The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-11-09
Bloody Burton.
ON the St. Louis Democrat

to plnnder the defenseleSS in the dis
tricts ovrrrun and laid waste by ar
mics. They robbed and murdered
without hesitation or regard t. senti-
ment. Their hands were against ev-
cry man. and every mans hand was
against them. One of the most fero-
cious and horrible creatures of this
class VAS known to live in the Ozark
mountains. near the Arkansas and
Missouri State line, and in very
short time he was spoken Of and feared
in that region. both by citizens and
soidiery. The name of the ruftian,
robbrr and red handed murderer was
Frank Burton. aud he was originally
horse thief in Arkansas, but was 20
closely pursu. d iUto Texas by crowd
bent un lynching him, that he conclu
ded to seek pastures new, and he
found them in the Ozark m"untaiuS.
FORSYTH. Missouri, and Csrrolltown.
Arkansas, are about forty miles apart,
/ and at the side of the road between
them Burton selected his place .ot
ab, de. lie built half hut Mt the
mouth OF natural cave in the side Of
the mountain, about 100 feet above
the road, and there lived alone.
Few people saw him and lived to ~
( late il afterward tie. always currlcd
long rifle and heavy side rams, and
would shoot down ami rob any one an
/ Fortunate enough to come within
I rnnge of his guu. After his deeds be-
gan to be known detachment of fed
egal SnlGiers was sent after him at
a half dozen different times. bat always
returned one, two or half dozen men
short. Burton wore an old hutrernut
suit. much the color of the trees aud
rocks on the mountain side, and whS
adept - hiding himself and slipping
from bush to bush without heing seen.
On one occasion company of twenty
or thirty men hunted him for wreck,
and at last got him on mountain,
which they surrounded They then
started up the slope, but had proceed
Ell but 4 few paces when puff oi
smoke issued from behind rock 4
couple of hundred yards away. and
the foremost man fell with bullet hole
through his chest. Before the Others
had recovered frnm their surprise an
Other puff IF smnke was seen. and an
other man fcl. The survivors made q
rush for the rock. firing as they ran
ere they reached it Rnuthrr shot from
; the deadly rifle nf the rDbber brought
down third man. The party AZ last
; reached the rock only to fiud that tbs
assassin had Disappeared withont leav
ing trace. While hooking for hi:
track they again heard thr crack o
: bis rife, and another of their nunbe,
dropped dead. This was continued
until terror took possession Of th,
party. and they beat hnsty retreat
> nearly onc-half of those remainin.
: being convinced that the object "
their search was something more tbal
mortal. The General in command u
tnat district at last offered large re
!, ward for the head of the scuuu3rel
and the reward was Increased when ]
= was found that he continued To- ro
and kill unmoleSted. Five thousau,
- dollars was at last offered for hir
: dead or alive. and description Of LA
was printed aud clrulated among th
n troops.
l. He was described rs a short an,
: heav set. with immense and muscula
l. hands and arms. His hair aud roug
unkept beard were black a the plan
s age OF crow, and he was uttrrl,
filthy and disgusting in appearacr, a
he sometimes did not wash his face q
Il hands for weeks. The neighbUrS liy
ing too near him lie killed or drov
;. away, aud it is said. aud probably wit
truth, that he murdered no less tina
lS0 persons willie in that region
: One family living within couple :
miles of his cave, he speared for h
ia own convenience. The family COZ
sisted of the father, half wi;teG ~
=. nv creature. the wife and one chill,
boy ten or twelve years old. Durt"l
when in ihe neighbnrhood. occasional
y ly visited the hunse and forced the
to furnish him with provisions. I
- threatened them with death IL the
:. ever admitted that they knew him. {
that he came to their house, aud ;
. thev knew that he would keep b
word, they answered all inquiries
- DENYING that they knew or had ev
seen him. The hat in which the fam
lv lived was at the base of the mou
tain. and stood in the center of a clea
ed slope. about 800 yards across b.
l ton, when coming to the house. wcu
stop ut the edge OF the clearing a
carefully inspect the premises ta sad
1o fy himself that no enemies was coucer
cd there. Finding that all was >ecu;
~ he would then hail the family. and :
f der the man and boy to leave, viii
e5 they never fail to do WI b his ri
!; on his arm he would then advance
the cabin. and direct the woman to pl
pare his dinner or breakfast. IA
IS, case might be. The woman feared n
loathed him, but was afraid to refu
knowing that he would shoot b
down at the first word of remonstran
Tow federal soldiers in a camp seV
;. miles from the spot, concluded to
tempt his captnre, and obtaining les
:, kof absence. stated for the house ]