Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-05-18

ever an air of mystery and colo. unso-
liability about the place, and as it was
at least mile off the main road from
here to Adairvilie, there were but few
visitors to it, and their visits were of but
u few moments' duration. 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
the bandits was made last November by
Detective Bligh, of Louisville, KY, who,
with number of Logan and Warren
County officials, tracked the noted rob-
bers to the cave. Colonel Alexander
was duly notified of the state of affairs,
and believing his tenant to be connected
with the gang, gave him notice to leave
the premises January l, at which time
his year was up. This was very i'm
| prudent step on the part of Colonel
Alexander, as it served to notify the
| bandits that their rendezvous was dis
covered, and foiled the detectives in
| their efforts to capture them, and an
attack was never made upon the cave,
for reasons best known to the detectives.
And now comes the strangest part of
the whole thing; Colonel Alexan-
der, subsequently believing he was
mistaken about his tenants con-
nection 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 old colored couple hereto
fore spoken of, also the household goods.
On Saturday last Colonel Alexander
received letter from Sedalia, Mo-,
which read as follows:
! SEDALIA. Mo-, April IL, 1SSe.-Colonel James
| Alexander, Gallatin, Tenn: Dear Sir: have
! vacated your premises forever. l thank you
| for the many courtesies extended to your
mysterious tenant known Howard. Visit
the cave on your farm and you will find
! something to interest you. L shall avenge the
death OF my brother or die in the attempt.
FRANK JAMES,
| alias F. j. Howard.
The receipt of this letter greatly as.
tonished Colonel Alexander, who called
about him select number of his friends,
to whom he read the document, land who
were equally astonished. Keeping the
matter secret, they left the same even
| ing for visit to the cave, and enter
ing the same with torches, strange,
weird sight met their view. First, the,
skeletons of four horses, evidently left
there by the robbers on their last raid,
| as they still emit an unpleasant odor.
Blankets and mattresses were strewn
about promiscuously, together with
cooking utensils, and few pieces of
furniture. This portion of the cave is
perfectly dry, and afforded comforta-
BILE abode for the bandits. In a niche
in one of the chambers was found half
bushel measure, such as is used ny far
mers, and in it was found miscellan-
eous assortment of valuables, evidently
placed there and forgotten by the rob-
bers.
Among the assortment was found four
diamond rings, two diamond necklaces,
nine diamond pins supposed to be dia-
monds), thirty gold watches, sixteen
plain gold rings, twelve s;lver-watches,
and many other articles too numerous to
mention; all of which is now locked up
in the vault of the Sumner Deposit
Bank, in Gallatin, for Identification. A
photograph of a young lady which was
taken at Bardstown, Ky, was among
the effects. Several of the watches have
initials which may lead to their identif-
cation; one of them is engraved as fol-
lows: ''From Hughes to Toney."
1t is thought that more valuables may
be stored away in the cave. and visitors
are closely watched, and only allowed
to enter the place twice daily, accompa-
MED by guides. Yet multitudes of our
people. through the courtesy of Colonel
Alexander, have had the pleasure of
seeing 1t all for themselves.-GaiLatin
(Ien1.) IennesSeeGn.