lawless operations, and they were constantly planning new and still
more reckless adventures. They remained in their secure hiding
place during the winter of 1872-3, retiring upon their laurels and
living royally upon their immense gains. During this period of jolly
hibernation, schemes were proposed for wrecking railroad trains, and
before the appearance of spring, Frank James and Jim Younger were sent
into Nebraska for the purpose of gathering information concerning
the express shipment of treasure from the west. Not hearing from the
robber agents as soon as was expected, Jesse James, Bill Chadwell,
Clell Miller, and Bob and Cole Younger decided to pay their respects
to another bank before venturing upon their proposed railroad
enterprise, and the Savings Association, at Ste. Genevieve, Missouri,
was selected for the strike. Accordingly, early in the morning of May
27th, 1873, the five desperate free-booters appeared in the streets
of that old-time Catholic town, and the moment that Mr. O. D. Harris,
the cashier, accompanied by F. A. Rozier, a son of Hon. Firman A.
Rozier, the president, entered the bank to begin the business of the
day, the three daring bandits followed them into the building and
presenting six pistols, demanded the immediate opening of the bank
vault. Young Rozier, regardless of the danger, made a speedy exit,
and as he ran down the street crying for help, a bullet from one of
the outlaws' weapons went whistling through the tail of his coat, but
he escaped. Mr. Harris, however, was covered by too many pistols to
permit of his escape, and stern necessity forced him into a compliance
with the wishes of the robbers. He opened the vault, from which the
sum of four thousand one hundred dollars was taken, a large part of
which was specie, and shoving it speedily into the sack provided, the
bandits mounted their horses and decamped. As they were riding out of
the city, the bag containing the treasure was accidentally dropped, to
recover which it was necessary to return, and one of the robbers had
to dismount. In doing so his horse became frightened and broke away.
At this juncture a German came riding by and the robbers compelled
him to ride after and catch the fleeing animal, which was returned to
the riderless bandit, only after such delay as permitted a hastily
organized posse of the citizens to approach within pistol shot of the
three highwaymen. An exchange of fire caused the posse to check their
pace and the distance thus gained by the pursued, was never made up.
The pursuit was continued for several days, but without result. The
outlaws stopped at Hermann, Mo., two days after the robbery, but as
usual, there was no posse there to apprehend them. Several well known
detectives from St. Louis were sent out, and the sheriff of every
county in Missouri notified and requested to keep a sharp lookout for
the desperadoes; but though many suspicious characters were arrested
the real culprits were never captured. The amount secured at Ste.
Genevieve was a great disappointment to the robbers, for it was known
that the bank usually carried from seventy-five thousand to one hundred
thousand dollars, but at this particular time, very fortunately, the
association was winding up business, and had deposited the greater
portion of its funds in the Merchants' Bank of St. Louis.
[Illustration: RECRUITING AFTER A RAID.]
WRECKING AND PLUNDERING A TRAIN.
In June following both the James Boys were seen in Kansas City by
intimate acquaintances, and the night of June 27th was spent by both
the bandits with their mother at the Samuels' residence. On the 15th of
July, Bob, Jim and Cole Younger, Jesse and Frank James, Bud Singleton
and two other bandits, whose names have never been learned by the
authorities, left Clay county, Missouri, and rode northward to a spot
which had been selected by Frank James and Jim Younger, on the line
of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, about five miles east
of Council Bluffs. The reason for selecting this place and time was
because of information received of an intended shipment of a large
amount of gold from San Francisco to New York, which would be made over
this route, reaching Omaha about the 19th of July. How this information
was imparted was never ascertained, but its truth has led to the belief
that the James Boys had confederates on the Pacific slope with whom
they were in constant communication.
On the evening of July 21st a formidable band of eight of the most
desperate men that ever committed a crime, took position in a dense
thicket beside a deep cut in the railroad. They hitched their horses
out of view of passengers on the train and then, after a few minutes'
work, displaced one of the rails. This accomplished, they waited the
coming of the express train which was due at that point at 8:30 P. M.
From a knoll near the rendezvous Jesse James descried the blazing
headlight of the coming train, and then made everything ready for their
villainous work. A sharp curve in the track prevented the engineer
from discovering anything wrong, until it was impossible to prevent
the disaster which the banditti had prepared for. The screaming engine
came thundering like an infuriated mammoth, which a reversal of the
lever only began to check when it struck the loosened rail and plunged
sideways into the bank, while the cars telescoped and piled up in
terrible confusion. The engineer was instantly killed, and a dozen
passengers were seriously injured, but the desperadoes did not stop
to consider this terrible disaster. The moment the havoc was complete
the bandits fell upon the excited passengers, whom they robbed without
exception, both men and women, taking every species of jewelry and the
last cent that could be discovered from the wounded as well as those
who remained unhurt. The express car was entered and the messenger,
groaning with pain from a broken arm, was compelled to open the safe,
which was rifled of six thousand dollars and then the messenger was
forced to give the robbers his watch and ten dollars which he had with
him. Fortunately the desperadoes were twelve hours too soon for the
train upon which the expected treasure was carried, as the express
that went east on the morning of the 21st, carried gold bricks, specie
and currency amounting to over one hundred thousand dollars.
The total amount secured by the train-wrecking band was about $2,500
each, which they carried off, as was their custom, in a sack, departing
southward at a rapid gait.
The officers of Council Bluffs were soon notified of the robbery. The
wounded and dead were taken to the city and cared for, and then another
pursuit of the robbers was begun, which was united in by sheriffs and
posses of other counties until the pursuing parties numbered nearly
two hundred men. The desperadoes were traced over hill and prairie,
through Clay county and into Jackson, where the trail was lost as
effectually as if the robbers had mounted into space and fled behind
the clouds. Reward after reward was offered until they aggregated more
than $50,000; the most expert detectives from St. Louis and Chicago
concentrated upon an effort to win the prize and rid the country of the
most consummate highwaymen since the days of Rolla, the bearded Knight
of the forests. But every clue proved deceiving, and the most cunning
of detectives finally abandoned the chase, thoroughly confounded by the
marvelous cunning of the bandits.
THE STAGE ROBBERY NEAR HOT SPRINGS.
In December of 1873, a council was held in the haunt of the bandits,
near the Big Blue, in Jackson county, in which it was decided to
attempt a stage robbery, and the line between Malvern and Hot Springs,
Arkansas, was selected for the first stroke in the inauguration of a
new species of crime. Accordingly, on the 15th of January, 1874, five
of the highwaymen, consisting of Frank James, Clell Miller, Arthur
McCoy and Jim and Cole Younger repaired to the scene of their intended
operations and secreted themselves in a dense covert on the south side
of the stage road, five miles from Hot Springs, and awaited the coming
of their victims.
The conception of this scheme manifested the judgment of the bandits,
for they were influenced by the supposition that those who visited Hot
Springs in search of health, were people of liberal means who would
naturally carry with them a goodly sum of money with which to meet
expected large expenses, and in this their judgment was correct.
It was after mid-day when the heavy Concord stage, filled with
passengers, came rattling over the rough and stony road opposite
the secret hiding place of the highway freebooters. Suddenly a shot
startled the driver, and his surprise culminated when Jesse James
arose from a clump of brush, and with a heavy revolver in each hand,
commanded the driver to halt. The order was instantly obeyed, and as
the passengers thrust their heads out of the vehicle they saw five
fierce looking men, armed and spurred, whose purposes were at once
divined. Frank James, who acted as leader, ordered the occupants of
the stage to get out, which being complied with the passengers were
formed into line and then submitted to a search by Clell Miller and
Jim Younger, while the three other bandits stood guard with cocked
pistols. The fright of the travelers was greatly intensified by the
blood-chilling threats of the desperadoes. They jested with one another
and made banters to test their skill as pistol shots on the trembling
and unarmed passengers. "Now," said Frank James to Cole Younger, "I
will bet you the contents of that fellow's pocket-book," pointing to
one of the travelers who was a small tradesman at Little Rock, "that I
can shoot off a smaller bit out of his right ear than you can." "I'll
take the wager," responded Cole, "but you must let me have the first
shot, because my eyesight is not as good as yours, and if you should
hit his ear first the blood might confuse my aim." Frank insisted on
shooting first, and in the wrangle, the poor victim trembled until he
could scarcely retain his feet, and with the most prayerful entreaties
begged the robbers to take what he had but spare his life.
Mr. Taylor, of Massachusetts, a sufferer from rheumatism, then drew
the attention of the bandits, and Jesse James offered to bet his share
of the booty that he could throw his bowie-knife through Taylor's
underclothing without drawing blood. It was thus the bandits jested
with one another and in turn had each of the fear-stricken passengers
praying for his life.
When the search was concluded, Frank James produced a memorandum book
and took the names of all the travelers, saying: "I am like lightning,
I don't want to strike the same parties twice."
The total amount of money and valuables taken approximated $4,000, the
heaviest loser being Ex-Gov. Burbank, of Dakota, from whom the robbers
secured $1,500. When the bandits left their victims, they graciously
and with great punctilio, raised their hats and bade them a most
courteous adieu, wishing them a pleasant visit at the Springs.
When the travelers reached Hot Springs they were in a sorry plight,
not one of them having enough money to send a message home for
additional funds, but the citizens kindly provided for their wants
and exhibited much sympathy, but little or no attempt was made to
capture the highwaymen. Indeed any such effort would have undoubtedly
terminated fruitlessly, for, in addition to the cunning and bravery
of the bandits, the mountainous nature of the country would have
prevented a pursuing party from making up the time lost in reporting
the circumstances of the robbery.
THE TRAIN ROBBERY AT GAD'S HILL.
After leaving the scene of their Hot Springs adventure the five daring
highwaymen, finding that they were not pursued, rode up into the
northern part of Arkansas, where they had several friends, and there
planned a scheme for plundering a train on the Iron Mountain Railroad.
The place chosen for the purpose was Gad's Hill, a very small station
in Wayne county, Missouri, which, in the summer time, is almost hidden
by the copse of pine trees which surrounds it. The adjacent country
was a very jungle in which it was easy to hide and elude the most
determined pursuit.
On the last day of January, 1874, but little more than two weeks after
their last successful robbery, the five bandits, with Frank James still
acting as leader, rode into the station and made prisoners of every
man in the place, consisting of the railroad agent, a saloon-keeper,
blacksmith, two wood-choppers, and the son of Dr. John M. Rock. These
were confined in the station house under threats of instant death
if any attempt at escape were made. Having prevented every means of
alarm, the desperadoes turned the switch in order to ditch the train
if it attempted to run past, (as Gad's Hill was only a flag station,)
and then planted a red flag in the track immediately in front of the
station house.
The train was not due until 5:40 in the evening, at which time the
shadows of twilight curtained the little place and prepared the
approach of darkness. Promptly upon time the train came bowling along,
and the engineer, seeing the danger-signal ahead, brought the engine
to a standstill alongside the station house. No one was seen when the
train stopped, but in a moment thereafter Cole Younger mounted the cab
and, with drawn pistol, compelled the engineer and fireman to leave
the engine and walk out into the woods. Mr. Alford, the conductor, was
arrested by Jesse James as he stepped from the train to ascertain the
cause of the display of the red flag. He was forced to give up his
watch and $75.00 in money, after which he was placed in the station
house. Then began a sack of the passengers. Clell Miller, Jim Younger
and Frank James searched the affrighted people in the cars, while Jesse
James and Cole Younger, taking opposite sides of the train, maintained
a watch and kept shooting in various directions, while they uttered
terrible oaths and threats, to keep the passengers in a state of
constant trepidation.
After stripping all the passengers of every bit of valuables, the
outlaws proceeded to the express car, where they broke open the safe
and secured the contents. The mail car was next plundered and the
letters cut open, one of which contained $2,000, and several smaller
sums were obtained. The total amount of booty secured by the bandits
was about $11,500. Having again successfully accomplished their
criminal purpose without meeting any resistance, the five desperadoes
released those confined in the station house; the engineer and fireman
were recalled from their position in the woods, and the train was
ordered to proceed. Then mounting their horses, which were hitched near
by, the outlaws rode into the brush and disappeared in the darkness.
When the train reached Piedmont information of the robbery was
telegraphed to Little Rock, St. Louis, and all the towns along the
road. On the following day, a large body of well-armed men started
from Ironton and Piedmont in pursuit of the desperate outlaws, and
soon got on their track. The pursuing party found where the bandits
had breakfasted, sixty miles from Gad's Hill; following the trail
closely on the second day the citizen's posse reached the spot where
the outlaws had spent the night, and they were encouraged by the belief
that a capture might be effected before the close of the day, but
suddenly the party came to a low marsh through which it was dangerous
to ride, and in searching for a pathway around the boggy district much
time was lost and the trail of the robbers could not be found again; so
the pursuit was abandoned.
WICHER'S UNFORTUNATE HUNT FOR THE JAMES BOYS.
In the spring of 1874 John W. Wicher of Chicago, a brave, cool, cunning
man, scarcely thirty years of age, connected with the Pinkerton force,
appeared before his chief and asked to be sent out to discover the
hiding place of the terrible brigands. He was fully informed of the
dangers of such a mission, but his self-reliance and pride made him
anxious to make the attempt which had already cost the lives of so
many courageous officials. The chief gave his consent, and Wicher set
out at once for the Samuels residence. In the early part of March the
detective arrived in Liberty, where he soon laid his schemes before
the sheriff of Clay county, and asked for assistance when the time and
circumstances were ripe for a strike. The sheriff promised all needful
aid and gave Wicher all the information in his possession concerning
the habits and rendezvous of the James and Younger boys.
Changing his garb for the habit of a tramp, Wicher left Liberty on
the 15th of March and arrived at Kearney on the same day, late in the
afternoon. He took the road leading directly to the Samuels residence
and had proceeded perhaps two miles on the lonely highway, when
suddenly Jesse James walked out from behind a pile of dead brush and,
with pistol presented, confronted the detective. Wicher's surprise
was complete, but he manifested not the least excitement, his cool
self-possession never deserting him for a moment.
"Where are you going?" was the first remark made by Jesse James.
"I am looking for work," was Wicher's reply.
"What kind of work do you want, and where do you expect to find it?"
asked Jesse, his pistol still pointing full in poor Wicher's face.
"I have been used to farm labor, and hope to find something to do on
some farm in the vicinity," responded the detective.
Jesse James smiled contemptuously and then gave a sharp whistle, which
brought to his side Clell Miller and Frank James, whose near presence
Wicher had not thought of. The conversation then continued. Said Jesse:
"You don't look much like a laborer, nor is there any appearance of a
tramp about you except in your clothes. Now I want you to acknowledge
frankly just what your purpose is in this part of the country."
The detective began to realize how critical was his position, and that
unless the most fortuitous circumstance should arise in his favor his
chances of escape were exceedingly small. But with the same coolness he
made reply:
"Well, gentlemen, I am nothing more than a poor man, without as much
as a dollar in my pocket, and what I have told you as to my purpose is
true. If you will be good enough to let me proceed, or furnish me with
means by which I can secure work I shall be thankful."
At this the bandits laughed scornfully, while Jesse James proceeded
with the examination: "I think you are from Chicago, and when you
arrived at Liberty a few days ago you wore much better clothes than
you now have on; besides, it seems that you and Moss (the sheriff) had
some business together. Say, now, young fellow, haven't you set out to
locate the James Boys, whom you have found rather unexpectedly?"
Wicher then saw that he was in the hands of his enemies, and his
heart beat in excited pulsations as he thought of the young wife he
had so recently wedded, and from whom an eternal separation appeared
certain. Dropping his head as if resigning himself to cruel fate,
Wicher hoped to deceive his captors, and in an unguarded moment be able
to draw his pistol and fight for his life. Like a flash from a hazy
cloud, the detective thrust his hand into his bosom and succeeded in
grasping his pistol, but ere he could use it the bandits sprang upon
him, and in the grip of three strong men he was helpless. He was then
disarmed and firmly bound by small cords which Frank James produced.
Clell Miller went into the woods and soon returned leading three
horses, on the largest of which Wicher was placed and his feet tied
under the horse's belly. A gag was placed tightly in his mouth and
Jesse James, mounting behind, the desperadoes rode into the deepening
twilight of the woods with their victim. They crossed the Missouri
river at Independence Landing, and just before day they halted in the
black shadows of a copse in Jackson county. Here they prepared for the
punishment and execution of their prisoner. Wicher was taken from his
horse and bound fast to a tree; the gag was removed from his mouth and
then the bandits tried to extort from him information concerning the
plans of Pinkerton and the number and names of the detectives he had
engaged in the attempt to capture the outlaws. Though they pricked him
with their bowie-knives and bent his head forward with their combined
strength until the spinal column was almost broken, and practiced other
atrocious torments, yet Wicher never spoke. He knew that death was his
portion and he defied the desperadoes and dared them to do their worst.
Finding all their endeavors fruitless, Jesse and Frank James murdered
their victim; one of them shooting him through the heart and the other
through the brain. The body was then carried to the nearest highway,
where it was left to be found next day by a farmer who was driving into
Independence.
MURDERING COW-BOYS AND DRIVING OFF CATTLE.
The excitement following the murder of Wicher was so great that the
James Boys, Clell Miller, Arthur McCoy, and the three Younger brothers
quit Missouri and again visited Texas. After carousing around through
the State until their pecuniary means were well nigh exhausted, they
determined upon the commission of a new crime, stealing a herd of
cattle. It was in September, 1874, that the seven brigands rode into
the southwestern part of the State, where they selected a herd of five
hundred of the finest beef cattle in Starr county, which were being
tended by three cow-boys. The herders were cruelly murdered and the
robbers drove the cattle rapidly toward Mexico with the design of
selling them to the Mexicans who cared little for the real ownership of
the cattle after they were upon Mexican soil. On the extensive plains
of Texas where the large herds are left in charge of cow-boys to roam
from season to season, subsisting entirely upon the rich grasses of the
prairies, the owners often do not see their cattle for months, trusting
them to the care of the herders. It is due to this fact, perhaps, that
the bandits, after killing the cow-boys, were permitted to drive the
herd over sixty miles and into Mexico without being pursued.
Reaching Camargo the bandits had no difficulty in disposing of the
cattle, and with this money they went on a big spree, which terminated
in a fight with fifteen gringos, who were saloon loafers and petty
disturbers by profession. The result of this combat was the wounding
of Clell Miller and Jim Younger and the killing of two Mexicans. The
bandits would have fared much worse, however, had they not gained their
horses and made rapid retreat, gaining the Rio Grande so far in advance
of their pursuers as permitted them to cross the river before the
Mexicans reached the bank.
The free-booters having eluded their pursuers stopped at Camp Hudson
for several weeks, where the wounds of Miller and Younger were attended
to, and in December the party returned to Missouri, thinking that, as
had been usual, the excitement over their crimes had so far subsided as
to permit them to visit their old homes and haunts. Their appearance in
Clay county, at least the James Boys, was noted on the 20th of January,
1875, and report of their return was at once made to Allen Pinkerton,
who, after some correspondence with county officials and others, formed
a plan for capturing the outlaws.
THE ATTACK ON THE SAMUELS RESIDENCE.
William Pinkerton, a brother of the chief detective, was sent to Kansas
City immediately with five of the most trusted men in the force. Upon
arriving at that place the sheriff of Clay county was sent for, after
which twelve citizens of known pluck and reliability were engaged to
watch the Samuels homestead and report from hour to hour by a rapid
means of communication, which had been established. The greatest
secrecy was enjoined upon all engaged in the undertaking and every
possible precaution was taken to prevent any alarm reaching the bandits.
On the afternoon of January 25th, Jesse and Frank James were both seen
in the yard fronting the Samuels residence and report of this quickly
reached the sheriff and Mr. Pinkerton who were in Liberty. Arrangements
were made for the immediate capture of the two bandits, who it was
confidently supposed would spend the night in their mother's house.
Accordingly the two officers rode to Kearney late in the afternoon,
where they organized a party of twelve men who were to assist them,
and preparing several balls of cotton saturated with turpentine and
two hand-grenades, the well armed body of men proceeded to the Samuels
residence, which they reached about midnight. A reconnoissance was
first made with great care for indications of possible surprise, and
after completely surrounding the house four of the men, with turpentine
balls, were sent forward to open the attack. A window on the west side
of the residence was stealthily approached, but in the act of raising
it an old colored woman, who had for many years been a house servant
in the family, was awakened, and she at once gave the alarm. But the
window was forced up and the two lighted balls were thrown into the
room, and as the flames shot upward, threatening destruction to the
house and its contents, the family were speedily aroused and efforts
were made to extinguish the fire. At the moment every member of the
household, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Samuels, a son eight years of
age, and the daughter, Miss Susie, and the old colored woman, had
partially subdued the flames, one of the detectives, or at least one of
the party leading the attack, flung a hand-grenade into the room among
the affrighted occupants, and a heavy explosion was the prelude to the
dreadful havoc made by that instrument of death. A scream of anguish
succeeded the report and groans from within, without any evidence of
the outlaws' presence, convinced the detectives and citizen's posse
that they had committed a grave and horrible crime; so, without
examining the premises further the party withdrew, apparently with the
fear that the inexcusable deed they had just committed would be avenged
speedily if they tarried in the vicinity.
When the lamp was lighted by Dr. Samuels he found his little boy in the
agonies of death, having received a terrible wound in the side from
the exploded shell. Mrs. Samuels' left arm had been shattered, and
hung helpless by her side; but she forgot her own misfortune in the
anguish she suffered at seeing the dying struggles of her little boy.
What a terrible night was that memorable 25th of January to the Samuels
family! Alone with their dead boy, whom they worshipped, and with a
desperately wounded mother, who would certainly have bled to death but
for the thoughtfulness of the old colored servant who hastily bandaged
the arm and staunched the flow of the crimson life-current.
The funeral of the innocent victim did not take place until the second
day after the midnight attack, and then Mrs. Samuels, who had suffered
an amputation of the injured member, was too greatly prostrated
to attend and witness the last service over her darling boy, but
the remains were accompanied to the grave by a very large body of
sympathizing people of the neighborhood.