Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-03
Frank James's Worst Scare.


few DAYS. James, he says, has the
appearance &C the plain, ordinary look
ing busines an. He dresses mod
estlv, yet neatly, and refers to his past
career with great reluctance. He has
not aged much, and his cold, steel-gray
eye is as penetrating now as 1t was
when he rode unmolested and spread
terror through the very mention of his
name. He says he has been lied about
in very reckless manner, and that
few of the deeds attributed to him IN
the so-called Life of the James Boys
are authentic. Asked one night if he
ever lost courage in any of his tight
places, he said:
Il was pretty badly scared one
night near Columbia, Tenn. 1t was
during the war. Jesse, one or two OF
the boys and l were working our way
northward to Join Quantrell, who was
Matching a plan to go to Washington
and there capture Lincoln We were
travelling by night altogether, and be-
fore reaching Columbia, Tenn, separa-
ted in order to remove the possibility
of capture, with the intention of meet
ing again at some point further north.
When I arrived at Columbia found
myself minus horse, as the one | had
been riding for several days was peg
ged out completely, and l was forced
to look around for a better mount.
In the early part of the night looked
through several stables, but could find
no horse, and finally | came to a shed
containing a lot of mules. They were
nearly all young ones, but in the lot
was one old fellow that was quiet and
gentle. The country about was full
of soldiers, and so | was forced to ap-
propriate the old mule in order to get
away as quickly as possible. | sad
died and bridled the mule and struck
out in the darkness.
After riding about two miles fam
cied | heard body of horsemen aP-
preaching did not know whether
they were soldiers or not, and ! was
not certain but that our presence in
that section had become known. Any
way, I was in no humor to fight a
company of cavalry, and was not pre-
pared to hold out long against such
odds, had l been inclined TO show
fight. | listened, and the noise grew
palmer. The following ghorsemen were
within a half mile of me, and We're
approaching steadily and rapidly.
There was no fencing along the road,
and drew my mule to the right and
pushed into the brush to await devel-
opments. was then out Of sight and
hearing, and hoped that my pursuers,
if they were in search Of me, would
pass me by. Ianxiously awaited their
approach. The country was strange
to me, or l would have struck further
out into the woods. In few minutes
I could hear them within few hun
dred yards Of me. A little longer and
they were jdst at the road where |
had left it. could not see them, as
it was the darkest night | ever saw,
but from the noise made by the hoof
beats l Judged that there were at least
so men in the party. They stopped
in the road opposite me, and | fancied
| could hear a hurried conversation in
whispers I felt sure that | rad been
discovered, and did not know exactly
what to do.
"a few of the horsemen started in
the direction of me, and then the old
mule ! was on made a noise. This
was a signal for charge, and the
entire company started after me like
a fash. I drove the spurs INTO my
mule and went headlong into the DARK
ness, determined to give them a race.
Not a word was said and not shot
was fred, but | felt that | was in
tight place, and prepared TO sell my
life dearly. The party followed me
and appeared to be spread out and
surrounding me, leaving me no avenue
of escape l saw that as long as Twas
riding my mule gave my Pursuers an
indication of my whereabouts, and
thought that if l diamOunted 1 might
steal off in the bushes afoot and nide.
Ihalted, and one of the pursuers passed
within 25 feet Of me. Ipeered through
the darkness, but could not see what
sort of a man the rider was. Just
then my old mule brayed, and then
the whole woods were apparently alive
with braying mules. The whole com
pany of supposed hOrsemen rushed
rapidly in the direction of my mule