Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-03
JESSE JAMES PREDECESSOR.
The Murder of Mason, the Famous Desperate of
Long Ago.

lFrom Harpers Magazine.l
One of the most noted desperadoes OF
early times was man named Mason.
He first established himself at the "Cave
in Rock"-a remarkable limestone forma-
ton about 100 miles from the mouth OF
the Onio-where, under the guise OF
keeping store for the accommodation of
boatmen and emigrants, 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 disappeared from his old quarters
and established himself on the great
trace" made through the wilderness of
Mississippi and Tennessee by the fiat
boatmen 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
celebrated for his robberies and murders
that he was dreaded from the banks OF
the Mississippi to the high lands OF
Tennessee. Over all this vast extent OF
country if the buzzards were seen high
in air, circling around any particular
spot, the remark was made, "Anothe1
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
party and went III pursuit of the bold
robber. Coming to the banks of the
Pearl River, j" signs were manifest that
his gang were in the vicinity.
Before attempting to make the pro-
posed seizure, it was determined to rest
the horses and partake of refreshments.
These things having been accomplished,
| two of the party, seduced by the beauty
and GOODNESS of the stream, went in to
battle. In the course of their recreation,
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 stratagem which
he did not deem policy to effect by force.
It was therefore that he rushed down
and seized the two prisoners. The
party on the opposite shore saw the
maneuvre and instantly seized their
arms. Mason, who had commanding
figure, admirably set off by hunters
dress, presented bold front, and an.
nounced that any further hostile demon
strated would result In the instant death
of his helpless captives.
He then ordered his purstsers if they
desired to save the lives of their friends,
to obey him implicitly and at once--that
for the time being he was willing to ne
gotiate for the salary of himself and
men. He then ordered the party tc
stack their arms and deposit their am
munition on the beach, stating that be
would send for them, but that upon any
violence offered to his messenger, or any
visible hesitation to obey, he should de.
stroy his prisoners; if otherwise, they
were to be set at liberty Mason pledg-
advantage of his victory.
There was no choice. The weapons
were duly deposited as directed and two
of Mason's gang out of 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 de.
sired property was finally placed in the
outlaws possession, whereupon he re.
leased his prisoners, and waving good
humored farewell, he disappeared in the
deep shadows of the surrounding vii.
derness.
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
Governor Claiborne. of the Mississippi
Territory offered large reward for the
outlaw, dead or alive. The proclama.
ton was widely distributed; a copy
reached Mason, and was to him a source
of intense merriment. Two of his band
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 and placed In sack 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 it.
Large crowds from the surrounding
country assembled to assure themselves
that their enemy was really dead, and
curious to see the individuals whose dar.
ing proves had relieved the country Of
scourge. Among the spectators were
the two young men, who unfortunately
for the hero traitors, recognized them az
the robbers of their father and them
selves. The wretches were seized, trieC
for their crimes and hung. And thus
ended the last and most noted gang o.
robbers that infested the "Natchez anG
Nashville trace"