The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-05

OF The LOST oAUsE-TERRIBLE RECORD OF pAn
ING CRIME AND TRAGIC FATE.
From the Memphis Avalanche, 29thl
ksDy persons in North Mississippi and Wesi
Tennessee are familiar with the names aud deed
Of Willlsm Cullen Baker the notorious desperate
and INSCRIPTIONS murderer of Eastern Texas, eh
vas killed on the 10th OF January, in Lafayet'e
county. Arkansas, as detailed few days ago "
ihe Avalanche. Baker was certainly Que OF IN
worst characters Of this age and brief sket h OF
bis career is worthy of record as part of the h.-
tory OF the great Southwest. His lite. taken rs
whole, demonstrates with peculiar force the weak
ness Of frail humanity. and the tenacity with
which events shape mans destiny.
Cullen Baker, the almost beardiess lad, who, BY
bis daring demeanor and Unsuitable thirst for hu.
man blood has been for months terror to the
citizens as well as TO the military authorities
the son Of an eminent divine Of Texas, and hi
character from boyhood to the fatal hour when
grim'visaged war stsked into our land had been
uLexceptonal.
Few young men ever started life with brighter
prospects, and certainly not one ever enjoyed in
more eminent degree the confidence and esteem
OF bis friends and neighbors. When the shrl
run pet sounded to arms the braves of the South,
Cullen Baker, fired by true, patriotic devotion to
the land of his birth, forsook the pursuits of civil
life ano promptly shouldered his musket in the
ranks. side by side with the young men who had
had he's =. ot6eethsepq with him. The volcano that
its lava, and before the roll of his combatt 4Ida
been called for a twelve month, Cullen Baker had
been marked as the " terrible rifeman." The IN
mistakabe attributes of desperate soon devel
Oped themselves in bis character, and many
" blue jacket DEVILS +" as he was want to denomo.
ate The soldiers of the Federal army, were forced
10 kiss the dust before his unerring aim.
When that branch of the Confederate army to
which be was attached grounded arms aud sur
rendered to the power of the federal government,
Cullen Baker declined to accept the terms or
abide the conditions, and mounting his fiery
horse-oDe of the swftest since the days of
Claude Duval's bonnie Black Bessie rode away
TO the wIids of East Texas, proclaiming himself
the last survivor Of the lost cause. who would
never surrender until the COnfederacy was fully
este blshed and its authority recognized by all tue
powers of the EARTH True 10 his rash vow, he
soon schieveda considerable Dotoriety 10 Harrison,
Marion and Davis counties. in Texas. for his in.
tense enimosity against everything saVOring OF
" Ysnkeeism." During the year he committed
several murders, his victims invariably Deing
either negroes, federal soldiers or noisy Union
men,"
In the fall of 1865 reward of one thousand
dollars was offered by the federal military al
ihorities of Texas for his head. scouting parties
were sent out in all sections of the country t.
catch him. He warned the citizens that II any Of
them dared to intimate to those who sought to
capture him any thing in reference to his move
ments, he would visit upon them the most ter
rible punishment. So well they knew the man
that no citizen could be found with sufficient
Baker to enable them to tell with any degree OF
accuracy where Cullen Baker could be found.
So terrible did he become that the military au.
thorIties raised the reward offered for his head
from one thousand to ten thousand dollars.
While riding aIcDg the road on one occasion he
observed the proclamation Offering ten thousand
dollars for his head sticking on tree. He read
it, and, dismouDting, from his horse and coolly
seating himself by the tree upon which he found
1t, he issued counter proclamation, under his
own hand and offered ten Thousand dollars for the
head of any one of sthe military satraps who
were msnifesting so much anxiety about his own.
BE put bis proclamation on the tree below the
other, and rode away.
for adventure and danger induced him TO pay a
personal visit incog. to the commander of the
post at Jefferson, Texas. Riding up To hitching-
post neer the post commsndants office, he dis
mounted, and leaving his horse very leisurey,
walked in, saluted the major, took seat, aud
"opened conversation " with that important
parsonage.
81 suppose your military authorities have Of
fered big reward for the head Of uaiS man Cullen
Baker," said our hero.
Yes" responded the major. and if he is not
remarkably sharp we will soon get him. have
been specially selected by the general to work up
this little job, and think will be apt to bring
him in"
They say he is a bad one ;" said Cullen.
oh well that is more talk than anything else
| guess he is not so terrible as you rebels make
him out. He can't scare anybody that belongs to
our army. am sure we haven't got man who
could not take him without cooking gun if he
could jest get up with him."
Have you ever seen him." carelessly but
seemingly asked Baker.
NO" said the hero of the epau,ets, "but
don't care for that, I'll be apt to make his acqusin-
lance If / can Just get near enough to him."
Baker, rising from his chair in the most CON-
plajssnt manner imag inabie, said: " Well, major,
you want Bakers head, and yon say you are
wiling to give $4,000 for 1t, well, am Cullen
Baker and am ready to furnish the head on your
order, when the money is paid" The majors
face turned deadly pale, his eyes started from
their sockets and in half gssping tones he said
Really, sir, WAS not aware was talking with
Mr.. Baker himself. OF course could have moth.
ing personal against yen, and don't see that it's
any Of my affair to be running myself into danger
to lake yOu." rr
mo- said Baker, A." one should not always be
ready 10 90 other peoples work" and turning he
left The Office OF the major with as much uncon-
Germ as he had entered it, and mounting his horse
be rode out of town and sought his hiding place ia
the " wilds of the sulphur" o..
As soon as the major could recover from what
he was pleased TO denominate his surprise, be raj
lied his boys in blue" and put of after the
daring wizard" Reaching Boston, Bowie county,
the major and his party learned that Baker aud a
companion were at the Tipping house enjoying
drink" The public square was at once surround
ed, and demand made upon Baker to surrender.
DdhtT IcspOuUcu oil iShby nuu Oasdub III, Uhu
blue eye around him to see how many he had to
fight, made leap for his horse, reached him, and
In attempting TO mount him dropped his pistol He
picked up his pistol, mounted his horse and throw
ing bis pistol into the air keen crack was heard,
which was the announcement of Cullen Bakers
determination never TO be taken alive. His shot
was responded to by the Federal soldiers, and his
companion fell from bis horse MORALLY wounded
Baker looked down upon the face OF his dying
friend, and a moment after he was galloping
away shooting back at his pursuers. He reached
Dooley's Ferry. having evaded the Federal party,
and crossed into Arkansas, telling the ferrym an
that if he permitted any one to over on that
boat after him that night he wOuld kill him the
next evening. The ferTyman scuttled his boat and
sunk il, and thus Cullen Baker. the second time,
beat the "maj T."
Subsequent TO this time he surrounded small
town 10 Texas, alone, and by demanding the IN
conditional surrender of the place, the command
ant started a courier post haste to Marshall,
Texas, for reinforcements. whom Baker meeting
with, made 60 back and tell the commander the
trick.
Long chapters might be added to this one Of
bis bold deeds, some of them romantic aud invest
ed with an interest not shocked by crime, bat
more often dark and bloody. IL has been esti