The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-10-04
steve EIkins' PIaymates.

"Do you know that the most daring
train robbsrsthis country ever knew were
play mates Of Steve Elkins, the late Sec
retary Of War; asked John B. Cassidy,
wealthy merchant of southwestern
Missouri, who was chatting with a party
Of story-tellers at the fremont House
yesterday. Everybody knew that Steve
Elkins Was pretty bad Republican and
was an expert in the art Of holding up
people in political game, but nobody
suspected that he ever associated with
train robbers.
Well, as Chieago people are begin
ming to think that life is dreadfully mo-
notonous If they cannot read a sensation
al account of 9 bold train robbery every
other morning before breakfast, l viii tell
you CT Steve Eikins' acquaintance with
train robbers" resumed 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. 4 short time
prior to the opening Of the war steve left
the college at Columbus, No, and taught
school at Harrisonville, Clss county, No.
Among the students was Cole Younger,
and Steve told me the last time 1 talked
with him that Cole was an exceedingly
bright boy and an obedient student. But
it IS a little singular how those boys came
10 Join a gang of Greebooters and finally
associate themselves with the notorious
James gang. It happened in this way
Old man Harry Younger, the father 4
the Younger boys, vas staunch Union
ist One night about the beginning Of
the war, he visited a small town near
Kansas City on a matter Of business and
be went to start home after nightiall with
$500 in his pocket. His friends pleaded
with him to remain until next day and
warned him OF the risk be was taking.
IS the surrounding country was alive
with Federal soldiers. But Uncle Harry
mounted his horse to start On his journey
and remarked to his friends No, | hard
ly think anybody viii harm me. I am
not afraid Of Yankees and there are no
rebels anywhere near my route Hs
had full confidence that the Union SOL
diers would DO him no harm, because he
was q Unionist himself 50 he started
for home.
That night Uncle Harry's horse trot-
ted Up to the barnyard bars at home and
whinnied to be letin, 1.-THE animal bore
no rider The next day the body Of
Uncle Harry Younger was found lying
cold in death By the roa1 side. Two II
he balls had entered his back and torn
their way through his body and lis
pockets had been rihed The Yankees
had murdered and ROBBED him of $500.
UP 20 this time the Younger boys
had taken no decided stand either for or
sgainstt the Union ca1se, but whea they
learnei that their poor old father, who
was s strong Unionist in the midst Of a
rebel country, had been murdered by the
Yankees they swOre lasting vengeance
against the Federals, and the boys made
their oath good BY Immediately joining
Quantreils band ofguerrillas, which was
then in thar part OF the State. These
Younger boys were ali brave, determined
and Courageous, even in the face Of dac-
ger and death. After the war was over
they joined the Jsmes gang an were the
FIST TO s-lrtls the couniry by q train rob
berry a, Gad's Hul No, back in the eariy
71s Upto tha. time the holding 10 OF
tfaius hsi never bsea hsari oL. bat the
bssiness soon became quite fashionable
in Missouri and the Indian Territory.
Bus there IS progress in everything in
lhese latter days 1f ,hz nineteenth cent
ury, and train ro55ing Is no exception to
the rule. Tas Younger boys knew moth
ingabout the use Of dynamite in those
times, in blowing open an express ear.
These train robbers around Chicago have
the spirit Of Chicago push and progress,
and they can use 3 stick % dynamite as
easily as the Younger boys could their
reyoiycFs and soon have an express car
lying in sp'inters over a ten-acre lot.
B1ttae Younger boys we're born for an
honorable career, as they were good fel-
lows at heart before circumstances per-
suaded them 70 become freebooters."-
Chicago Heruld