The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-31

RoBBING INNOCENT PASSENGERS.
entire book carefully because did not
desire to judge it unfairly. My atten-
ton was especially called to it because
had heard 50 much of the devout spirit
manifested especially by Coleman Young
er, both before and since his incarcera-
ton.
1t is only fair that the world should
know the truth about both the Youngers
and the Jameses, and that while they
were at times unconventional and almost
rude they were really at heart refined
and devout. Coleman Younger or Cole,
as he was called by his publishers, who
Of course naturally feel most intimate
with him, having no doubt often ex-
changed ideas with him as to methods
of working that would be profitable
without involving too much risk or
brain flag, was the SIN of Henry Wash
ington Younger, native of Kentucky,
who afterward moved to Jackson county,
Mo. Mr.. Younger, ST., never did much,
aside from becoming the father of the
Younger brothers, that would serve to
pass his name down in history. Having
successfully done this he died suddenly
by request of many citizens. The elder
Younger, if such a term be proper,
began to WELD a lasting influence
over his sons, however, before his
death; for while Cole was at school he
was quite rude, and sometimes fatally
,y,S,,,aI he ,,1n ofa fhnnohtlaoa
glee, and as a result of pure animal spir-
its which he carried almost constantly
concealed about his person. As result
of this the teacher threatened to whip
Coleman. The elder Younger then in
formed the little pallid tutor that if
he did SO he, the elder Younger, would
whip the little pale teacher. Many boys
with parents like that have grown up,
gone into society, and at last put on the
beautiful tennis suits worn so extensively
at Sing Sing. Later on, growing heated
over a discussion with the teacher re-
garding the question whether ''pollena"
was or was not the correct photography
of the style of overskirt then being largely
worn in Clay county, the Younger broth
ers inserted the tutor in the river, head
first, through hole in the ice, and left
him there in most compromising posi-
tion. This was the origin of the express
sion getting a man In hole which
has since comeintO popular favor, having
been used by Undertaken Merritt this
summer when DR.. McGonigal brought
him the body of Annie Goodwin at 3 a.
m in his gig, and asked him to kindly
bury it for him.
The tutor was pulled out by spectators
finally, and he said then to those about
him that if the Younger boys didn't do
different they would come to a bad
end, possibly several of such.
Cole Younger has become such an earn
est, consistent Christian since his incar-
ceration in the penitentiary that his past
ought not to be raked up here, except it
be, perhaps. to show that he has had a
great deal to overcome in trying to lead
a Christian life in penitentiary, where
there are so many temptations to be friv-
olous and gay.
Some years ago there was robbery
on the Rock Island road, about fourteen
miles east Of Council Bluffs. Cole
Younger and Jesse James planned to
throw" the east bound train at thiA
point. 1t was in the drowsy dawn of =
beautiful summer Sabbath that these
now kindly and gentle natures pried up
the rails and let the flying engine plow
into the cut and wreck the train. Itwas
the sunrise of that Sabbath morning
when poor Rafferty,, the engineer, with
ashy face and staring eyeballs turned
toward the quiet sky. lay dead beneath
his engine. He lies in an unknown grave
today because he foolishly tried to reverse
his engine and save his train; whereas if
he had been engaged in wrecking it
people would have come for thousands
of miles TO see hun and hear him tell how
he found salvation and helped himself
10 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 4 slight acqualnt-
Ancs. Sometimes lady who had never
beea robbed at al before, and who had
not read the etiquette Of the thing, would
shrek. but before she could
apologize Mr.. Younger, who It Is said
carried a Bible with him through al h1
train rpbbing career. and always had a
good voice for exhortation. said: ''Sit
down, damn you, Keep sail or you'll
go 70 he'll These are the words testi-
fed 10 by those present. Mr.. Younger
always read one Of the Psalms Just be
fore robbing a train. and one Of his |
prayers. II Is said. would have sounded /
well even in the house Of representatives |
After the Rock Island train robbery !.
the Yodngers and James, scattered IN 4
order % avoid detection Each took 4 /
peach basket full q god watches. - that |
he World know whEs tame u was. and !