The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-04-19
SCARED EVEN FRANKJAMEs.

SCARED EVEN FRANK JAMES.
The Ex-out1aw's story Of a Nixht In.
the Time OF the Rebellion.
Frank James, the famous retired out
law, is related IN some way to mem
Der Of the firm Of Martin, Thompson
& Co.. OF New Orleans, the most cx-
tensive mule traders Of the South. In
the Office Of that company one day
recently James was, after good deal
Of coaxing, induced by correspondent
of the Cincinnati Enquirer to talk
Of his past life. In the chat, Frank
told the following story: e.at:..
The nearest I ever came to being
downright scared, I guess, was once
during the war. Jesse, one or two OF
the boys and were on our way North
ward to join Quantrell, who was hatch
ing a plan to so to Washington city
and capture President Lincoln. We
were travelling by night altogether, and
before reaching Columbia, Tenn, sep
arated, in order to lessen the POSSIBLE
ity Of capture, with the intention Of
meeting again at some point further
north. When I arrived at Columbia
one had been riding for several days
was pegged out completely. During
the early part Of the night looked
through several stables, but could find
no horse, and finally I came to shed
containing lot Of mules. They were
nearly all young ones, but in the lot
was one old fellow that was quiet and
gentle. The country was full Of SOL
diers, and as I was forced to appropri-
ate this old mule in order to get away
as quickly as possible. I saddled and
bridled the old mule and struck out
in the darkness. After riding about
two miles I fancied I heard a body Of
horsemen approaching. did not know
whether they were soldiers or not and
I was not certain but that our presence
in that section had become known.
I listened and the noise grew palmer.
The following hOrsemen were within
a half u mile of me and were approach
ing steadily and rapidly. There was
no fencing along the road and drew
my mule to the right and pushed into
the brush to await developments. The
country was strange to me or I would
have struck farther out into the woods.
In a few minutes I could hear them
within a few hundred yards of me.
A little longer and they were just at
the point in the road where I had left
it. I could not see them, as it was the
darke st night ever saw. but from the
noise made by the hoofbeats [ judged
that there were at least fifty men in
the party. They stopped in the road
opposite me and I fancied I could hear
a hurried conversation in whispers.
[ felt sure that had been discovered
and I did not know exactly what to
do.
"A few Of the horsemel started in
the direction Of me, and then the old
mule [ was on made a noise. This was
the 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 darkness, de-
termined to give them Il race. Not
a word was said and not shot was
fired, but I felt that I was in a tight
place and prepared to sell my life dear
ly. The party followed me and APP
peared to be spreading out and sur
rounding me, leaving me no avenue Of
escape. I saw that as long as I was
riding my mule gave my pursuers an
indication of my whereabouts and
thought that if I dismounted I might
steal off in the bushes afoot and hide.
halted, and one of the pursuers passed
within twenty-five yards Of me. peer
ed through the darkness, but could not
see what sort Of a man the rider was.
Just then my old mule bray ed, and then
the whole woods were apparently alive
with braying mules. The whole COM
pGny of supposed hor.semen rushed rap
idly in the direction Of my mule, and
I was soon surrounded by Il gang Of
young mules There was not i rider
upon any of the animals. They were
the mules I had left at the barn, and
had followed their leader which I
had appropriated. I never felt so
cheap in all my life, but was compelled
to sit down and take a hearty laugh
over the Righteousness of the situa
fion