Gateway, North Dakota

You can explore Roosevelt’s famous boat thieves manhunt at Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit in Medora. The visitor center at 315 2nd Ave charges $30 per vehicle for seven days.

Drive the 36-mile Scenic Loop to see where the young deputy sheriff tracked outlaws through the Badlands.

Check out the wayside exhibit along Little Missouri River near the capture site, and catch The Teddy Roosevelt Show at Old Town Hall Theater from June through early September.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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