Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-10-09
THE YOUNGER BOYS,
GILL NYE ON THE VERY LATEST
LIFE" OF THE BANDITS.
u Finds that They We're mild and Gentle q
Lambs and that Cole, Especially, Was
Devoted Chrlstian-The Pablo
Responsible FIR Their ActA

Bill Nye publishes an interesting
review of the last book on the lives and
acts OF the noted Younger boys. He
says it Is only fair that the world should
know the truth about both the Young
ers and the .Jameses. and that while
they were at times unconventional aud
almost rude they were really at heart
refined and devout. Coleman Younger,
or Cole, as he was called by his pub
fishers. was the son Of Henry Washing
ton Younger, Il native OF Kentucky,
who afterward moved to jackson
county. Mo. Cole Younger has be.
come such an earnest, consistent chris.
tan since his incarceration in the peni-
tertiary that his past ought not to DO
raked up here. except it be. perhaps,
to show that he has had q great deal
to overcome in trying to lead a chris
tian life in penitentiary, where there
are SO many temptations to be frivolous
and gay.
Some sears ago there was a robbery
on the Rock Island Road. Cole Young
err and Jesse James planned to ''throw"
the east-bound train ut this point 1t
was in the drowsy dawn OF beautiful
summer Sabbath that these now kind
ly and gentle natures pried up the rails
and let the flying engine pillow into the
cut and wreck the train. 1t was the
sunrise OF that Sabbath morning when
poor Rafferty,, the engineer. with ashy
face and stirring eyeballs turned to-
ward the quiet sky, lay dead beneath
his engine. He lies in an unknown
grave to-day because he foolishly tried
to reverse his engine and save his
train; whereas il he had bee engaged
in wrecking it. people would have
come for thousands OF miles to see him
and hear him tell how he found saliva
ton and helped himself to it.
The boys now had the train to them
selves. They began to feel in the
pockets Of comparative strangers, and
get the time OF day from people with
whom they could have had but a
slight acquaintance. Sometimes a
lady who had never been robbed at all
before. and who had not read the ETH
Quette of the thing. would thought
lessly shrek, but before she could
apologize Mr.. Younger. who, it is said
carried a bible with him through all
his train career. and always had
good voice for exhortation. said: sit
down. damn you! Keep still or you'll
60 to hell!' These are the words
testified to by those present. Mr.
Younger always read one OF the
psalms just before robbing train,
and one OF his prayars, it is said,
would have sounded we'll oven in the
house OF represe nta tiyes.
After the Rock Island train robbery
the Youngers and Jameses scattered
In order to avoid detection. Each
took a peach basket full OF gold
watches, so that he would know what
time it was, and started of in different
directions. Curiously enough, four of
them came together, viz. Cole. Jim
and John Younger and Moore.
The four outlaws had halted in a
thick grove OF trees to rest their
horses, swap watches and pray, when
late in the afternoon two deputy sher-
IFS and constable who were looking
for the train robbers suddenly came
upon them. In an instant Cole Young
err took in the situation, and revolvers
were drawn and leveled on the officers,
says the narrator, while with terrible
threats and oaths, indicating that if
they did not hold their hands as high
as possible they would. almost at once,
look like the zodiac man in the front
of the lmanac, they were halted.
where are you going?' asked
Coleman Younger in rich Union
depot voice.
1--WE are hunting for the Youngers,
who robbed the train on the Rock
Island Road" said the deputy,
"You werer exclaimed Coleman
Younger. well. d-n you. pray!"
He was almost morbid ON the SUBJ
ject Of prayer, Coleman Younger.
'What do you mean?' asked the
trembling wretch.
IL mean you have just ten minutes
by our large and choice assortment
OF watches to get ready for the other
world, and don't want to send any
man to the other world unprepared.
He was always that way. He did not
want to see a peputy sheriff die in
crude state. Ton minutes soon passed
and then the men were blindfolded.
They were not far from the steep
bluffs v. the Missouri. some OF which
were SOC feet high. Three men, with
their eyes bandaged, were taken to
cliff aud swung over it so that they
caught by their hands. Below was u
perpendicular wall.
Hold on as long as you cam" said