New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-10-18
Steve Elkins Knew the Youngers.

Steve ElklnS Knew the YOungerS.
ado you know that the most daring
tram robbers this country ever knew
were playmates Of Steve Elkins, the late
secretary of the war;" asked John B. Cas-
sidy, a wealthy merchant of Southwest
eln Missouri, who was chatting with a
party of story tellers yesterday. Every
body knew that Steve Elkins was pret-
ty bad Republican, and was an expert in
the art of 'holding up" people in poll
tical game, but nobody suspected that he
ever associated with train robbers.
"Well, as Chicago people are begin
ming to think that life is dreadfully mo-
notonous if they can not read sensa-
tional account of a bold train robbery
every other morning before breakfast.
will tell you of Steve Elkins' acquaint-
ance with train robbers" remarked Mr..
Cassidy.
"Steve and his brother were boys to-
gether with Bob, Cole and Jim Younger
in a small town in Missouri, not a great
way from Kansas City. A short time be-
fore the opening of the war Steve left
the college at Columbia, Mo. and taught
school at Harrisonville. Cass county, Mo.
Among the students was Cole Younger
and Steve told me the last time he talked
with him that Cole was an exceedingly
bright boy, and an obedient student. But
it is little singular how these boys came
70 join gang of freebooters and finally
associate themselves with the notorious
James gang. 1t happened in this way !;
Old man Harry Younger, the father of
the Younger boys, was staunch Union
ist. One nj yht about the beginning of the
war he visited small town near Kansas
City on a matter of business,and I went
to start home after nightfall with 5000
in his pocket. His friends pleaded with
him to remain until the next day, and
warned him of the risk he was taking, as
the surrounding country was alive with
federal soldiers. But Uncle Harry
mounted his horse to start on his Jour
ney home am remarked to his friends,
NO, I hardly think anybody will harm
me. l am not afraid of the Yankees, and
there are no rebels anywhere near my
route He had full confidence that the
Union soldiers would do him no harm,
because he was Unionist himself. So
he started fol home.
''That ight Unble Harry's horse trot-
ted up to the barnyard bars at home and
whinnied to be let in, but the animal
bore no rider. The next day the body
Of Uncle Harry Younger was found lying
cold in death by the roadside. Two rifle
balls had entered his back and torn their
way through his body, and his pocket
had been rihed. The Yankees had mur-
dered and robbed him of the 5000.
"Up to this time the Younger boys
had taken no decided stand eitEer for or
against the Union cause, but when they
learned that their poor old father, who
was strong Unionist in the midst of
rebel country, had been murdered by
the Yankees, they swore lasting venge-
ance against the fedcrals, and the boys
made their oath good by Immediately
joining Quantrell's band Of guerrillas,
which was then in that part of the state.
These Younger boys were all brave, de-
termined and courageous, even in the
face of danger and death. After the war
was over they joined the James gang and
were the first to startle the country by a
train robbery at Gad's Hill, Mo-, back in
the early '7Os. Up to that time the hold
ing up of trains had never been heard of,
but the business soon became quite fash
ionable in Missouri and the Indian Ter
ritory. But the Younger boys were born
for an honorable career, as they were
good fellows at heart before circum-
stances persuaded them to become free
hooters. Chicago Herald.
Chas. Haas is attending business col
lege in st. Paul.