they had not been seen in Clay county for many months and no specially
reckless deeds had been committed to bring back a remembrance of them;
when, suddenly, the town of Russellville, Kentucky, was thrown into
a greater excitement than it had ever before experienced. The James
Boys had paid the place a visit and left a souvenir of their desperate
valor. On the 30th of March, 1868, Jesse James, accompanied by four
comrades, George Shepherd, Oll. Shepherd, Cole Younger and Jim White,
dashed into the town like a hurricane, yelling and firing their pistols
until every one was frightened from the streets. They then rode to the
bank where four of them dismounted and entered, with drawn revolvers,
so intimidating the cashier that he opened the safe to Jesse James,
while Cole Younger gathered the money that was lying upon the counter.
The amount appropriated by the bandits was $14,000, which they threw
into a sack and then leisurely departed. Everything connected with
the robbery showed thorough system and a management which could be
attributed to none other than the fierce Missouri free-booters.
When the excitement and surprise had somewhat subsided the sheriff
summoned twenty deputies and started in pursuit. The chase continued
through Kentucky and western Tennessee. Telegrams were sent in every
direction with the hope of intercepting the robbers, who, finding
themselves close pressed, scattered, as was their custom, and all,
save George Shepherd, eluded pursuit and gained the marshes and dense
coverts of Arkansas, where it was impossible to trail them. Shepherd
was captured two weeks after the robbery in a small drug store in
Tennessee and taken back to Logan county, where he was convicted and
sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of three years.
Oliver Shepherd, a brother of George, who was also connected with the
bank robbery, was afterward found in Jackson county, Missouri, and a
requisition being first obtained, a dozen men attempted his arrest.
But Oll., as he was called, was made of that sterner composition which
would not brook a curtailment of his liberty, and he threw defiance
at the officers of the law. Then began a battle of extermination. The
officers had armed themselves with carbines because they knew that to
come in range of the old guerrilla's pistols would be death to many of
them. The hero of a hundred desperate conflicts felt that his time had
come, so, bracing himself against a large tree, he stood and received
the fire of his slayers at a range of nearly two hundred and fifty
yards. His pistols were useless, although he fired every shot, fourteen
rounds, at the officers, who, from behind trees, shot seven terrible
slugs into his body before he fell; even then, like Spartacus, he
struck out towards his foes in the last throes of death.
BANK ROBBERY AND MURDER.
After the affair at Russellville the James Boys appeared twice in their
old haunts in Missouri, but spent nearly a year in Texas and Mexico,
in remote districts, where they were free from the interference of
officers anxious for their capture. It was not until the latter part of
1869 that they resumed criminal operations, their plans being laid to
rob the bank at Gallatin, Missouri. In this scheme they were assisted
by the three Younger brothers, whose career for consummate daring and
recklessness is fully equal to that of the James Boys.
It was on the 7th of December that a body of seven thoroughly
armed men, superbly mounted, galloped into Gallatin and commenced
firing their pistols indiscriminately, shouting most terrible oaths
and fearful threats. After alarming the residents of the place and
preventing resistance, Jesse James and Cole Younger dashed into the
bank, and at the muzzles of drawn revolvers, they compelled the
cashier, Capt. John W. Sheets, to deliver the keys of the money
department of the safe, the main door being open. After rifling the
bank of $700, Jesse and Cole whispered a few words together, put the
money in a bag, and then one of them, but which of the two it is not
known, deliberately shot Capt. Sheets dead. The reason given for the
commission of this crime was that Capt. Sheets had, during the war,
led a party of militia against the guerrillas, in which conflict Bill
Anderson was killed, and that the killing of Sheets was in revenge for
Anderson's tragic death.
Capt. Sheets was a very popular man in Gallatin and the surrounding
neighborhood, and when the news of the terrible tragedy and robbery
spread, nearly the entire county arose in arms and demanded the blood
of the assassins. Several bands were organized and started in pursuit,
each taking a different route, with the hope that one of them might be
able to apprehend the bandits before they could get out of the county.
One of these bands, numbering twelve citizens, overtook the robbers
on the edge of Clay county and a running fight ensued, in which one
of the citizens was wounded slightly and the horse of another killed.
These casualties ended the pursuit and the bandits reached Jackson
county in safety, where they disappeared.
THE MYSTERIOUS HIDING PLACE IN JACKSON COUNTY.
In perusing books and newspaper articles recording the adventures of
the James and Younger boys, the reader must have been impressed with
the somewhat singular assertion that pursuit of the bandits generally
ended by their sudden disappearance in Jackson county, Missouri. I
will confess that I have often wondered how it was possible for a body
of men to mysteriously disappear in a certain locality and thereby
end a close pursuit. A gentleman who has been intimate with the James
Boys for a period of nearly twenty years and with whom I am intimately
acquainted, volunteered to me the long-wished-for information, which he
gave as follows, omitting only the exact location. I will use his own
words as nearly as possible:
[Illustration: ROMANTIC SCENERY NEAR THE MYSTERIOUS CAVE.]
"You know," said he, "that Jackson county is one of the most rugged
and broken districts in Missouri; it not only abounds with bluffs, but
also, in at least a few places, with almost impenetrable thickets,
fit only for the abode of catamounts and foxes. One day I was riding
through Jackson county, I will not tell you where, when suddenly
I was confronted by Frank James. He greeted me cordially and then
said: '----, I have every confidence in you and I know you would
not betray us to save your right arm; therefore I invite you to our
retreat; come with me!' I followed him in a bridle path for nearly
a mile, when we came to a precipitous bluff, the base of which was
completely hidden by a thick growth. There was an entrance between
the growth and bluff, where any one would least suspect it, because,
at the mouth are two bold rocks, which are apparently attached to the
bluff itself; this delusion is accomplished by keeping the interstices
filled with fresh brush so laid as to appear like a natural coppice.
This passage-way leads about fifty feet, to a large fissure in the
side of the bluff, resembling a vestibule; from this we stepped into
a large cave, quite roomy enough to contain comfortably more than a
score of men and horses. I was astonished at the completeness of the
arrangement of things in the cave. There was a cooking stove, the
pipe of which extended up and was lost in the top of the cave. Frank
James told me that the smoke from the stove passed into a fissure of
rock which evidently opened into another cave, as no smoke could ever
be seen issuing from the bluff. He then took me over to another part
of the cavern, where there was a clear spring of beautiful water,
and over this was another fissure from which there was a cool draft
of air which thoroughly ventilated the entire cave. I could see that
many of the conveniences of the place were due to no little labor. A
part of the cave was ceiled nicely with grooved pine lumber so as to
prevent dampness, and in this division was a large heating stove, and
about a dozen beds, all supplied with neat bedding. In the rear of the
cave, which was, perhaps, one hundred feet deep by sixty broad, were
twenty-one stalls for the horses, and over the stalls was a large feed
bin filled with oats and corn, but no hay, as the latter was too bulky
to convey readily into the cave. But what surprised me most was the
means of defence. There was an arsenal of fire-arms and a magazine for
ammunition, while the approach to the cave was commanded by a fierce,
breech-loading ten-pound cannon, which was kept constantly loaded
with buckshot, and looked out towards the entrance in such a way that
one man could defend the place against a hundred, for a discharge of
that cannon would sweep everything out of the passage. The place is
absolutely impregnable, even if it could be found, which it would be
exceedingly difficult to do.
"I would not have told you this except for the fact that the cave is
now abandoned and may never be occupied again, but yet there is a
certain obligation, from which I do not feel myself wholly relieved,
that causes me to keep the location of the cave a secret. Frank James
is in the East, and Jesse James--well, I don't know what has become
of him, but I hope he is living in safety and happiness, as I believe
he is, because, with all their crimes, the James Boys have been good
friends to me."
A TERRIBLE FIGHT IN MEXICO.
After robbing the Gallatin bank, the James Boys left Missouri and went
to Texas, where they remained a short time and then crossed the border
into Mexico. It has been suspected that they drove a herd of cattle
across the border with them, but of this there is no ready proof, and
the crimes of some greasers may have been attributed to the bandits.
In the month of May, 1860, Frank and Jesse James rode into Matamoras
and, as there was a fandango advertised to take place at a public house
on the night of their arrival, they decided to attend. Accordingly,
when the night shadows fell, they paid the price of admission and
entered the hall, which was rapidly filling up with swarthy senoritas
and hidalgoes. From the belts of the latter protruded the glittering
handles of bright, keen stilettos, in preparation for the affray which
is always anticipated.
The dance began about eight o'clock, with much spirit, and the whirl
of the graceful girls soon excited a desire on the part of Frank
and Jesse to participate, although they were not familiar with the
movements and figures of the Spanish dances. Nevertheless they essayed
an attempt, which only served to excite the ridicule of the Mexicans
who, by gesture and speech, went so far in their sport and mimicry of
the outlaws that at length Frank James knocked down one of the boldest.
This act came near proving disastrous to both the boys, for the moment
the Mexican fell to the floor another powerfully built hidalgo struck
Frank a blow on the cheek which sent him spinning into the laps of two
girls who were seated on a bench awaiting partners. For a moment he was
so stunned as to scarcely know what to do, but Jesse saw where his aid
was most needed and the next instant the powerful Mexican fell with a
bullet in his brain. A general fight then ensued in which Jesse and
Frank rushed for the door, but their passage was impeded; so nothing
remained for the boys except to clear a way by shooting those who stood
before them. Frank received a thrust in the shoulder from a stiletto
and Jesse's right fore-arm was punctured with a similar instrument, but
the boys fired rapidly and with such effect that four Mexicans lay dead
and six others were dreadfully wounded, some mortally. Jesse was the
first to break through the doorway, and as he did so he turned at the
very instant a dagger, in the hands of a strong Mexican, was directed
at Frank's heart, but ere the hand fell to its purpose a bullet from
Jesse's pistol entered the Mexican's eye and he dropped dead at
Frank's feet, striking the dagger deep into the floor as he fell. This
fortunate shot enabled Frank to escape from the building and as the
Mexicans had no arms except stilettos, they were powerless to continue
the fight, but many of them rushed to their homes to procure fire-arms
and horses, and the place was swarming so rapidly with blood-craving
hidalgoes and greasers that the only avenue of escape lay in the river.
They accordingly rushed toward their horses which were hitched in the
woods near by, but just before reaching them three powerful Mexicans
suddenly sprang upon Frank James, who was a little in the rear, and
attempted to bind him with a stout cord which they threw over his
shoulders. Fortunately, in running he had picked up a large bludgeon
which lay in his path, and shaking himself loose from the grasp of his
assailants he laid about him so briskly with this formidable weapon
that in a moment the three Mexicans lay stunned on the ground at his
feet, then hastily joining Jesse, who had already mounted and was
holding his horse for him, he sprang into the saddle, and putting spurs
to their restless steeds they plunged boldly into the Rio Grande and
swam to the other side, while the Mexicans were riding about in every
direction trying to find the bandits whom they did not imagine would
dare to take to the river.
[Illustration: FRANK JAMES COMBAT WITH THREE MEXICANS.]
The boys made good their escape, but the wounds they had received
in the fight were of a most painful nature and required careful
attention. Frank's was the most severe, and had not Jesse bandaged
it with the greatest skill the outlaw must have bled to death before
obtaining medical aid, for one of the veins in his neck had been
severed. The two reached Concepcion, a small town in Texas, about
one hundred miles from Matamoras, where they remained in charge of
a surgeon for nearly three months before their wounds had healed
sufficiently to permit them to travel.
PLUNDERING AN IOWA BANK.
In the spring of 1871 Jesse and Frank James secretly returned to their
haunts in Jackson county, Missouri, where they remained for some time
arranging for an expedition into Iowa. Their plans being perfected,
they, with five other bandits, started north, riding by night, until
they reached Corydon, the bank in which place they had previously
decided to rob. At ten o'clock in the morning the seven desperadoes
made a furious charge into the center of the town and commenced a
fusilade of firing, threatening to kill every person found on the
streets within five minutes afterward. None of the citizens thought
of offering any resistance, and dashing up to the bank, three of the
robbers dismounted and rushed in with cocked pistols, and demanded of
the cashier every cent the bank contained. Finding himself powerless,
and realizing that death would be his certain portion if he refused to
comply with the immediate demands of the desperate outlaws, the cashier
opened the safe and permitted them to appropriate nearly $40,000. The
money was placed in a sack, which they invariably carried with them for
the purpose, and then the seven desperadoes rode rapidly out of the
city, firing their pistols indiscriminately as they swept through the
streets.
The citizens were, of course, intensely excited, and after the
disappearance of the robbers a hundred persons volunteered their
services to the sheriff to assist in the apprehension of the bold
plunderers. Efforts at capture were made by a large body of men, but
like all similar attempts, the result was nothing. They were followed
into Missouri and telegrams sent to every town in the State, but, like
imps of darkness, the seven dare-devils disappeared and were not again
seen for several months; but it is now known that they were lying
quietly in their impregnable haunt in the eastern part of Jackson
county, waiting for a return of quiet.
ANOTHER BANK ROBBERY IN KENTUCKY.
In the latter part of 1870, Jesse and Frank James visited Kentucky,
where they had a large number of friends and relatives, who admired
their bravery and condoned their crimes. They remained here until in
the early part of the spring of 1874, when they and the Younger boys
conceived a plan for robbing the bank at Columbia, Kentucky. On the
29th of April of that year, the three Youngers and the two James Boys
entered Columbia about the same hour from five different roads, so that
there was not the least apprehension excited. Just before three o'clock
in the afternoon the five desperadoes rode up to the bank together,
while Frank James and Cole Younger leisurely dismounted and entered
the bank, where they found the cashier, Mr. Martin, the president, Mr.
Dalrymple, and another gentleman engaged in a conversation. Without
losing any time or creating any suspicion from the citizens of the
place, the two bandits drew their pistols and going behind the bank
counter, leveled them at the heads of the cashier and president, and
demanded the keys to the safe. Seeing, at a glance, however, that the
safe was secured by a combination lock, they commanded the cashier to
open it under penalty of immediate death if he refused. Martin was a
brave man, and instead of being intimidated, tried to raise an alarm;
but at the first outcry Frank James thrust a heavy navy revolver into
his face and fired, killing him instantly; at the same moment Cole
Younger fired at the president but, luckily, that gentleman struck up
the pistol, and running into the back office, escaped with his life.
The two robbers hastily gathered the money that was in sight, (about
$200,) and gaining their horses the five rode out of the town at a
rapid pace.
Fifteen men, headed by the sheriff, went in pursuit of the desperadoes,
and chased them hard into the eastern part of Tennessee, where the
trail was lost in the Cumberland range. Again the bandits doubled
on their tracks, after the pursuit was abandoned, and went into the
western part of Texas, where they mingled with the lawless elements of
the border.
Every attempt at their capture had proven fruitless, and for the time
being, the provincial banks were kept well armed in anticipation of a
raid. The James Boys were too crafty to appear again in the counties
where their terrible deeds had excited the people to desperation. They
waited until the memory of their crimes had been partially forgotten,
and then planned new schemes of pillage.
ROBBING OF THE CASH-BOX AT THE KANSAS CITY FAIR.
On the 26th of September, 1872, the people of Kansas City had an
opportunity for considering the cunning and bravery of the James Boys,
from immediate circumstances which suddenly involved the city in a
furore of excitement. It was on Thursday, the "big day" of the Kansas
City Exposition, when nearly thirty thousand visitors were assembled
to see the races, and particularly to witness Ethan Allen trot in
harness against a running mate. The crowd was immense and of course the
gate receipts were correspondingly large. About four o'clock in the
afternoon Mr. Hall, the secretary and treasurer of the association,
counted up the receipts of the day, which were nearly ten thousand
dollars, and placing the money in a tin box kept for the purpose, he
told one of his assistants to take it to the First National Bank where,
although it was after banking hours, arrangements had been made to
make the deposit. No thought was entertained that any attempt would be
made to steal the cash-box while so many people were constantly on the
highway leading to the city, and the young man started off whistling
gaily, carrying the treasure box by a wire handle in his right hand.
As he reached the entrance gate, where more than a dozen persons were
coming in and going out, three men on horseback (Jesse and Frank James
and Bob Younger) dashed up to the young man with such reckless haste
that a little girl was badly trampled by one of the horses; at the
same moment a pistol shot was fired and Jesse James jumped from his
horse into the confused crowd and snatching the cash-box from the hand
of the affrighted messenger, he leaped into the saddle again and the
three highwaymen disappeared, with a clatter of fast-flying feet, like
the sweep of a whirlwind. For several minutes it was thought that the
little girl had been struck by a pistol ball, but after she was carried
home it was ascertained that her injuries, which were not fatal,
were caused by the horse of one of the robbers knocking her down and
trampling upon her hips.
The news of the robbery spread over the city in a few minutes, and
Marshal Shepherd sent out some of his detectives, while several
gentlemen mounted fleet horses and used every possible endeavor to
capture the robbers. The trail led over the hills east of Kansas City
and about ten miles into Jackson county, where every trace was suddenly
blotted out. The outlaws had reached their favorite haunt where no
pursuer had ever been able to find them. The writer was a reporter on
the Kansas City _Journal_ at the time of the robbery and reported the
details as here related.
PLUNDERING THE STE. GENEVIEVE BANK.