The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-05-02
THE JAMES GANG.
Discovery Of One Of Their Former
Haunts in Tennessee.
A Cave on q Farm in Which They
Hid Some of Their Plumber.

/ During the past few DAYS great in
terest has been taken by our citizen:
in visiting the cave on the farm OF
Col. James Alexander, the we'll
known banker of this place. Hi,
farm adjoins the Hite farm, of Lo
/ gan county, ky., and is just over the
state line, on the Tennessee side, and
/ the cave spoken of above has for
wears past been the rendezvous OF
the James brothers gang OF outlaws.
and was a safe depository for valua.
bles of all kinds that they have Sc
cured Old their numerous raids. In
this cave the celebrated bandits have
rested and feasted after many hot
pursuit by the officers Of the law, and
1t is said that not few TOO inquisi-
tive persons have lost their lives while
endeavOrlng to explore the wonders of
the cavern while tine bandits were in
possession of the same. The cave is
located in All isolated spot upon the
farm and Is surrounded by dense
underground and the entrance to il is
mere sinkhole. into which the water
from the earih's surface flows. form
ing in the cave beautiful stream of
water as clear rs crystal The en-
trance, however, is large enough to
admit the passage of a man on horse
back. and the bandits horses were
frequently corralled there for days
and nights together, while their mas
tiers rolled themselves up in their
blankets and enjoyed such sweet and
refreshing sleep As only a sense of
periecI security could give them.
The farm upon which the cave is
located has for the last FIVE years
been rented by a party giving his
name as F. j. Howard. The Iert
was always paid in advance promptly,
and TO questions were asked by Col.
Alexander, who paid only an occa-
sional visit to the place. as it was To-
Gated quite distance from Gallatin.
There was log house On the place
four rooms, which were
neatly but plainly furnished. How
ard was absent the greater part of the
time, but where, no one in the vicinity
seemed TO know-and the only person
seen about the house generally was
an old colored woman and her hus-
band, who appeared to have charge of
things generally, keeping the fences
in repair and attending the few head
of cattle that grazed upon the farm.
There was ever an air of mystery and
cold unsociability about the place, /
and as it was at least mile off the |
main road from here to Adairville, |
there were but few visitors to it, and |,
their visits were of few moments du-
ration. A better place could not /
have been selected by the bandits for /
the particular purpose to which they
applied it.
The discovery Of this rendezvous of
he bandits was made last November
Dy Detective Bligh, Of Louisville, Ky.,
who, with number Of Logan and
Warren county officials. tracked the
noted robbers to the cave. Col. Alex.
lnder was duly notified of the state of
lfairs, and believing his tenant to be
connected with the gang, gave him
'Otice to leave the premises January
at which time his year was up.
This was very imprudent step upon
he part Of Col. Alexander, as it serv-
d To notify the bandits that their
endezvOus was discovered, and foiled
ne detectives I'D their efforts to cap
ure them, and an attack was never
made upon the cave, for reasons best 1
nown to the detective. And now
ONES the strangest part Of the whole ,
hing. Col. Alexander, subsequently
he was mistaken about his |
enants connection with the gang.
7rote to him. requesting him to keep +.
he farm on the same terms as usual
be request was readily complied with.
nd the farm was occupied until the
ay the killing OF Jesse James was re-
orted. when Howard suddenly disap ,
cared, as did also the old colored |,
Ouple heretofore spoken of, also the
ousehold goods.
On Saturday last Col. Alexander I
eceived a letter from Sedalia, Mo-, Z
Inch reads as follows:
Sedalia, Mo-, April 12. 1852 !
'Ol. Jas. Alexander. Gallatin. Tenn: {
lear Sir have vacated your prem G
es forever. l thank you for the
lany courtesies extended to your .
Mysterious tenant known as Howard. :
'isit the cave on your farm and you I
NIL find something to interest you.
shall aveDge the death of nv brother G
r die in the attempt. lam, sir, .
ours with respect. FRANK JAMES, :
Alias +. J Howard. \
The raoa;nt nf al, lot.1. ,--oo.l,, \