The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-11-18
EX-GUERRILAs AT TALK.
Quantrells vetcrahS Visit Frank
James---A Man Who Could Open
Up q "Fed" by Throwing n Bowie
Knife at Twenty Paces.

walls are nearly three feet in thickness were
the prisoner, his wife, and On admiring group
Of dozen spectators. At Mr.. James right
hand sat Capt Fletcher Taylor, a one-armed
veteran of Quantrels band, a short but
tightly built man Of about 40, whose earliest
guerrilla warfare was accomplished a. a lieu
tenant under that desperate leader, but who,
being promoted for gallant service, was
captain of company later, ana had Frank
James as his first lieutenant and Jessie as ono
Of the privates in his troop Mr.. Taylor is
now resident OF Joplin, Mo-, where he ID
engaged in mining enterprises, and is one of
the stanchest friends whom Mr. James has to
rely upon in his present emergency
Near by him sat Bill Gregg, OF Independ-
ence, another Of the Quantrell gang, man
Of As, remarkable in his early days for his
skl in throwing the bowie knife-his ability
to open up "Fed" at twenty PAGES with this
weapon as projectls being at this day the
subject Of conversation with the rising gener-
alton Of the place
Next to Gregg stood John Coger, staid and
sober farmer, solid and strong built, and sun
!
upon his bent shoulders and careful face A
man of 43, he, too, had a guerrilla record,
having been private in Quantrells band
from it's formation to the end of the war and
the time for disappearing came, and he and
many others Of the gang retired from the
scenes of their sanguinary exploits and lay
low until their acts had been forgiven, if not
: u.
cell, pleasant and well developed lad of %,
who when he was introduced TO Frank James,
and heard that great man compliment him
upon the close likeness he bore his father,
glowod with honest pride, and gazed with evi-
dent affection upon the author of his being.
Mr.. Coger was also worked up by the compli-
ment, and rushed forward seized James by
the hand, and in a voice trembling with emo
ton, cried: "God bless YOU, Frank! God
bless you! l have 100 sheep and lot of hogs
on my farm in the Snia hills, and you come
right down there when you get out OF this
trouble, and we'll have the Grandest barbecue
in your honor that ever was given in Jackson
county"
John Barnhill, another Quantrell veteran,
also helped to swell the list of the prisoners
faithful companions.
The conversation was mainly carried on by
the ex- guerrillas. Some very stirring incidents
of guerrilla warfare were narrated in the course
of the conversation.
sNo drawer man than John jackson ever
lived or died." remarked Frank James. II
shall never forget his end. About forty Of us
were charging a corntield in which some
Feds had taken refuge. Jackson had Just
killed bluecoat at long range with his re-
volver-a lovely shot, sixty yards if it was an
inch and tho ball entered as near the center of
his forehead as could be- just at this moment
another Fed raised his gun-a Belgian mus
ket-and drew terribly straight bead on
Jackson, who caught sight of him and tried to
dodge, but too late. He flung himself over on
the saddle, but the Fed was too quick for
him. and the rifle bullet ranged through his
body from end to end"
"What became of tho Ted'?" asked one of
the youngsters in the party, eagerly.
Il killed him." said Mr.. James.
The conversation was held pretty well down
to the days of Quantrell. 1t very seldom
treated of the delicate subject of Mr.. James
outlaw career, but once he was carried away
by the enthusiasm of the moment and told the
story Of the scrimmage which he and George
Shepherd had with detectives in Kentucky.
The narration was preceded by warm de-
Tense Of Shepherds fidelity on the part of
James, who insisted that Shepherd was not
guilty OF the Frankfort KY, bank robbery for
which he suffered a term in the penitentiary
sat the time We were attacked by detect
ives," he explained, I'VE were sitting in
room by the river side, waiting for ferry
that was to take us over into Ohio. Shepherd
Was sitting in chair, when l informed him
that saw some parties approaching, and that
felt certain they were detectives. Shepherd
got excited and moved about nervously in his
chair, and cooked his only remaining eye over
in the dirApti0p nf nrOmiaa1 yiaitpra T
got out my revolver, held 1t across my lap in
my right hand and flung my hat carelessly
over it. A detective and l shot at the same
lime His bullet struck me in the mouth, and
hit him in the side"
skill hims" asked the youngster who had
previously spoken"
mo, he recovered. Shepherd tried to rise in
his chair, but his revolvers got caught in the
rung and the chair lifted with him and de-
tectve downed him with terrible blow on the
head. While he was wriggling about on the
floor he cried out: Shoot the id detective
Frank; shoot the id detective In the fight
that ensued we managed to beat the detectives
off, but it was tight squeeze, and from that
lay never doubted that George Shepherd was
!, good man and true"
1t looked az though the guerrilla reunion was
bound to last all morning, but an incident oc-
cured which broke in upon it, A few days
before a well known young man Of Independ-
Ind the bride and her enterprising young hus-
band were brought in and introduced to the
outlaw, who greeted them with especial
warmth and urbanity. The nearest chair to
Mr.. James was given the little lady, whose
,yes fairly devoured the outlaws form.
@I'm right glad to see you," he remarked.
Il feel that if we can only get the ladies on
,ur side shall come out all right They rule
he world, the ladies do"
At this moment the jail guard approached /
he cell and informed Mr.. James that the
crowd below, which, he said, numbered about
40, had become 80 obstreperous in their de-
mands for 8 sight of the great bandit that they
we're not to be refused longer.
@Iet 'em come in, thirty at a time" Mr.. !
James answered, as he rose from the bed upon !
which he had been sitting, and excusing him
,elf TO the company walked down stairs and |
ook seat at the end of the Jail corridor. The |
loor was opened, and before it could |
DO closed again about fifty of the |
mob outside had gained admittance. |
The jail-guard with an eye to business, as |
soon as the door was locked upon the visitors |
rather pointedly that inasmuch as !
{ cost money to Keep the Jail corridor clean, F!
nc hoped no one would refuse d contribution, p
It the same time jinglng some loose silver in .
lis hand to emphasize the hint He minated .
hat about quarter was the proper size of !
he fee, and there was not the slightest obiec- ,
ion from any to the levy. The public lcyee !
asted over an hour, and, by actual count, be .
ween so and 400 people, among them q fair .
laflt l..', ..laat,