The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-03
STEVE ELKINS,S PLAYMATES.
When a Boy He Knew Bob Cole and
the Notorious Jim Younger.
Chicago Herald

do you know that the most daring
train robbers this country ever knew were
playmates of Steve Elkins, the late Secre-
tary of War;? asked John B. Cassidy, a
wealthy merchant of southwestern Mis-
souri,, who was chatting with a party OF
story tellers. Continuing. he said, steve
and his brother were boys together with
Bob Cole and Jim Younger in a small
town in Missouri. not a great way from
opening of the war Steve left the college
at Columbia. No. and taught school at
Among the students was Cole Younger,
and Steve told me the last time / talked
WITH WITH him Inv that Cole was an t exceedingly
1t Is little singular how these boys came
to join a gang of freebooters and finally
gang in tine this WSy
Old man Harry Younger, the father of the
Younger boys, was a stanch Unionist. One
night about the beginning Of the war he
visited small town near Kansas City. on
a matter of business, and he went to start
home after nightfall with $500 in his pocket.
until 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
Journey, and remarked to his friends: No,
l 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 SOL
diers would do him no harm, because he
was Unionist himself. So ne started for
home.
THAT night Uncle Harry's horse trotted
up TO the barnyard bars at home and whir-
MED to be let in, but the animal bore no
rider. The next day the body of Uncle
Harry Younger found lying cold In
death by the roadside. Two rifle balls had
entered his back and tore their way through
his body, and his pockets had been ri1ed.
The Yankees had murder and robbed him
up to this time the Younger boys had
taken decided stand either for against
the Union cause, but when they learned that
their poor old father, who was a strong
Unionist in the midst of a rebel country,
swore lasting vengeance against the feder-
ais, and the boys made their oath good
by Immediately joining QuantrelPs band Of
guerillaS, which was then in that part or
the State. These Younger boys were all
brave, determined and courageous, even In
the face of danger and death After the
war was over they joined the James gang,
by a train robbery at Gads Hill, Mo-, back
in the early '70s. Up to that time the hold
ing up of trains had never been heard OF,
but the business soon became quite fashion
able in Missouri and the Indian Territory.
But there is progress in everything in these
latter days of the nineteenth century, and
train robbing is no exception to the rule
The Younger boys knew nothing about the
use Of dynamite In those times in blowing
open an express car. These train robbers
around Chicago have the spirit of Chicago
push and progress, and they can use stick
of dynamite easily as the Younger boys
could their revolvers, and soon have an eX-
press car lying in splinters over ten-acre
lot. But the Younger boys were born Tor an
honorable career, as they were good fellows
at heart before circumstances persuaded
them TO become freebOOterS."