Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-18

pilot warning. Bells were rung the engines
reversed, and the boat backed out into the cur
rent The guerrillas, maddened at seeing their
prey, almost within their grasp, escaping, poured
murderOus volley into her, which had the
effect Of making the pilot leave the pilot house
leaving the boat to drift with the current. The
engines having been stopped, it was thought the
officers of the boat had concluded to surrender
Jesse James, Harvey Rucker. brother OF the gal
liant confederate, Major Rucker, and Capt
Emery forced a fisher, named Jim Lewis to row
them out to the boat in q small skiff. The
steamer was reached, and just as Harvey Rucker
stood up In the skif. preparatory to climbing
over the gunwales of the boat, the Captain,
from forward stateroom, fired both barrels
OF double-barrel shotgun at him, blowing his
right arm off near the shoulder In the con-
fusion which followed the fisherman broke
one OF his oars. and was compelled to
paddle to shore with one. The boat was still
drifting with the current and Anderson, who
was now furious, ordered his men to kill every
man, woman, and child on board. Cole
Younger, who was there. was the only one dis
senting to the proposition. The boat, however,
managed to get out of gunshot and those on
board were saved from death. A gallant young
man. named Lyons, who had just Joined inder-
son the day before, shocked at his Captains
brutality, walked up to him, delivered him his
pistols, and said: Captain, / cannot make war
against women and children. Here are my
arms" Anderson Immediately knocked him
kicking him. Some women who had witnessed
the proceeding ran out and caught hold of An
dersOn, which gave the young man chance to
escape. As he ran, Anderson gave orders to
his men to catch him and bring him back, as he
wanted to burn him alive for an example
Jesse James, who evidently liked the young
fellow, struck after him, but managed to allow
him to escape.
The history Of the massacre of Centralia, of
which was an eye witness, has been so often
recounted. and in which Jesse James made him
sell more notorious than ever. will pass BY,
merely correcting few errors and relating an
incident that closely followed. The soldiers
taken from the train were not killed by Ander-
son alone, but they were stood in line and shot
down by volley fired by at least fifty men. The
johnson, were scattered, and the guerrillas rode
them down, shooting them like dogs, Jesse
James killing one man within two miles Of Stur-
geon. Not a guerrilla was killed. and one only
wounded. The next day Anderson and his
band were In Rocheport, and Jesse James was
at private house visiting some ladies. Ahigh-
spirited southern girl, now married to an ex-
confederate officer, and living In Fayette,
Howard county, was then the object of Jesse's
attention, and he, as usual, was bOasting of his
proves. Leaving the house for few moments,
he returned with the throat latch of his bridle
ON which was strung seventeen CORY scalps. He
exhibited them to the young ladies, thinking, no
doubt, to surprise them, but he was the worst
surprised of the party. Miss X, rising to
her feet said:
.'Mr. James, have two brothers in the con-
1ederate service, and am southern woman.
Capt. Anderson or any of his men, who are men,
are always welcome to my house, but will not
entertain brutes. You can gO!" When lessee
reached the sidewalk he pulled off his hat,
swung 1t around his head, threw it up in the
arr shot acouple OF holes through it, and yelled:
"Hurrah for Bill AndersOn's horse thieves"
rms seemed to quiet his nerves. and mounting
his horse, he rode away. Jesse threw away bis
scalps, however, and was never known to scalp
another man during the war.
The first saw of Jesse James since the war
was at Jefferson City. during the time the bill in
his and Franks behalf was trying to be put
through the legislature. Twas at the Madison
House one night when prominent newspaper
man of the state asked ME to take a walk with
MIN, and on going to house was admitted to q
room In which was Jesse James, q state senator
two representatives and another prominent
newspaper man. The amnesty bill failed to
pass, and saw no more of Jesse until few
years ago met him at the Laclede hotel, ST.
Louis.
One night last October was walking up 18th
street In this CITY, and on the corner of Oak I
met the redoubtable Jesse himself He was not
disguised at ALL We walked together down 18th
to Main. passing on the corner of Grand avenue
Oincers Crabtree and Nichols. Hailing a hack
we entered it, and proceeded to take in the
toNH Leu 20 TO george (idSt0D." he said.
do you know him?" inquired
mo, do not, but have heard he has ex-
pressed desired to see me, and want to graf
ify him." he replied.
began to feel little t1cklisl,, and asked him
II he intended to make himself known, and
oreathed easier when he said he did not. We
stopped at GastOns; but the Colonel wasn't
there. Jesse took lemonade. From Gaston's we
went to the Coliseum, took private box, and
remained during the first part of the perform
ance. As Jesse set up the beer pretty frequently
ne was, for the time being. the favorite of the
girls. Leaving the theater we went to house
On Sd street. As we went i'm Jesse's hat, a SOM
brerO, attracted the attention of some young
Hebrew blOods, one of whom was playing on the
piano. gentlemen. this is Jesse James in dis
guise, said one of the girls.
he acknowledged the Introduction, and the
young man playing the piano struck off the fol-
lowing doggerel improvisation:
And wouldn't treat to beer.
He'd walk of on his
Baby niine
Jesse's face slightly flushed with anger end I
expected to see the house transformed into a
hospital, but he good humOredly set 'em up to
the boys. Had the bloOds known it was Jesse
they would have been running yet.
While IN the carriage | alluded to the danger
he ran in living in city. His reply was that he
had found that the safest place to hide was in a
city. why, these deviIish detectives never
catch man unless he makes hummer OF him
SELF, and it's devilish little drink Besides, no
man will ever get the drop on lie unless he is a
Missourian, for l don't trust any one else. and
then they'll have to shoot from behind" His
words have proven prophetic.
We parted company at the corner Of 10Th and
Grand avenue, both taking cigars at the Topeka
Exchange Saloon. saw no more of him until
saw him corpse at ST. Joseph having gone
there to satisfy myself of his identity 1t was he
beyond doubt.
Terror to His Followers As Well Az
20 the Public at Large.
From the st. Louis Republican.
asked the Fords If. in case they were soon
released, they were apprehensive of brigandish
troubles on account Of having killed jesse
Their reply was prompt and pointed, mo" and
they here took the mains to assure mo that thav