The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-13
A Thrilling Experience.

A Thrilling Experience.
United States Senator George q.
Vest was entertaining little group
In Washington one evening last win
ter with "reminiscences of his law
practice in Missouri, when the con-
yersation drifted around to the James
boys. Some one asked the Senator
If he had ever met the bandits, and
he replied that he had once, and un-
der circumstances calculated to i'm.
press themselves upon his memory.
Charging his hearers not to repeat
the story, which injunction one of the
group, popular young Missouri Con-
gresham, failed to bear in mind, the
Senator related his experience some
what as follows:
Old Joe Shelby. the Confederate
general, who, at the close of the war.
did not surrender, but marched his
men to Mexico M1d offered his seryi-
ces to Maximilian, is an Oil friend of
mine, and he had been urging me for
a long time to come down to his
splendid place in Lafayette county
and spend few days hunting and
fishing. 1t was shortly, a few days.
perhaps, after the Gad's Hill robbery.
on the Iron Mountain Railroad, that,
completely worn out by close atten.
tion to business in the Sedalia COURTS
l. determined to run down to the farm
and rest for a few days. | took the
night train on the Lexington branch
of the Missouri Pacific, and got off at
the little station near the Shelby
place. called Page City. 1t was a
beautiful moonlight night, and as the
house was but a little over a mile
distant, | shouldered my double.
barreled shotgun, which | had taken
along for some sport. and trudged
over the white lane leading to the
homestead. The old home was sur
rounded by some tall forest trees. and
l had just emerged from their shadow
into the moonlight, twenty steps
from the home, when a clear, ringing
voice cried out Halt !" and at the
same instant l saw shining in the
moonlight polished rifle barrel pro
truding from a partially raised WIN
dow. l intuitiyeIy felt that the man
at the other end of the rifle had a
bead drawn on me, and halted. |
became statue. My blood seemed
to chill. In a moment, it seemed
hours to me, l heard old Joe's voice
ring out, "Who are you ?"
"G-g- george Vest. come down to
see you" | replied, my lips trembling
In spite of me.
"Wait minute" was the reply.
l waited five minutes, and then
there was rattling of bars and chains
and the front door opened cautiously,
and was hidden 10 lay down my
gun and approach. 1 did so until
meclose to the door, when Shelby's
voice said: ut is all right, boys,
will youch for him." ] then entered,
and looked about me. The cozy little
sitting room had been converted into
a fortress. The windows were barri-
caded securely, and furniture was
moved up against the door, while on
table in the centre of the room lay
a collection of revolvers and repeat
ing rifles that would have excited the
admiration of pirate. There were
five men in the room whom did not
know. They sat around and did not
talk. The gentlemen also wore their
small arms. "These are some friends
of mine." said Shelby, and was not
introduced further. 1 Immediately
knew that the visitors were the two
James boys and the three younger
brothers. Shelby and INDUCED in
conversation for some time. which
the others showed no disposition to
enter. and at last was shown to bed
where l tossed until daylight in a
troublep sleep. When / came down
to breakfast the curtains were drawn,
and old Joe sat in an easy chair calmly
smoking his pipe and playing with q