Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-10
N ROMANTIC CAREER

INENhH NNAAA6 tAO AAVAANA VI RNHblAl
Der:
Sister Celeste.-Died, in this city, at the
Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister
Celeste, on "Wednesday, Septepber Is
1878.
Solemn high mass of requiem at the
Church of the Immaculate Conception
next Friday at 9 o'clock am:
One September day in the fall Of
1862, there rode up to the old but
comfortable -lOoking farm house OF
Andrew Harris, near independence,
| Mo-, a band of seventy men, armed to
| the teeth with shOtguns and revolvers.
They we're all strong and young, and
| had an u%nconeerned air Of determined
bravery. They all sat up well on their
horses, were young and hardy-looking.
A few were but boys, while others had
beard and long hair. They were
dressed in diverse styles-some in red,
blue or checked shirts, others wore
coats. AL had boots coming up over
the pan~taloons above the knee, and
most with big spurs at the heels.
Their horses we're magnificent, and
we'll decked off with fine saddles and
snowy brides. AT the head of the
company rode a small man with a pale
face, light short hair, blue eyes and
slight mustache. 1t was Quantrell
and his men. Who need be told who
they were or what they were2 Not
such robbers nor frightful looking
people as some would imagine, but bad
enough indeed. They opened the gate
of the barnyard and went in and dis
mounted, having left a guard on the
hill half a mile back. They pulled
down the hay, opened the III crib
and made themselves at home without
saying a word to Andrew Harris, the
good old farmer they had come to de-
spoil. But he was not disturbed he
was ready to give them all he had, for
he was one of hat numerous class
who lived in hal section that was but
too ready to succor anybody whose
mission it was to fight the Kansas
Jayhawkers. The guerrillas then
found Mr.. Harris a friend, warm and
ready to aid them even at the risk of
his life. Quantrell was invited to
take dinner at the house with his fam
lily and his officers were invited to
come with him. One who went was
John McKeene, in courage or stature
the peer of any man in the command
and one 0 the guerrilla's most trusted
counsellors. He had become famous
for daring deeds as well as handsome
appearance. He had come from Cass
county, and in the breaking out of the
war his father and two brothers had
been killed by Jennisen's men from
Kansas. McKeene took an oath that
no grass should grow under his feet in
his pursuit of the murderers of his
father and brothers, and he kept his
oath with a fearful vengeance. He,
like most of his companions in arms,
became a desperate, with revenge as
the impelling motive. He had killed
men, both old and young. He had
learned to shoot them down with as
much deliberateness as if he were en-
gagged in a simple practice of marks
manship. But he was handsome for
all that. He stepped like an athletic
and had rude manner that was grace
full in its way. He wore a wide
brimmed, light colored hat, on which
was pinned a black feather, a wide
belt of red morocco, with gold en-
broidery, and the cavalry boots of a
Federal colonel. To his belt there
always swung a pair of ivory-handled
navy r~evOlvers. These were all the
arms that he used and all that he car
ried. With these he was a master,
always ready, quick as a panther and
deadly in his aim. Sitting on his
horse, or standing on foot, he might be
the envy Of the noblest formed and
most ambitious knight that ever be-
longed to the Round Table.
There was then, instead of fear, en-
thusiasm at the house of Andrew Har-
ris on the September day that Guam
trell came to forage on him. Never
we're corn, hay and oats, as we'll as
food for the men, given away with a
better good will. But Andrew Harris
was not alone in his hospitality. His
wife had a son with Price and another
| buried on the field of Wilson's Creek.
She was doing a labor of love. And
there was another, the only child left
at home, a girl seventeen yearsold, who
like many of her sex in that time and
! country, had wished a hundred times
that she we're a man that she might 90
into the a
She was rather pretty. Her eyes
we're blacker than an Indian maiden's
and as piercing, and her hair as long
and as straight type Of women we'll
known to those who lived in Western
Missouri in those troublesome days.
She had made flags, large and small.
which she gave to those Of her neigh.
bOrhood who went out to fight. She
had made herself a dress Of red and
white. Any sort Of a rebel soldier K
her was a demi-god. The wild insan.
ity Of the time found in her a splendid
representative. Her name, young a
she was, had been spoken throughou.
half a hundred counties. She wa
known at every Federal post in tn,
State, and authorities had often threat
tened to Danish or imprison her. A.
a woman, she was as notorious as Johr
Mekeene was a man. They had heart
Of each other many a time, land hat
lOnged 10 see each other. He ha,
said she wa the brayest woman II
Missouri she had said he was tn.
, brayest man Of all the rough riders 0
the border. Consequently when the.
met at her fathers table Il was a cor
dial meeting, and each was more tina.
! pleased
As the sun went down Quantrell an.
his men rode away, and as they passer
along in front Of the house, Ami
stood at the gate and received a salut
from each one. Then IL Was that Al