The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-03-27


he found it, he issued counterfeit
proclamation, under his own hand. and
offered $40 900 for the head OF any of
the military satraps who were manifest
ing so much anxiety about his own. He
put his proclamation on the tree below
| the other and rode awav.
\ few days subsequent to this time,
the desire for adventure and danger in
duced him to pay personal visit, incog,
to the commander OF the post at Jetfer-
son, Texas. Riding up to hitching-
post near the post eomlnandants S office,
he dismounted, and, leaving his horse.
very leisurely walked in, salutcd the
| Major, took seat and stopened" con
versation with that important parsonage
81 suppose your military authorities
have offered big reward for the head
of this man Cullen Baker," said our
hero.
"Yes,' responded the Major, "and if
he is not remarkably sharp we will soon
get him. L have been specially selected
| by the General to work up this little job,
and | think | viii be apt to bring him
in
"They say he is bad one," said Gull
! len
"Oh, well, that is more talk than any
thing 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 have not got man who
could not take him without cooking q
gun, if he could just get up with him."
"Have you ever seen him." carelessly
asked Baker
mo" said the hero of the epaulets,
''but | don't care for that I'll be apt to
make his acquaintance if | can just get
near enough to him."
Baker, rising in his chair in the most,
complacent manner imaginable, said:
'Well, Major, you want Bakers head,
and you say you are willing to pay s10,-
900 for it; 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 galying tones, he said
'.Really, sir. I was not aware I was
talking to Mr.. Baker himself Of course
l had nothing personal against you, and I
don't see that it's any OF my affair to be
running myself into danger to take you"
"No," said Baker, zone should not
always be ready to do other peoples
work and, turning, he left the Office of
the Major with as much unconcern as he
had entered it, and mounting his horse
he rode out OF town and sought his hiding
place in the ''wilds of the Sulphur"
As soon as the Major could recover
from what he was pleased to denominate
hn Il
and put off after the ''daring wizard"
Reaching Boston, Bowie county, the Ma
jor and his party learned that Baker and
a companion were at "tippling house
enjoying drink The public square was
at once surrounded, and demand made
upon Baker to surrender. Baker res
ponded, s'all right" and casting his mild
blue eyes around him to see how many
he had to fight, made leap for his
horse, reached him, and in attempting to
mount dropped his pistol. He picked up
his pistol, mounted his horse, and throw
ing his 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 COM
panion fell from his horse mortally
wounded. Baker looked down upon the
face of his dying friend, and moment
after he was galloping away, shooting
back at his pursuers. He reached
Dooley's Ferry, having evaded the Fede-
raj party and crossed into Arkansas, tell
ing the ferryman that if he permitted
any one to cross over on that boat that
night he would kill him the next even
ing. The ferryman scuttled his boat
and sunk it, and thus Cullen Baker, the
second time, beat the Major
Subsequent to this time he surrounded
small town in Texas, alone, and by de-
manding the unconditional surrender of
the place, the commandant started
courier post haste for Marshal, Texas,
for reinforcements, whom Baker meeting
with, made go back and tell his COM
mander the trick.
Long chapters might be added to this
one of his bold deeds, some of them ro-
mantle and invested with an interest not
shocked by crime, but more often dark
and bloody. It has been estimated that
in his lifetime he killed or caused to be
killed SO men,. He married in Lafayette
county, Arkansas, sometime during the
year before his terrible character was de-
veloped. He rode the swiftest horses,
and knew all the intricate paths in the
swamps and dense forests, and to take
him was next to impossible.
The people had such fear of him that
they never dared to report his movements,
and their fears was as valuable to him as
their friendship would have been. But
he fell at last by the hands of his father
ln-law and brother-in-law in their own
yard. He had threatened their lives and
they killed him in selfdefense. MANY
people In Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas