Transcriber's note:
Minor spelling inconsistencies, mainly hyphenated words, have been
harmonized. Italic text has been marked with _underscores_.
Obvious typos have been corrected. An "Illustrations" section has been
added as an aid to the reader.
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
FRANK AND JESSE JAMES
THE
NOTED WESTERN OUTLAWS.
BY
HON. J. A. DACUS, PH. D.
"Strange murmurs fill my tingling ears,
Bristles my hair, my sinews quake,
At this dread tale of reckless deeds."
_ILLUSTRATED._
ST. LOUIS:
W. S. BRYAN, PUBLISHER,
602 North Fourth Street.
SAN FRANCISCO: A. L. BANCROFT & CO., 721 Market Street.
INDIANAPOLIS: FRED. L. HORTON & CO., 66 East Market Street.
CHICAGO: J. S. GOODMAN, 142 LaSalle Street.
1880.
Copyrighted, 1879, by W. S. BRYAN
[Illustration: JESSE JAMES.
FROM A LATE PHOTOGRAPH.
Copyrighted, 1880, by W. S. Bryan. The copyright laws
will be rigidly enforced against any person making
or disposing of copies of this picture.]
[Illustration:
FRANK JAMES. JESSE JAMES.
Engraved from Photographs taken about the close of the war.]
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.--THE JAMES FAMILY.--The Rev. Robert
James--His marriage--Removal to Missouri--His death
in California, 11-16
CHAPTER II.--FRANK AND JESSE.--Their childhood and
youth--They desire fire-arms--Youthful Nimrods--Pistol
practice, 17-24
CHAPTER III.--IN THE GUERRILLA CAMP.--Frank joins
Quantrell--Outrage on Dr. Samuels and Jesse--Mrs.
Samuels and daughter, Susie James, arrested--Jesse as a
courier for the Guerrillas, 25-28
CHAPTER IV.--BLOODY WAR.--The hatreds of the border
people--The partisan rangers--Frank James as a scout--Fight
at Plattsburg, 29-34
CHAPTER V.--AT THE SACK OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.--The
black flag unfurled--The Guerrillas mass their
forces--The march to Lawrence--Capture of the town--Frank
and Jesse participate, 35-39
CHAPTER VI.--A GORY RECORD.--The cruel strife of the
border--Death in the thickets--Quantrell and his
followers, 40-56
CHAPTER VII.--ADVENTURES IN SEPARATE FIELDS.--Frank
James follows Quantrell into Kentucky--Fierce
partisan contests--Death of Quantrell--Jesse follows
George Shepherd to Texas--The last fight of the war--Jesse
wounded, 57-65
CHAPTER VIII.--THE BRANDENBURG TRAGEDY.--Frank
James followed by four men--They attempt to arrest him--Terrible
fight--Frank wounded in the left hip--Concealed
by friends, 66-70
CHAPTER IX.--THE LIBERTY BANK AFFAIR.--A great
robbery--St. Valentine's day, and the prize drawn by
bold marauders--The James Boys accused of the crime, 71-73
CHAPTER X.--JESSE'S SORTIE AGAINST THE MILITIAMEN.--Attacked
at night--The family council of war--Jesse
desires to look out on the cold moonlight scene--Throws
the door open and fires upon the militiamen--Three
corpses on the crisp snow, 74-77
CHAPTER XI.--IN THE HANDS OF FRIENDS.--Jesse goes
to Kentucky--Among his relatives and friends--Placed
under the care of Dr. Paul F. Eve--A good time, 78-81
CHAPTER XII.--THE RUSSELLVILLE BANK ROBBERY.--A
large haul--The James Boys connected with the robbery--They
ride away on George Shepherd's horses--Shepherd
arrested and imprisoned--Death of Oll Shepherd--Persistent
pursuit of the robbers--The Jameses
escape, 82-90
CHAPTER XIII.--ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.--Jesse James
sails for California--At Paso Robel--Frank goes West--On
the Laponsu ranche--Adventures in Nevada--A dark
seance--The Boys return to the East, 91-102
CHAPTER XIV.--WERE THEY DRIVEN TO OUTLAWRY?--The
peculiar circumstances surrounding the Jameses--Social
and political ostracism--The vigilance committees--Not
allowed to remain at peace in their own home--They
go forth as enemies of society, 103-107
CHAPTER XV.--THE GALLATIN BANK TRAGEDY.--Strange
men in Gallatin--They call upon the cashier--Captain
John W. Sheets shot by Jesse James--Pursuit of the man
slayers--The escape of the robbers, 108-111
CHAPTER XVI.--ATTEMPTS TO ARREST THE BOYS.--The
people aroused--Detectives on the trail of the Boys--Their
neighbors arrayed against them--Captain Thomason
expresses himself--He is interviewed by Mrs.
Samuels--Failure of all efforts to arrest them, 112-115
CHAPTER XVII.--OUTRAGE AT COLUMBIA, KENTUCKY.--The
citizens of Adair county, Kentucky, startled--Bold
daylight robbery of the bank at Columbia--Murder of the
cashier, Mr. Martin--Chasing the robbers--The marauders
escape, 116-121
CHAPTER XVIII.--OUT OF EXILE.--Domestic and social
relations of the Boys--Their visits to the cities--The
theaters and concert stage--Life in hotels--How the
Jameses play the part of gentlemen, 122-130
CHAPTER XIX.--THE CORYDON RAID.--The robbers pay
a visit to Iowa--Their sudden appearance at Corydon--They
secure a large sum of money and ride away--Hot
pursuit by Iowa officers--Jesse as a rustic, 131-133
CHAPTER XX.--THE CASH BOX OF THE FAIR.--Frank and
Jesse at Kansas City--The gate money seized and carried
away--The pool cashier interviewed by Frank, 134-138
CHAPTER XXI.--STE. GENEVIEVE.--The cashier of the
bank at Ste. Genevieve surprised--Narrow escape of
young Rozier--The bank plundered by the raiders--Escape
of the robbers, 139-145
CHAPTER XXII.--A RAILWAY TRAIN ROBBED IN IOWA.--A
night vigil--On the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
railway line--A locomotive ditched and a fireman killed--A
successful raid, 146-150
CHAPTER XXIII.--THE GAINES' PLACE STAGE ROBBERY.--How
the invalids en route to Hot Springs were plundered
on the Malvern road--Scenes and incidents of the
robbery--Grim jokes at the expense of the passengers, 151-158
CHAPTER XXIV.--GADSHILL.--A startling sensation--The
robbers at the lonely wayside station--The passengers
made prisoners and robbed, 159-165
CHAPTER XXV.--AFTER GADSHILL.--Pursuit of the robbers--Trailed
through southern Missouri to St. Clair
county--Diversions in Bentonville, Arkansas--The
campaign leads to a tragedy, 166-172
CHAPTER XXVI.--WHICHER'S RIDE TO DEATH.--The
brave detective caught in a trap--Jim Latche's observations
in Liberty--The use he made of his knowledge--The
last night ride--Whicher shot, 173-181
CHAPTER XXVII.--A NIGHT RAID OF DETECTIVES.--Attempt
to avenge Whicher's death--Preparing a trap to
catch Frank and Jesse at the Samuels place--Fire balls
and bomb shells--A terrible scene--Death of a boy and
wounding of Mrs. Samuels, 182-190
CHAPTER XXVIII.--PROPOSED AMNESTY.--Movement in
the Legislature--Gen. Jones' amnesty bill--Jesse quietly
awaits the turn of events--Failure of the bill to pass in
the Legislature--Taking vengeance, 191-195
CHAPTER XXIX.--SAN ANTONIO-AUSTIN STAGE PLUNDERED.--Bandits
on the prairies--Strange horsemen at
eventide--The stage halted--The passengers plundered, 196-201
CHAPTER XXX.--FARMER ASKEW'S FATE.--The house of
Askew--The farmer incurs the hatred of the James
Boys--Vengeance threatened--Assassinated while standing
on his porch--Jesse and Frank believed to be the
guilty parties, 202-207
CHAPTER XXXI.--GOLD DUST--THE MUNCIE BUSINESS.--Lying
in wait--The evening train bound from
the mining regions--Golden galore--The train stopped
by masked men and the express car plundered, 208-210
CHAPTER XXXII.--HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, BANK
ROBBERY.--A band of robbers in the streets--The people
alarmed--Demand upon Mr. Oney--The robbers make
off with the bank's funds--Capture of Jack Kean, and
death of McDaniels--The handiwork of the Jameses
shown, 211-214
CHAPTER XXXIII.--JESSE'S WOOING AND WEDDING.--Courting
under difficulties--A fair cousin--She admires
the outlaw--The courtship continues, and Jesse takes
his cousin as his bride, 216-222
CHAPTER XXXIV.--A DREAM OF LOVE.--Frank James
cherishes tender sentiments and goes a-wooing--A fair
girl, beautiful and accomplished--Frank's suit
encouraged, 223-227
CHAPTER XXXV.--FAIR ANNIE RALSTON, THE OUTLAW'S
BRIDE.--How Annie Ralston carried off the honors
of her class at college--A belle in society--Her admiration
for Frank James--She quietly collects her effects,
and leaves her home to share his fate with Frank, 228-233
CHAPTER XXXVI.--A SEVENTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR
HAUL.--The train robbery at Otterville--The Youngers
and the Jameses--Frank James the planner--How the
train was halted--Capture of Hobbs Kerry--He gives
away the gang--The escape, 234-245
CHAPTER XXXVII.--IN MINNESOTA.--The bandits seek a
new field--Frank James and the Younger Brothers--Bill
Chadwell, Miller and Pitts--The long ride, 246-254
CHAPTER XXXVIII.--THE ATTACK AT NORTHFIELD--HAYWOOD'S
DEATH.--The raid on the bank--The cashier
shot--Bill Chadwell killed in the street--The citizens
come to the rescue--Fusilades in the town--The bandits
forced to go out in quick time--A hot pursuit--Capture
of the Youngers, 255-266
CHAPTER XXXIX.--Escape of Frank and Jesse James.--The
terrible retreat--Worn out, and yet no chance for
rest--A remarkable escape--They disappear from the
very midst of those who were hunting them--How they
went away, 267-273
CHAPTER XL.--A VISIT TO CARMEN.--Frank and Jesse go
into Mexico--They rest at Carmen, in Chihuahua--The
silver conducta--They join the Mexican party--Capture
of the treasure bags of the Mexicans, 274-282
CHAPTER XLI.--THE ROBBERS AND THEIR FRIENDS.--The
various classes of people who exhibit friendship for the
Jameses--Some are bad men, who gather about them because
they are brave--Social peculiarities, 283-290
CHAPTER XLII.--EXCURSIONS INTO MEXICO.--Wild adventures
beyond the border--Chasing Mexican cattle-thieves--A
serious time at Monclova--Frank and Jesse
escape, 291-299
CHAPTER XLIII.--DEATH TO BORDER BRIGANDS.--Frank
and Jesse pay their respects to Palacios' band--The raiders
of the border punished by the American outlaws--A
pleasant meeting with troops, 300-313
CHAPTER XLIV.--THE UNION PACIFIC EXPRESS ROBBERY.--The
Big Springs ventures--The persons who engaged
in it--Large amount of gold coin taken--Pursuit
of the robbers--Death of Collins at Buffalo, Kansas--Jim
Berry trailed to Missouri--Shot by the sheriff of
Audrain county, 314-325
CHAPTER XLV.--A VISIT TO THE HOME OF FRANK
JAMES.--A Georgian's experience with the great outlaws--The
home life of Frank, 326-336
CHAPTER XLVI.--EPISTLES OF JESSE JAMES.--How Jesse
takes his own part with a pen--Some terse specimens of
Jesse's style, 337-344
CHAPTER XLVII.--GLENDALE.--The last great train robbery--A
night ride to a lonely wayside station--How the
robbery was effected, 345-353
CHAPTER XLVIII.--HUNTING CLUES.--Marshal Liggett--His
efforts to hunt down the robbers--Jesse James once
more to the front, 354-356
CHAPTER XLIX.--GEORGE W. SHEPHERD.--The childhood
and youth of Shepherd--His adventures in Utah--Enters
the Confederate service--Joins Quantrell's band--Gets
into trouble with the gang at the time of Russellville--Becomes
inimical to the Jameses--Engages with
Marshal Liggett--Joins the band--The Short Creek
fight, 357-367
CHAPTER L.--PURSUIT OF THE GLENDALE ROBBERS.--Shepherd
goes south with the gang--He plans an ambuscade--Failure
of his plan--The robbers suspicious
of Shepherd--The fight in the forest, 368-374
CHAPTER LI.--ALLEN PARMER.--Becomes a member of
Quantrell's band--Takes part in the sack of Lawrence--With
Quantrell in Kentucky--Marries Jesse James' sister--Accused
of complicity with the Glendale robbers, 375-379
CHAPTER LII.--JESSE JAMES STILL A FREE ROVER.--The
sequel to the fight with Shepherd--Jesse and his wife
visit relatives and friends in Kentucky--An unsuccessful
attempt to capture the outlaw, 380-384
Illustrations
Jesse James. 3
Frank James. Jesse James. 4
Quantrell's Last Fight. 10
In The Woods With Their New Shot-Guns. 21
Girdling A Tree. 23
A Moonlight Conference. 31
After Lawrence. 37
A Deed Of Mercy. 45
A Narrow Escape. 48
Jesse James' Escape From "Pin" Indians. 59
A Horrible Deed. 60
Death Of Oll Shepherd. 89
Fight In A Gambler's Den. 100
Whicher Meets His Fate. 180
Night Attack On The Samuels Residence. 188
Death Of Farmer Askew. 205
An Alarmed "Cow-Boy." 303
After The "Greasers." 307
Fight With Mexican Cattle Thieves. 311
The Home Of Frank James, In Texas. 333
Geo. W. Shepherd. 364
Allen Parmer. 376
Wild Bill. 384
[Illustration: Quantrell's Last Fight. [Page 64.]]
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
FRANK AND JESSE JAMES.
CHAPTER I.
THE JAMES FAMILY.
"He was a godly man,
Gentle and loving. He sought to save
From mortal shame and eternal death,
Forms laid in the silence of the grave."
The Rev. Robert James, the father of Frank and Jesse, was a
native of Kentucky. His parents were quiet, respectable people,
belonging to the middle class of society. Their desire was to raise
up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Being themselves persons of intelligence and culture, far above
the average of their neighbors in those days, the parents of Rev.
Robert James resolved to give him as good an education as the
facilities accessible to them would permit. Accordingly, Robert was
early placed in a neighboring school, and made such progress as
to gladden the hearts of his parents, and call forth auguries of
future distinction from the friends and neighbors of the family.
Robert James was a moral, studious youth, much given to reflection
on subjects of a religious character. Before he had attained his
eighteenth year, he had made an open profession of faith in the
Christian religion, and united himself with a Baptist church, of
which his parents were members. After passing through the various
grades of an academic course, young James entered as a student of
Georgetown College, Kentucky. Resolving to follow the profession
of a minister, he commenced the study of Theology, was licensed to
preach, and began his ministry in his twentieth year. Even then he
was regarded as a youth of decided culture and more than ordinary
ability.
While yet a young man, Rev. Mr. James decided to remove to the
then new State of Missouri. He settled on a farm in Clay county,
and commenced in earnest the onerous duties of a pioneer preacher.
His labors were not unrewarded. He soon had the satisfaction of
garnering the harvest of his sowing. A congregation was gathered
and a church organized in Clay county, called New Hope, which is
still in existence. For some years the Rev. Mr. James ministered
to the people who had been gathered by his exertions, with great
acceptance. Nor were his labors confined to the spiritual welfare
of the people of New Hope. He visited many distant churches, and
preached with great acceptance in many places.
Old citizens of Clay county still entertain pleasant recollections
of the earnest, God-fearing pastor, who went about only to
do good, by cheering the despondent, consoling the sorrowful,
assisting the needy, upholding the weak, confirming the hesitating,
and pointing the way of salvation to the penitent. Everywhere, in
that region of country, he was held in the very highest esteem. So
the years of his early manhood passed away while he was engaged in
the commendable effort to better the condition, by purifying the
moral nature of his friends and neighbors.
In 1850, following in the footsteps of hundreds of others, Rev.
Robert James bade adieu to his family, friends and neighbors, and
set out for "the golden land" of California, on a prospecting tour.
We do not know what motives actuated him in making this move, nor
is it pertinent to this relation. He went away, and was destined to
return no more. Not long after his arrival in California, whither
he had been preceded by a brother, Rev. Mr. James was stricken by a
mortal disease which terminated his life in a short time. Far away
from home, where the tall sequoias rear their lofty branches above
the plain, on a gentle slope which catches the last beams of the
setting sun, they laid the minister to rest, in a soil unhallowed
by the dust of kinsmen, in a grave unbedewed by the tears of loved
ones left behind.
When yet a young man, Rev. Mr. James was united in marriage to Miss
Zerelda Cole, a native of Scott county, Kentucky. Mrs. James is
a lady of great determination of mind, and a masculine force of
character. Those who knew the couple in the old days seem to think
that the minister and his wife were an ill-assorted pair. He was
gentle and amiable, while, on the contrary, his wife was strong
in passion, and of a very bitter, unrelenting temper--traits of
character prominently developed in her sons, Frank and Jesse. It
is said that the home-life of the minister was not as smooth as
it might have been, had he been united with a companion of a less
passionate and exacting temper. With his domestic life, however, we
have nothing to do, except in so far as the home influences thrown
around his children gave direction to their character, and tinged
their mental disposition. Whatever home-cares he might have had,
the public has little cause to inquire now. He went down to death
with a stainless name long years before his sons entered upon a
career of crime, and made their names a terror to those who care to
obey the dictates of justice, love and mercy.
Mrs. Zerelda James was left a widow, having the responsible charge
of a family of four small children. She was not left unprovided
for, as Mr. James was a prudent, careful man of business, and had
already established a comfortable home. With that courage and
determination which is so prominently manifested in her character,
Mrs. James commenced the battle of life as the head of the family.
With all the favoring circumstances, the task assumed by her was
not a light one. But she was equal to the performance of any
required service.
The years went by, and Frank and Jesse and their sisters were
advancing toward manhood and womanhood. The mother was not
neglectful of their mental training, and the children were very
regular in their attendance at a neighboring district school.
So passed away six years of Mrs. Zerelda James' widowhood, and life
became lonely; the children were growing up, and her cares and
responsibilities seemed to increase as they advanced in age and
stature. Though not of a romantic disposition, the widow James was
yet young enough in years and comely enough in person to attract to
her side more than one substantial citizen on matrimony intent.
Among the number of those who sought to produce a favorable
impression on the widow's susceptible heart, was Dr. Reuben
Samuels, who, like herself, was a native of Kentucky. To him she
was not indifferent. She listened to his plea, and in 1857 they
were united in marriage, near Kearney, Clay county, Missouri. Dr.
Samuels at once undertook to perform the duty of a parent toward
her children.
Thus the career of the noted outlaws, the James Boys, was
commenced, under auspices fully as favorable as fell to the fortune
of any of the boys of their own age, in their country home. And so
the years rolled on, and the boys were approaching the estate of
manhood; while fate was shaping them to perform a part in those
troublous times, of which they dreamed not in the days of boyhood.
One of the sisters of Frank and Jesse died just as she was
approaching the estate of womanhood. She is represented as having
been a beautiful and amiable child, who was called away from the
world while life was still beautiful and all the promises of the
future bright. Miss Susan James was arrested with her mother in the
early part of the war and confined in the jail at St. Joseph for
several months. Afterward she went to Nebraska and remained there
for more than a year. She married a gentleman named Parmer, several
years ago, and with her husband, resided for a time in Sherman,
Texas. From that place she removed to Henriette, and was living
there in 1879.
Mrs. Samuels had an eight year old son killed in January, 1875,
when the detectives attacked the Samuels' house. A daughter, a half
sister of Frank and Jesse, remains unmarried, and resides with Dr.
and Mrs. Samuels.