River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-05-25


returning by land from New Orleans to
their homes in the west. Mason in
creased in power, and, with his organ
lied band, became so celebrated for his
robberies and murders that he was
dreaded from the banks of the Missis-
sippi to the highlands OF Tennessee.
Over all this vast extent of country, if
the buzzards were seen high in air, Cir
cling over any particular spot, the re-
mark was made, "Another murder has
been committed by Mason and his
gang"
Numerous attempts were made to
arrest him, but he always managed to
escape. A party of gentlemen, mostly
wealthy planters from the vicinity OF
Natchez, once organized themselves in
to a party and went in pursuit of the
bold robber. Coming to the banks of
the Pearl river, signs were manifest
that his gang were IN the vicinity. Be
fore attempting 70 make the proposed
seizure it was determined to rest the
horses and partake of refreshments.
These things having been ac-
complished, two of the party, Sc
duced 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 what he did not deem policy
to effect by force. 1t was therefore
that he rushed down and seized the
two prisoners. The party on the OPP
posite shore saw the maneuver, and
instantly seized their arms. Mason,
who had commanding figure, admir-
ably set off by hunters dress, pre-
scented bold front, and announced
that any further hostile demonstra-
tons would result in the instant death
of his helpless captives. He then or
dered his pursuers, 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 nego-
tiate for the safety of himself and men.
He then ordered the party to stack
their arms and deposit their ammuni.
ton on the beach, stating that he would
send for them, but that upon any vio-
lence offered to his messenger, or any
visible hesitation to obey, he should
destroy his prisoners; if otherwise,
they were to be set at liberty-Mason
pledging his honor that he would not
take any advantage of his victory.
There was no choice. The weapons
aere duly deposited as directed, and
two of Mason's gang, out of a 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 desired property was finally placed
in the outlaws possession, whereupon
he released his prisoners, and, waving
a good-bumored farewell, he disap-
peared in the deep shadows of the sur
rounding wilderness.
Treachery, however, at last effected
what courage and enterprise could not
accomplish. A citizen of great re-
spectability, 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
source of intense merriment. Two of
his band, however, were determined
to obtain the reward; and while they
were engaged with Mason in counting
some money, one of them drove a
tomahawk into bis brain. His head
was severed from his body, and, placed
in sack, borne in triumph to Wash
ington, then the seat of the territorial
government.
The head of the robber was recog-
nized by many of the citizens who saw
it. Large crowds from the surround
ing country assembled to assure them
selves that their enemy was really
dead, and curious to see the individual
whose daring prowess had relieved the
country of a scourge. Among the
spectators were the two young men,
who, unfortunately for the hero traitors,
recognized them as the robbers of their
father and themselves. The wretches
were seized, tried for their crimes, and
hung. An thus ended the last and
most noted gang of robbers that in
tested the "Natchez and Nashville
trace"