The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-05-04
A PREDECESSOR OF JESSE
JAMES.
The killing of Mason the Famous
Desperate of Long Ago.


One of the most noted desperadOes of
early times was a man named Mason.
He first established himself at the
"Cave in ROck"-a remarkable lime
stone formation about 100 miles above
the mouth of the OhiO-where, under
the guise of keeping store for the ac-
cOmmOdatiOn of bOatmen and emf
grants, he enticed them into his power.
After numbering these victims of
treachery, he would, by the hands of his
cOnfederates, send their boats to New
Orleans for sale. He finally disappear
ed from his old quarters, and estab-
lished himself on the great trace"
made through the wilderness of MiSSiS-
sippi and Tennessee by the flatbOatmen
and traders while returning, by land,
from New Orleans to their homes in the
West. Mason increased in power, and,
with his organized band, became so cell
ebrated for his rObberies and murders
that he was dreaded from the banks of
the Mississippi to the highlands of
Tennessee. over all this vast extent of
country, if the buZzards were seen
high in air, circling over any particu
lar spot, the remark was made: AN
other murder has been committed by
Mason and his gang"
Numerous attempts were made to ar
rest him, but he always managed to es-
cape. A party of gentlemen, mostly
wealthy planters from the vicinity of
Natchez, once organized themselves
into a party and went in pursuit of
the bold rObbeT. Coming to the banks
of Pearl river, signs" were manifest
that his gang were in the city. Before
attempting to make the proposed
seizure, it was determined to rest the
horses and paTtake of refreshments.
These things having been accomplished,
two of the party, seduced by the beauty
and GOODNESS of the stream, went in to
bathe. In the course of their Tecrea
tiOn they crossed to the opposite bank,
and found themselves in the hands of
Mason. The outlaw, aware that he was
pursued, determined to effect by strata
gem what he did not deem policy to
effect by force. 1t was therefore that
he rushed down and seized the the two
prisoners. The party on the opposite
shore saw the maneuyer and instantly
seized their arms. Mason, who had
commanding figure, admirably set off
by a hunters dress, presented bold
front, and announced that any further
hostile demonstrations would result in
the instant death of his helpless cap
tiYes. He then ordered his pursuers, if
they desired to save the lives of their
friends, to obey him implicitly and at
willing to negotiate for the safety of
himself and men. He then ordered the
party to stack their arms and deposit
their ammunition on the beach, stating
he would send for them, but that upon
any violence offered to his messenger,
or any visible hesitation to obey, he
should destroy his prisoners; If other
wise, they were to be set at liberty
Mason pledging his honor that he would
not take any advantage of his victory.
There was no choice. The weapons
two eff MasOn's gang, out of a number
who had arrived, dashed into the
stream to take possession of them, the
prisoners meanwhile standing in full
sight with rifles pointing at their
heads. The desired property was finally
placed in the outlaws possession,
whereupOn he released his prisoners,
and waving a gOOd-humOred farewell,
he disappeared in the deep shadows of
the surrounding wilderness.
Treachery, however, at last effected
what courage and enterprise could not
accomplish. A citizen of great respec-
liability, passing with his two sons
Through the forest, was plundered by
the bandits. The public was aroused.
Gov. Claiborne of the Mississippi Terri
tory offered a large reward for the out
law, dead or alive. The proclamation
was widely distributed; a copy reached
Mason, and was to him source of in
tense merriment. Two of his band, |
however, were determined to obtain the
reward; and while they were engaged |
with Mason in counting some money
one of them drove a tOmahawk into his |
brain. His head was severed from the |
body, placed in a sack, and borne in tri- |
umph to Washington, then the seat of |
the Territorial Government.
The head of the rObber was recognized |
by many of the citizens who saw iC.
Large crowds from the surrounding |
country assembled to assure them |
selves that their enemy was really dead, |
and curious to see the individuals
whose daring prOwess had removed the
country of a scOurge. Among the spec
.atOTs were the two young men, who,
for the hero traitors, rec
)gnized them as the robbers of their
,ather and themselves. The wretches
we're seized, tried for their crimes, and
hung. And thus ended the last and
most noted gang Of robbers that in
tested the "Natchez and Nashville
race."1[ Harper's Magazine.