The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-05-25

THE CAVE

| w all w uuhtbHu IlelHOCTHl.
--s
THE CAVE
Where the James Gang. Made Their Home
"A Bushei OF Jeweiry Found IN Same
Also the Picture of u Young Lacy Taken
| at Bardstown
During the past two days great interest
has been taken by our citizens in visiting
the cave on the farm of Colonel James AL
exander, the well-known banker of this
place. His farm adioins the Hite farm. Of
Logan county, Kentucky, and is just over
the state line, on the Tennessee side, and
the cave spoken of above has for years past
been the rendezvous of the James Brothers
gang of outlaws, and was a safe deposit for
valuables of all kinds that they secured on
their numerous raids. In this cave the Gel
ebrated bandits have rested and feasted
after many a hot pursuit by the officers Of
the law, and it is said that not few too in
quisitive persons have Lost their lives while
endeayoring to explore the wonders of the
cavern while the bandits were in possession
of the same. The cave is located in an
isolated spot upon the farm, and is,sur-
rounded by a dense underground and the
EXTRA ice to IL is mere sink-hole, into
WHICH lne Wuter lrOul tlie ehTIu ouIldCc
flows, forming in the cave beautiful
stream of water as clear as crystal. The
entrance, however, is large enough to adj
nit the passage Of q man on horseback,
and the bandits horses were frequently
coraled there for days and nights together,
while their masters rolled themselves up in
blankets and enjoyed such sweet and re-
freshing sleep as only sense OF perfect Sc
curity could give them.
The farm upon which the cave is located
has for the last five years been rented by a.
party giving his pane as f. j. Howard.
The rent was always paid in advance
promptly and no questiors were asked him
BY Colonel Alexander, who paid only an
occasional visit to the place, as it was loca-
ted quite distance from Gallatin. There
was log house ON the place containing
four roo ms, which were neatly but plainly
furnished. Howard was absent the greater
part OF the time, but where, no one in the
vicinity seemed to know-and the only per
sons seen about the place generally
were an old colo ed woman. and
her husband, who appeared to
have charge of things generally, keeping
the fences in repair and attending to lew
head Of cattle that grazcd upon the farm:
There was ever an air of mystery and cold
unsociability about this place, and as it was
at least mile off the main road from there
to Adairville, there were but few visitors to
it. and their visits were of few moments du-
ration. A better place could not be Sc
lected by the bandits tor the particular pur-
pose to which they applied it.
The discovery of THIS rendezvous OF the
bandits was made last November by Detec-
tive Bligh of Louisville, Kentucky who with
a number of Logan ana Warren county Off
Gals tracked the noted robbers to the cave.
Colonel Alexander was duly notified OF the
state of affairs, and believing his tenant to
be co lnected with the gang. gave him no.
tice to leave the premises January LIST, at
which time his yea was up. This was a
very imprudent step upon the part OF
Colonel Alexander, as it served to notify
the bandits thai their rendezvous was dis
covered, and foiled the detectives in their
efforts to capture them, and an attack was
neg er made upon the cave, for reasons best
known to the detectives. And now comes
the strangest part OF the whole thlng:
Colonel. Alexander subsequently believing
he was mistaken about his terapts'
connection with the gang, wrote
to him requesting him to keep the
farm on the same terms as usual.
The request was readily complied with, and
the farm was occupied until the killing OF
Jesse James was reported when Howard
suddenly disappeared, as did also the col
ored couple heretofore spoken of, also the
On Saturday last Colonel Alexander re-
ceived a letter from Sedalia, Mo-, which
reads as follows
SEDALIA, Mo-, April -, 1SS2.-Colonel
James. Alexander, eFallatin, Tenn..DEAR.
SIR:-I have vacated your premises forever.
thank you for the many courtesies
extended to your mysterious ten
ant known as Howard. Visit
the cave ON your farm and you
will find something to interest you shall
avenge the death CT my brother or die in
the attempt. am, sir, yours with respect.
FRANK JAMES, alias +. ]. Howard.
The receipt of this letter greatly aston
ished Colonel Alexander, who called about
him a select number of his friends n whom
he read the document, and who we're
equally surprised. Keeping the matter
secret, they left the same evening for visit
torches, a strange weird sight met Their
view First, the skeletons Of four horse,
evidently left there. by The robbers
on their last raid as they sill
nit an unpleasant odor. blsnglis
nd mattresses were strewg about
T. romiscuously, together with cooking uten-
. and a few pieces OF furnii ure Abis
portion of the cave is perfectly DIV and
forded a comfortable abode for me banlIs.
In q niche in one of the Chambers was
found half bushel measure, such Us Is
used by farmers, and in II was found Apis
cellaneous assortment of yainables, eyl-
IDENTIFY placed there and forgotten BY the
Among the assortment were four dia-
mpnd rings. two diamond necklaces, nine
diamond pins supposed TO be dismiJds,)
thirty gon watches, sixteen plain gold Digs,
twelve silver watches, and many Other arti-
cles too numerous to mention; all OF which
il now locked up In the Summer leposit
bank. In Gallatin, for identification. A
Of young lady vhirh was
taken at Bardstown, Kentucky, wasamong
the effects. Several Of the WATCHES have
initials which may lead 10 their fntifica-
ton; one of them Is engraved al follows:
From Hughes TO Tony
It IS thought that more valuabl may be
stored aEay in the cave, and vfitOrs are
eosely watched, and allowed onI 10 enter
the place twice daily, aoconqanied by
guides. Yet, Inultitudes Of DR. people.
through the courtesy Of Colonel alexander,
have had the pleasure Of seeing u ell ior
Gallatin Tenn. III ehnesseean.
InyAlids should prevent their disease
from gaining ground BY using Brcwp's
Iron Diiters. IL stops decay. keeps fbe
blood warm, ana gives the emac lated form
a new lease Of life