Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-05-10

ho SO"co An0'0s
Senator Vest, Of Missouri, wss asked
II he had ever met the James boys and he
replied he had onss, and under eiroum-
stances calculated to imprses themselves
upon his memory. Charging his hear
ers not to repeat the story. which in
junction one of the group. a popular
young Missouri Congressman, failed to
bear in mind the Senator related his
experience somewhat as follows:
Old Joe Shelby, the Confederate
General, who, at the close of the war,
did not surrender, hut marched his men
to Mexico and offered his services to
Macmillan, is an old friend of mine,
and he had been urging me for long
time TO come down to his splendid place
in Lafayette county and spend few
days hunting and fishing. 1t was short
ly, few days perhaps. after the Gads
Hill Robbery on the Iron Mountain
Railroad, that, completely worn out by
close attention to business in the Soda
liza courts, 1 determined to run down
to the farm and rest for few days. !
tooS the night train on the Lexington
branch of the Missouri Pacific, and got
of at the little station near the Shelby
place, called Page City. 1t was beau
tiful moonlight night, and as tbs house
was but little over a mile distant,
sfoulde-ed my double barreled shot
gun which had taken along for some
sport, and trudged over to the white
lane leading to the homestead. The
old home was surrounded by some tall
forest trees, and l had just emerged
from their shadow into the mooni ght,
twenty steps from the home, when a
clear, ringing voice cried out "Halt!"
and at the same instant saw. shining
in the moonlight a polished rifle barrel
protru1ing from partially raised open
window. intuitively felt that theman
at the other end of the rifle had bead
drawn on me, and halted. became a
statue. My blood seemed to chill. In
a moment, it seemed hoars to me, 1
heard old Jos's voice ring out, "Who
are you?'
&c 6 george Vest, como down to see
you." 1 replied. my lips trembling in
spite of me.
wait minute" was the reply.
waited five minutes and then there
was q rattling of bars and chains and
the front door was opened cautiously,
and l was bidden to lay down my gun
and approach. 1 did so until l came
close to the door, when Shelby's voice
said, ''it's all right, boys; will vouch
for him." then entered and locke d
about me. The cosy little sitting room
had been converted into fortress. The
windows were barricaded securely, and
furniture was moved up against the
door. while on table in the centre of
the room lay collection of revolvers
ard repeating rifles that would have
excited the admiration of a 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. "Ihese are some friends
of mine, said Shelby. and 1 waa not
introduced further. I Immediately
Enew that the visitors were the two
James boys and the three Younger
brothers. Shelby and l indulgsd in
conversation for some time, which the
others showed no disposition to enter into
and at last was shown to bed. where L
tossed until daylight in troubled sleep.
When / came down TO breakfast the
curtains were drawn; old Joe sat in an
easy chair ealmy smoking his pipe and
playing with a couple Of youngsters.
The travelling arsenals of the night be-
fore had departsd-so quietly as not to
break my Eight sleep--hours before.
Shelby did not refer to the visitors of
the night before, nor did ]. did not
know. however, whether they would
return that night, and SO 1 pleaded
pressure of business, and limited my
stay to one day. And that is the only
time l met the Missouri bandits. That
was nearly nine years ago. when the
gang qaartered themselves on their
friends In Missouri on the strength of
she MON ,ries of the war, still fresh in
the minds of those who lived on the
border.