The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02
coon sroRrrs OF THE PRESENT DAT.
How Capt. Ross, tn. Outlaw, Lost q Curl
ous Wager.
osprscm 1898. BY CHARLES n. I-~t.

oun wager.
COPYRIGHT 1898 BY Charles n L-~t.
The Confederate troops in the West being
the last to surrender. It naturally followed that
they were tho last to accept OF circumstances
and settle down to the now order OF things.
For months and months after Kirby Smiths
surrender, portions Of Louisiana. Arkansas
and Texas were dominated by q bad class OF
men. A fow OF them had belonged to regular
commands. but the great majority OF Thorn had
served as bushwhackers and guerrillas, and
the advent OF peace cut short thoir plum
derlng and marauding. These men re-
fused to bow to the inevitable. and
scores OF the most defiant were hunted down
BY Federal troops and killed wherever found.
Alexandria. La, on the Red River. was the
headquarters OF n division OF Sheridan's caval-
ry, and 1t was estimated that there were at
least 500 -Confederates In that locality who
denied being included In the surrender OF any
command and delantly refused to come In
and deliver up their eauipm ents and return to
citizenship. A score or more Of the most
prominent were outlawed by military proc
lamation. Among them was a man named
Ross. He had been Captain OF a guerrilla
band OF thirty men. He hold no commission
from the Confederates. nor did the Davis Gov
eminent equip his band or carry 1t on any
muster roll. Indeed. Confederate troops had
sought to wipe out this gang for months be-
fore the war closed as Capt, Ross robbed right
and left with free hand.
In August. 1865. after vain efforts to induce
Ross to come In and take the oath. he was out
lawed. His men had oil left him. but he was
still maraudinR around on his own hook and
had blossomed out as o highway robber. He
would rob an ex-Confederate as soon as q
Union man. but his hatred OF the Federal
soldiers was so great that he never missed an
opportunity to shoot one down. He had
killed five cavalrymen before he was outlawed.
The rewards offered by the military and civil
authorities for the capture or death OF Ross
aggregated 81 800, but for a long time no one
took his trail. Small parties Of cavalry were
sent out but they meyer succeeded in finding
pushed them e and ' killed H at least one man.
Finally. g bout the, middle OF September man
MARTY who had ana n
sprine. presented Himself at Aiexandris. and
announced his determination to win the re-
ward At that time Ross was supposed to be
hiding IN the dense coverts around Catahoula
Murray was furnished with horse. rifle, re-
yolvers, and other necessaries. and had an
q th outlay tSs s left
seventy mi lies, Then he turned to come back.
carrying the idea to ali no met that he had
was obliged to hold up several travellers on
for rssorng ther moSey Seore
It was I'VE days before Murray encountered
Ross. The latter had heard OF the new arrival
and was ready to welcome him. He had be EN-
hunted 50 persistently that he was thinking Of
and Toe alike until every man was ready to give
him up to nst Mn He at once proposed part;
fairly established his reputation for nerve and
daring. Murray told how he had suffered at
the hands Of tho Fsde,aIs and expressed his
taken in. 1t was agreed to become, partners.
and the two proceeded to Rosss hiding place
IN the the midst Of d H thiete to BE-
trated only by a path he had cut with his
own hand; he had built small hut Q,
seIIiere might have searched Tor . month
without finding the path; path. and had it been
maae eood dnes asau. %Soo
pany. he had provisions In plenty. and the
he had ssuEi 6y s bs
ten or twelve rifles and shotguns and q score
ofrevolyers. and the hut was an srsenal as well
been the first to propose tie part S and
he had seemed to accept Murray stories and
Sa hs s
man to deal with, From the very moment Of
their setting out together Ross was on guard
was distrusted and Of course his Dian was to
win the outlaw confidence In riding or walk
in at night he, placed his firearms out OF his
own reach and convenient to Ross's hand.
!, There. were two or three occasions during
shot down his man. This act would have en-
titled him to tho reward. but he had made up
alive and a prisoner; During the first two
weeks they committed two highway rob beries.
beth nad MURRAY took the lead Dur.
ambush. The sergeant objected to firing on
mined search for their covert. but Ross made
It test Of the other LOYALTY to the partner
ss 70 s1a Mstsn,
lot through the troopers hat. The outlaw was
dead ca s shot: and meant to kill his man: but
Ssn d@ and d dHfn harm 'h1 Hes
snes " Was sn at *. t end the S ss ah
VIII wSs he Ss is aeP %
est mistake on HE part would be fatal Dur;
hung up bis pistols and showed in every way
how fully he trusted the other. but i was a
wespons. e even when he Slept siopt At length hs
probably became ashamed Of his overcaution
and lack of confidence and disarmed himself:
Boss vPe feet high and Weighing
tumble fight the smaller man could not have |
held out for three minutes. His first idea was |
2 make the outlaw, a prisoner while he slept |
They occupied hunks on opposite sides Of the |
hut. and after watching for two or three
nights the sergeant discovered that he could |
not turn over even without waking, the other |
~. He slept as lightly as q wild beast. and |
he slightest noise inside or outside the hut
broke NE sl lanh Murray ray So9ld XII his
lrdIy. He could have caught him Of his guard
and compelled q surrender. but he would |
nave reaped no advantage in that. It would
nave been Impossible to got, him out Of the
md feet loose, Murray waited, hoped forluc
% aid him. and luck came in a singular way:
lbout two acres in extent. This clearing
furnished pasture for their horses, Tho out
aw had sometimes taken q victims horse as
yell ss hi. weapons and money: and when
nails in this clearing At the beginning Of the
'ixth week the two mon learned that several
wo OF citizens were. searching for them.
md so It was decided to remain IN
Ter Friday both lay down on tho