The Butler weekly times., 1895-11-21


If ever you see HIM, you ask him
about the time l saved his life. We
had captured him and Jesse wanted
to kill him, but 1 would not haye it
and took him on my horse and car
ried him through the lines and set
him free
"Well, said I, IL never knew that
you fellows were responsible for
governor and United States sena.
tor"
''But its just that way said Cole
Younger.
I told Cole about the last time l
saw him, in fact the only time that |
remembered. II was in the fall of
1862. The bushwhackers had be-
come so bold that determined ef
fort was made to hunt them down
A large party of Union soldiers was
sent out on Grand river aui had
camped late one evening just east of
Mr.. Nathan Harrelson's house about
four miles south of Balton, in Cass
county. Mr. Harrelson had gone to
Texas to sell his negroes, in antici,
patton of falling market and we
were living at the place
Early in the morning after the
soldiers had made camp party of
bushwhsckers, in ignorance of the
close proximity Of their enemies, rode
up from the west side OF the house
and demanded breakfast. OF course,
there was nothing to do but to 60
to work to get it for them, while
! they wert down to the barn to feed
and care for their horses. They had
scarcely got out of sight under the
hill when party of federal soldiers
rode up from the east side of the
house and made similar demand.
My mother told them that a party
of men had already ordered break
fast and that it would be impossible
to accommodate any more.
"Never mind, madam" said the
leader, "we will not trouble you ="
Wheeling their horses, they rode
rapidly back to camp and in a few
minutes there came whole company
of the soldiers down on the house
like a whirlwind.
But in some way the boys had
found out what was up and such a
briddling and saddling and getting
out has seldom been witnessed out.
side OF Chief Hale's fire department.
The bushwhackers got out and,
skirtiug around the west side of the
house, formed line in an old corn
field Just south of the house as il
they really meart to give battle.
The soldiers turned up to the left
and formed line facing thom.
A single horseman rode out from
the bush whackers, waving a white
> handkerchief. He rode up to with
in a very short distance when drop
ping the handkerchief, he drew 8
revolver and fired three rapid shots
at the captain. Wheeling his horse
he dashed back safe, although hun
dred balls whizzed by and some
even passed through his clothes.
A general fusillade now ensued
but the bushwhackers, who
3 were greatly outnumbered, soon
? ''skedaddled'' to brush, where the
soldiers stood as much show to fine
them as though they had been sc
many young quails hiding in th'
S grass.
3 l saw this occurrence myself. AL
though l was only small boy, l
t made vivid impression on my mint
and I had always understood tha
l the single horseman who had mad
t that daring grand stand play wa
Cole Younger. I now asked him
8 it was so. With a reminiscent smil,
+ he said slowly: "Yes. that was me,
# adding innocently, 81 came prett.
near getting shot that time. The,
!: all shot at me and tore up my clothe
n but they did not hit me-"
II suppose must have seen yo7
both since then," I said, "for 20
Y had great deal of business with M
It father"