The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-04

took advantage of the situation to plum
der the defenceless in the districts over
run and laid waste by armies. They
robbed and murdered without hesitation
or regard to sentiment. Their hnnds
were against evory man, and every muu' g
baud was against them. Que of the
most ferocious uId horrible creatures of
this clnss wus known to live in the Ozark
Mountains, near the Arkansas aud MIS-
souri, State line, and in very short
time he was spoken of aud feared in
that region, both by citizens and SOL
diery. The name Of the ruff IN, robbcr
and red dhanded murderer was Frank
Burton, and he WAS originally a horse
thief in Arkansas, but wus SO closely
pursued into Texas. by IL crowd beut on
lynching him, that he concluded to seek
pastures new, and found them in the
Ozark Mountains. Forsyth, Missouri,
aud Carrolton, Arkansas, arc about forty
miles apart, nnd ut the side of tho rond
between them Burton selected his place
of abode. Hy built half hut ut the
mouth of . natural cave in the side of
the mountain, about 400 feet above the
road, and there lived alone. Few people
SAW him and lived to rotate it afterward.
He always carried Il long rifle and heavy
side-arms, and would shoot down and
rob any unfortunate enough to come
within range Of his gun. After his deeds
began to be known q detachment of
Federal soldiers was sent after him at
hall dozen different times, but always
returned one, two or half dozen men
short. Burton wore an old butter-nnt
suit. much the color of the trees and
rocks on tho mountain side, aud was an
adept at hiding himself and slipping
from bush to bush without heiug seen
On one occasion u company of twenty or
thirty men hunted him for week, AMI
at last got him on q mountain, which
they surrounded. 4hey then started up
the slope, but had proceeded but few
PAGES when puff of smoke ieened from
behind rock 200 yards away and the
foremost man fell with bullet hole
through his chest. Before the others
had recovered from their surprise
another putt of smoke was seen aud
another man fell. The survivors made
rush for the rock, tiriug as they ran, but
ere they rearhed it another shot from
the deadly rifle OF the robber brought
down a third man.. The party ut last
reached the rock only to find that the
assassin had disappeared without leaving
truce. While looking for his track
they again heard the crack of his rifle,
and another OF their number dropped
dead. This was continued until terror
took possession Of the purity, and they
beat a hasty retreat, nearly one hulf of
those remaining being convinced that
the OBJECT OF their search wus something
more than mortal. The General in COM
mand of that district at last offered a
large reward for the head of the scoun-
drel, and the reward was increased when
1t was found that he continued to rob
and kill unmolested. $4,000 was ut last
offered for him dead or alive, and de-
scrlption of him was printed and circu-
lnted among the troops. He was de-
scrlbed as short and heavy set. with i'm
mense and muscular hands aud arms.
His hair and rough unkempt beard were
black as the plumage Of crow, and he
was utterly filthy and disgusting in ap-
pea-ance, as hs sometimes did not wash
his face or hnnds in weeks. Tie neigh
bors living too near him he killed or
drove away, aud it is said, and probably
with truth, that he murdered no less than
lS0 persons while i'll that region. One
family, living within q couple Of miles
VI diS ChFo, Ho SDhTeu IOr lis own con-
venience. The family consisted of the
father, halfwitted pupy creature, the
wife and one child, boy ten or twelve
years old. Burton, when in the neigh
borhood, occasionally visited the house
and forced them TO furnish him with
provisions. He threatened them with
death if they ever admitted that they
knew him, or that he came to the houae,
aud rs they knew that he would keep his
word, they answered ull inquiries by do
nying that they knew or had ever aeen
aim. The hut in which tho family lived
was at the base of the mountain, and
stood in the centre of cleared slope,
about 800 yards across. Burton, when
coming to the house, would stop at the
edge of tho clearing aud carefully in
spect the premises to satisfy himself that
no enemies were concealed there. Find
ing that all was secure, he would then
hail tho family and order the man and
boy to leave which they never fnied to
do. With his rifle on his arm he would
then advance to the cabin and direct the
woman to prepare his dinner or break
fast, as the case might be. The woman
feared and loathed him, but was afraid
to refuse. knowing that he would shoot
her down ut the first word of remon-
STRANGE.
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