News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-04-27
"REMINISCENCES OF JESSE JAMES.
THE FAN1o11s Outlaw SEEN AT TIMES ON
BRoApwAY-HIs EDUCATION.

BRoADWAY-HIS EDUCATION
Jesse James is said to have several
times taken refuge in New York after
one of his daring raids out West, and he
has been seen on Broadway by Missouri
ians. who felt that they did not escape
his keen glance. Fear of assassination
deferred them from informing upon him,
for it was weIl-known rule of his gang
to make it certain death for any one to
betray him. James, when he came to
the city, put up at hotel near Broad
way, but did not register IN his own
name He wore loose coat, but I'M
derneath it could be seen from the out
line of the cloth that he carried several
pistols.
81 remember James," said Missouri
ian, "when he was member OF Bill
Anderson's gang, the Anderson broth
ers, Bill and Jim, being the most blood
thirsty guerrillas ever known in this
country. James was then young man
with much dash about him. He wore a
felt sombrero bat, with ostrich plumes
stitched over the crown, blue flannel
shirt embroidered with gold lace, high
top boots with red morocco tops, and
gilt spurs with tiny bells upon them.
His comrades at that time scaiped all of
their victims, and same of Anderson
gang had scssps strung along their bride
feins.
Anderson himself rode coal black
steed, and when he was killed (and his
death was as earnestly wished for as
James's has been) his horse became IN
manageable and he plunged into the
lines of some Union troops. His body
was well Tiddled with bullets. He
seemed to have presentiment of death,
and as his horse reared and charged he
felt that itwas going to carry him into
the enemy's mouth. He turned to his
comrades and shouted, "Bury me in
Texas" He felt no doubt that his body
would be torn to pieces if buried in
central Missouri, for he was looked upon
James shared the admiration for An
derson's bravery that marked all the
members of the gang, and their ambi-
ton seemed to emulate him in deeds of
robbery and bloodshed. No cruelty was
too great for. these men to practice.
They were all the more dangerous be-
cause they wore the Union uniform, and
were habitually mistaken for Union
soldiers. They SO represented them
selves to several stray groups of soldiers
who had lost their way in the Missouri
brush, and after learning all the soldiers
could tell them, they invariably assas-
sinated them, stripped them of their
uniform, took their arms, and horses,
and left their nude bodies in a fence
corner by th5rcadside.
After the war was over the members
of this murderous gang Lad difficulty
III finding any community in which
they could settle down and they had
to go into the backwoods, where farm
ing was hard work. They could forage
and hunt, and SO some of them are do
ing to-day, hut others became outlaws.
Several tried to be town DULLES, but
they all persisted by violence It is a
singular fact that nearly every member
of Anderson's gang whose hands were
stained with blood has been shot down
himself.
James was shrewd, swift in move
ment, as agile IS squirrel, and always
certain of his weapons. He kept his
horses with bride over their heads and
a saddle on their backs, ready to fly at
the least alarm, and he slept with his
pistols near his hands. He could fire
with both hands at once, and, when
riding, he could guide his horse with
his teeth, lean his head down on the
horses neck, and fire with both hands
behind him. He knew every gulch in
Missouri, and was thoroughly familiar
with good hiding places.
At Arrow Rock, on the Missouri
River, he usually found refuge, and
would swim the river at that point on
horseback and make for Central Mis-
souri,, edging along toward the Missis-
sippi River, whence he made his way
to the East. He intended, it is said, to
make one or two more raids, and kill
some faithless members of his gang,
and then go to Europe.