The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-11-03
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Cool Charley's Last Robbery and
Fearful Death.
There were in the years of 1866 along
the overland route through Kansas mum.
Der of very daring road agents, aud per-
haps the boldest of the gang was a boy six
teen years old, who was known as "Cool
Charley" There were various stories afloat
as to his identity, but the real fact was that
he was the son of Missouri bushwhacker,
who had been hunted down after the close
of the war, with other members of Guam
trell's gang, and shot on sight. The boy
was wild, reckless fellow, and as he drift
ed West in the current of travel he fell in
with bad men and became a desperate.
The achievement which resulted in hi.
death was the coolest affair he ever attempt
ID.
In June, 1865, three families, named
Wolf, Taylor and Dayton, respectively,
started for Colorado from st. Joe. There
were three men and two half-grown boys
in the party and until within fifty miles of
the Colorado line the teams were in the COM
peaN = caravan numbering twenty wag-
ons One day one of the women was bitten
by rattlesnake and she was so terribly ill
that the three wagons halted for day or
two until she could find relief. The cara
van pushed on and left them, but at tina
time no danger was to be apprehended from
the Indians. On the second day of the
halt, about o'clock in the afternoon, one
OF the boys, named Will, aged Is years, a
son of Mr.. Taylor, took his shotgun and
left camp in search of a rabbit or other
small game. The camp was ON small
creek emptying into the Republican river,
and in bit of valley, where the grass grew
luxuriantly. The spot was about mile
from main line of travel, but hidden from
it by broken ground and sage brush
Soon after the boy left camp the three
men and the other lad sat down together to
repair one of the harnesses, while the three
women were together in one wagon. The
men must have been very busy with theil
work, for of a sudden a voice addressed
them, and they looked up to find Cool
Charley sitting barebaoked on mule be-
tween them and the wagons. He had
rifle resting across the animal aud q revol-
yer in his right hand. They took it for
granted that he was the son of some immi-
grant who was, perhaps, intending to rest
his horses in the valley, but as they were
about to rise to welcome him and reply to
inquiries, he commanded them to remain
seated under pain of instant death. All the
firearms were in the wagons, and when the
men realized that the boy was desperate
and meant business, they obeyed orders.
He rode to within ten feet &. them, and
dismounted and said =.
" shan't hurt nobody unless obliged to
do it to keep you quiet. How much money
is there in the crowd ~
The three men had total of about 300,
but all pleaded poverty and appealed to
him not to rob them of the means of sub
sisting after reaching their destination.
Pointing his revolver from man to man he
made each one own up the exact amount he
had in his wallet. Then each one was
forced TO count out half and the money was
siutsc.sd tc-ntm By tde boy.
THAT'S all right he snid as he pocket
ed the gold. Now, then, I'm tired of
riding around on an old mule without
saddle think that bay horse will suii
me-"
The animal was splendid beast, owned
by the father of the boy who was of hunt
ing, and while the boy drove the wagon tn,
.ather rode this horse. The animal wal
hobbled near by and the saddle hung ON
hind wheel of the wagon. II was hopeless
to object or protest, and the men were quiet
while the young outlaw leaned his rifle
against the wagon and proceeded to catch
the horse, all the time carrying his revolver
ready for service and having an eye ON the
group. He had brought the horse to the
wagon when Will Taylor came in sight
from his brief hunt. He approached from
III other side of the wagon and was unseen
81 the outlaw. While green to prairie life
and its dangers, he was quick-witted boy
aud realized that something was wrong 81
the camp. His further approach was mad,
with more canton. The two boys had been
chums for years, and out of curiosity had
learned the signs of the deaf and dumb
alphabet, and could converse quite rapidly
together. As Will came near George sign
ed to him that there was robber in camp.
A moment later Mr.. Dayton told him TO
signal Will TO keep nearer and shoot the
outlaw in the legs. Will replied that he
was afraid, and was told that if he did not
he horse and money would soon be off.
With that he crept rapidly forward.
Cool Charlie bridled and saddled the
horse without hurrying. There were some
articles in the saddle pocket he did no.
care for, and be threw them away There
was revolver in the holster, and this he
carefully examined. He had just returned
the weapon when Will, sighting his gun
over spoke in the hind wheel, gave him
dose of coarse shot in the calves of his legs,
being notffteen feet away as he fired.
The outlaw fell and as he did 80 the three
men rushed upon him and he was presently
bound hand and foot. He raved and cursed
and threatened, but he had not long to live.
The men could have done very little for
him in any case, but wounded as he was
shey stood by and saw him bleed to death
without making an effort to save him.
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Trimming Trees.
HWV