Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-10-11
The Guardian spirit Of the Jesse
James Family.
Danger by an Appearance
on White Horse in the Moonlight
Shooting at Chest Death
and Danger Ever in His
Track-A Strange
story.

Is the fact and the phantom hOrseman
that frequently appeared to Tesse James
Ia as much q part of the traditions of that
bold night rid or as many OF the more cur
rent incidents in his wild career.
Mhe story of the phantom horseman
was fret related by FrGnk James to Orth
II. Stein, when the two we're prisoners
and for time eeil-mates in the jail at
Independence. Ii was just after the sur
render OF Frank James, when he was
awaiting trial for the Blue Cut and Win
ston train rGbberies in this county. Stein
was awaiting the outcome of q motion tor
q new trial after a jury had found him
guilty of killing George Fredericks in
this city and assessed his punishment at
twenty-five years in the penitentiary.
Through the intricscies of law and tbs
uncertainties of iuries, both were after
wards released. During their long and
tedious confinement, however, they were
wont TO while away the hours with stories
of their respective careers.
1t was due to one of these reeitals
that the writer learned that the James
family, and particularly Jesse, had Pc
culiar banshee in the shape of white
horse and pantheon horse,nan, who ap-
pGdEtu 10 warn tntul vi uhuRbIs AL
though reluctant to taCiturnity to speak
of any matters connected with his
earlier life, Frank James has since ad-
United that Jesse possessed the frmest
faith in the omens brought by the visits
% this phantom.
The story of tho phantom horse which
guided jesse on his way warned him of
impending danger, and finally foretold of
his death, is also believed in by Mrs.
Jesse James and Jesse James, Jr., the son
of the deceased outlaw, vino have more
than once heard him speak of the vista
tions of this strange phantom. The last
time the dead outlaw saw this phantom
was just before his death, and it appear
ed ia such horrible shape and with such
evident warning in its mein, that even
the nerves Of this grim outlaw were shak-
en-, and nc was weighed down at once
with a sense of his impending doom.
Frank James simple description of the
appearance of the phantom horseman ia
rs fellows.
como night we were riding along q
lonely road in Tennessee. It doesn't mat
ter Just when 1t was or where. Jesse and
we're riding along ahead, little in ad-
vance of the rest OF the party. There
we're five or six in the party. Suddenly
we came to h pad open space where two
roads met and branched of IN three DIFF
ferent directions We emerged from un-
der a heavy cloud OF overlapping foliage
into a broad flood of moonlight. 1t had
been very dark in the woods under the
heavy trees, and the bright moonlight ~
ing thick and golden on the broad, dusty,
new roads, fairly dszzled us for a mo-
ment. There, standing directly in front
OF ne, as if TO dispute our passage, clearly
defined IN the bright moonlight, wss the
figure of q hOrseman on q white horse.
We drew rein and stood for a moment
stock still. The figure in the road did
not move. The moonlight shOue directly
en- his dark coat, with bright, shiny but
tons of some klnd-brass or pearl-and
glimmered on the silver trapFings on the
horses bride jesse was the first to re-
cover himself, and, with lightnipg-like
rapidity, he drew his gun with an oath.
"'What do you want there?' he said.
"The figure did not move or speak
My God, don't shoot cried one of
our party. It's q ghost
"Jesse's revolver went of at the same
moment
"Tbe figure raised one of its hands,
pointing the index ii0ger at Jesae, while
at the Same time the horse turned and
horse and rider galloped OF up the road.
"' have seen him before muttered
Jesse, as he turned his horse in the other
direction"
It is said that one of these men who was
a witness of this strange encounter-the
man who Dried don't shoot'n-was Bill
Ryan. Ryan is now doing time in the
Missouri Penitentiary.
Frank James who was probably less
superstitious than Jesse or most of the
other companions of the James boys,
never took as much stock in Jesse's
ghost, as the boys called it, rs the great
head Of the outlaws and his rougn.riders
did. He admits, however, that Jesse was
haunted by a phantom horseman, or
fauoied he was, until the day of his death.
Jesse wss always furious il anyone cues
toned the authenticity of his his ghost.
Frank was once asked: 30 you think
that was a ghost You saw that night or a
man Jesse shot at and missed, OF failed 70
kinf'
Il don't know was tho reply. Jesse
y
taEce. Anyway, that was che first time
saw the phantom horseman.h
Mrs. Jesse James. who lives on Pros
pect avenue, iu this city, Is a adylike
looking woman, who stll seems 10 mourn
for her husband On being questioned,
she had heard Jesse speak of phentom
horse which followed him about, fore
warning him of danger, The appearance
# the phuntom .oieooded evil, but Jesse
generally managed to avoid evil by TAX
ing the warning in time.
Jesse James Jr.. ONLY heir Of tho great
land pirate. was more communicative.
Jesse, J-.. is fifteen years Of age, and
strange irony of fate-works for L. i.
Crittendeu aid his sons, for that very
Governor Of Missouri who bounded his
father 70 death ard deceived his unole
Frank afte- the surrender OF the latter.
The story Of the boys engagement 70
work in Crittebaen's real estate office Is
worth short diversion The boy, It APP
pears. answered an advertisement for an