Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-21
60. ~ ~ ~ So.

From, TIC Netc York Sun.
SAN ANTONIO, July 12.-It is the gem
eral opinion that if James Mcdaniel, the
celebrated Texas desperate, whose death
has Just been announced, had not been
killed just as he was by the officers, he
would have been dead anyway in less than
y hours.
"His time had come to die" said an old
cattle man to-day. 81 don't see now he
could have escaped at all. He was en-
gagged 10 marry both Of old Dave Cotfee's
daughters, and as he was preparing to
Jump the country. he'd got to take one or
the other with MIN. They're as pretty
girls as there are in Texas, and they're
Just as quick with gun as anybody, and
the man who lied TO one of them would
die, and l'll bet on it. | believe that Jim
escaped a violent death at the hands Of
one Of the girls by being killed by the Of
icers SO there's no use of any body
grieving over jim. 1t was fate. His time
had come and he had TO GO"
Mcdaniel had taken hand in a great
many kinds of crime, but stage robOing
was his trade, and he had reputation in
that line which was the envy Of all the
beginners in the business in the South
west. He mad robbed more than fifty
stages, and considered his occupation as
legitimate as any other. This was due
as much TO the fact that ne never had
any of the advantages of ciYillZa-
tiOn when young as to any other cause.
He grew up on the western Texas Dor
der, and whatever notions he imbibed
were evil. During the eight years that
be was at was at work on the highways
OF Texas and New Mexico he made his
name terror to all drivers and travellers
some OF his rObberies were so daring and
unexpected that the people were eXas-
persted to madness more than once, put
the harder they tried to catch him the
greater ease did ne display in eluding
them. When the search got too hot for
him in this vicinity he would slip over
into old or New Mexico for "a while, and
then, when the excitement subsidized lit
tie, he would return and resume opera
tions.
On one occasion he broke the hearts OF
a party of Texas editors who were travel
ing through Tom Green county by stage,
by stopping them, making them form in
line on the roadside, and then having fun
with them. As soon as they were all in
row Jim Knocked every mans hat OIL VIC
lently, soaring them half to death, as they
thought he was going TO assault them, and
when all were uncovered he drew lot Of
bags out out Of his pocket and put one
over each mans head. Then he made
them march, and, once in a while tripping
one OF them up, he would order them to
fall into line, which, in their bliudfOlded
condition, was a very difficult proceed
ing. When he tired Of his sport he took
what valuables they had and let them go.
AS an evidence of the CELEBRITY, or cheek,
as it is called here, with which he operated,
il may be said that two years ago he
robbed the BOeme stage twice within
three hours. he stopped it first on the
west side OF the town, and, after subject
ing the passengers to many indignities,
let them go, pretending to ride away from
the town when he had got through with
them. His victims drove rapidly to BOeme,
where their stories caused the utmost
Indignation. The able-bOdied men got
together, armed and mounted, and
set out toward the west in search OF
Mcdaniel. In the. mean time, the people of
the town had supplied the travellers with
some ready money, and the journey was
resumed. About two miles east of Boeme
the same highwayman presented himself,
and once more took everything the untor-
Inmates had. They then returned to
BOeme, and when their story was told the
settlers gnashed their teeth in impOtent
rage. Mcdaniel had simply made a cir
cult of the town, and after finishing his
second robbery he had no difficulty in
making his escape. A dozen similar in
stances might be related OF him.
The fellows that Mcdaniel had with
him during "A good portion of his career
were quite as hard as he was. They
killed several people in their stage rob-
berries, for which none of them was ever
punished, and on one occasion they
cleaned out rival party OF outlaws with
whom they had long been at swords
points. After this exploit they left Texas
and crossed over into New Mexico, where
they INDUCED in "A prolonged debauch,
visiting all the principal towns and boast
ing OF their crimes. In the saloons which
they visited they created a decided sensa-
ton by reaching into their pockets, pro-
ducing the ears of their victims, and
clapping them on the bar in payment tor
their drinks. They kept this sort of thing
up for month or more until there began
/ to be hints that their presence was not de-
sirable, and they returned TO their old
! haunts in Texas.
! During all of McDaniers career he
showed a strong dislike for the press.
\ Although living in the wilds most of the
time, he seemed to have "A way OF finding
out all that was written against him any
where in Western Texas, and all that an
editor needed TO get reprimaud by mail
from Mcdaniel was TO intimate in his
paper that he was thief and murderer
who ought TO be dancing on a scatfOld. Ii
was this fatal fOndness for writing TO the
! newspapers tlAt nastened JllnS death.
The outlaws last arrest was for mail
robbery, and on his trial in this city he
was convicted and sentenced to one of the
Illinois penitentiaries for ninety mine
years. While awaiting transportation
north he broke out OF the Jail here and
disappeared. A vigorous pursuit was in
suruted, but as no trace Of him could be
found, and as il was known that he would
rather die than submit 10 life imprison-
ment, il was believed that he had gone to
old Mexico, and would not again be heard
Of on this side OF the line. just as every.
body had settled down TO this conviction
one Of the local papers received a
long letter from Mcdaniel protesting
against its suggestion that men should be-
kept on his trail for some time longer. lie
said that that was not "A fair way to treat
him. He was now free and he intended
10 remain free. He had a good W inchestel
and two revOlvers, and he wanted every
body TO know that he could not be taken
For that reason IL occurred to him thai
any newspaper man with common sense
would let him alone and urge other PEG
pie to. This missve was not dated, but
II was postmarked at Uvalde.
The officers made up their minds that
Mcdaniel had not gone TO Mexico AS they
had supposed and they Immediately
made preparations for thorough search
Dave Coffee and bis two daughters were
D. ~. a q l..