The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-06-22
THE JAMES GANGS CAVE.
Jewels by the Bushel-The Count
Of Monte Christie Distanced.
Gallatin Tennessean,

we'll known banker of this place
His farm adjoins the Hite farm of
Logan county, KY, and is just over
the state line, on the Tennessee
side, and the cave spoken of above
has for years past been the rendez
vous of the James Brothers gang
of outlaws, and was safe deposito-
ry for valuables of all kinds that
they secured on their numerous
raids. In this cave the celebrated
bandits have rested and feated af-
ter many a hot pursuit by the Off
GERS of the law, and it is said that
not few too inquisitive persons
have lost their lives while endeavor-
ing 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 surrounded by a
dense underground and the entrance
to it is a mere sink hole, into which
the water from the earth's surface
flows, forming in the cave a beautii
full stream of water as clear as crys-
tai The entrance, however, is
large enough to admit the passage
of man on horseback, and the
bandits horses were frequently
corraled there for days and nights
together, while their masters rolled
themselves up in blankets and en-
IjOyed such sweet and refreshing
sleep as only a 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 party giving his
name as F. J. Howard. The rent
was always paid in advance prompt
ly and no questions were asked
him by Col. Alexander, who paid
only an occasional visit to the place,
as it was located quite distance
from Gallatin. There was a log
house on the place containing four
rooms which were neatly but plain
ly furnished. Howard was absent
the greater part of the time, but
no one in the vicinity seemed to
know-and the only persons seen
about the place generally were 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 theiplace, ,and as it was at least
a mile off the main road from here
to Adairville, there were but few
visitors to it, and their visits were
of few moments duration. A bet
ter place could not be selected by the
bandits for the particular purpose
to which they applied it.
The discovery of this rendezvous
of the bandits was made last No
vember by Detective Bligh, of
Louisville, KY, who with a number
of Logan and Warren county Off
cials tracked the noted robbers to
the cave. Col. Alexander was duly
notified of the state of affairs, and
believing his tenant to be connec-
ted with the gang, gave him notice
to leave the premises Jan. lst., at
which time his year was up. This
was a very imprudent step upon the
part of Col. Alexander, as it served
to notify the bandits that their rem
devious was discovered-and foiled
the detectives in their efforts to cap
ture them, and an attack was never
made ON the cave, for reasons best
known to the detectives. And now
comes the strangest part of the
whole thing: Col Alexander sub
sequently believing he was mista
ken about his tenants connection
with the gang, wrote to him re
questing him to keep the farm on
the same terms as usual The re-
quest was readily complied with,
and the farm was occupied until
the killing of Jesse James was re-
ported, when Howard suddenly dis
appeared, as did also the old col
ored couple heretofore spoken of,
also the household goods.
On Saturday last Col. Alexander
received a letter from Sedalia, Mo-,
which reads as follows:
SEDALIA, Mo, April u, 1888.
Col. Jas. Alexander, Gallatin, Tenn.
Dear SIR:-I have vacated your
premises forever. l thank you for
the many courtesies extended to
your mysterious tenant known as
Howard. Visit the cave on your
farm and you will find something
to interest you. shall avenge the
death of my brother or die in the
attempt. 1 am, sir, yours with res
pect. FRANK JAMES.
alias F. j. Howard.
The receipt of this letter greatly
astonished Col. Alexander, who
called about him a select number of
his friends to whom he read the
document, and who were equally
surprised. Keeping the matter
secret, they left the same evening
for a visit to the cave, and enter
ing the same with torches, a strange
weird sight met their view. First,
the skeletons of four horses, evi-
dently left there by the robbers on
their last raid, as they still emit an
unpleasant odor. Blankets and
uldlTtSScSS were sbTeWn dDOub pro
miscuously, together with cooking
utensils, and few pieces of furni
ture. This portion of the cave is
perfectly dry and afforded a com
Portable abode for the bandits. In
niche in one of the chambers was
found a half bushel measure. such
as is used by farmers, and in it was
found a miscellaneous assortment of
valuables, evidently placed there
and forgotten by the robbers.
Among the assortment were four
diamond rings, two diamond neck
laces, nine diamond pins (snpposed
to be diamonds,) thirty gold
watches, sixteen plain gold rings,
twelve silver watches, and many
other articles too numerous TO men
tion; all of which is now locked up
in the Sumner Deposit Bank, in
Gallatin, for Identification. A pho
tograph of a young lady which was
taken at Bardstown was among the
effects. Several of the watches