Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-10-21
Ri1erDays Before the uar.
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his profession,
Mark Twain, in his Life on the Mis-
sissippi." calls Murrell wholesale ras-
cal to distinguish him from Jesse james
retail rascally deeds. "What are James
and his half dozen vulgar raScals COM
nored with this stately old criminal,
with his sermons, his meditated insur-
rections, and wary captures, ana his
maiestic following of 1000 men, sworn
to do his evil will"
Murreu seems to have been most
deXterous, rs we'll as a consummate
villain. When he Travelled his disguise
was that of an itinerant preacher, and
# is said that his discourses were very
soul-stirring and so interesting to
hearers that they forgot TO look after
their horses. which were carried away
Inv his coufederates while he was
rreacbiDr. BHt Murrell's most lucra-
five occupation was stealing slaves to
sell them in another quarter He had
y REGULAR way of managing that part
of his business. One of his men would
tell a negro, for example, to run away
from his master and allow him TO sell
him to another, whereby he could Sc
cure half Of the money paid for him.
Then the negro was adyiSedto run away
the second time. return to the gang and
be sent to 4 free state by them, where
he would be safe. Many poor wretches
complied with this request, hoping to
obtain money and freedom. They
would be sold in this manner three Or
four times. until the Murrells had real
lied $4,000 or $1,000 from the repeated
sale of one man. After this, for fear
of detection. the method would be to
get rid of the only witness against
them. which was the negro himself.
He was murdered and his body thrown
into the Mississippi river.
The general rendezvous of this gang
was On the Arkansas side OF the river,
where they concealed their negroes in
the morasses and canebrakes. Though
it was well known that Murrell was TIE
head of this gang Of outlaws, it was
difficult to obtain proof against him.
\ young man named Stewart finally
gained his confidence, turned traitor
and exposed the whole concern, bring
ing home sufficient evidence against
MurreI to seAd him 10 the peniten-
tiary for i years.
1t was found that a good many men
who bore respectable names in the sec
tons in which they lived were connect
ed with Murrelrs gang, and every effort
was made to discredit Stewards state
ments. He was obliged 10 leave the
southern states in consequence.
One of the most daring deeds of the
notorious outlaw was the rebellion he
melted in New Orleans, his object being
10 raise the blacks against the whites,
taking possession Of the city in the
melee and plunderingit at leisure. The
story is told by Capt. Z. w. Gould, one
of the Oldest river captains, now living
in New York. Capt. Gould collected it
from accounts furnished by the man
Stewart who youched for its correct
ness, and declared that it was told him
by Murrell himself at the time he was
in his confidence.
y collected all my friends about New
Orleans" said Murrell. at one of our
friends houses at that place. We sat
in council three days before we got all
our plans TO our notion. We then de-
termined 10 undertake The rebellion at
all hazards, and make as many friends
as we could for that purpose. Every
mans business was assigned to him,
and when all was ready the signal was
given for the rebellion to break loose.
The history of it is well known. Suf-
flee it to say that we carried Off thou
sands Of dollars in horses, cattle, and
other movable property, and killed peo-
pie without number who were in our
way"
Another noted outlaw il The carly
part Of the century WAS Mason, the high
wayman Of the Natchez Trace, who in
tested the canebraLcs near Walnut
hills, from where they boarded many
q boat. killing the crew and carrying
off the cargo.
\ story well remembered by old-time
ST. Louisans is that of the murder OF
Young Mckenzie on the steamer Nellie
Rogers. Young Mckenzie was the son
. of a prominent merchant Of st. Louis, a
most estimable gentleman, who was ut
one time an Indian trader on the upper
Missouri. The elder Mckenzie had mar
riod q squaw, Indian fashion, and raised
family of half-breeds, part OF which
he took 10 the states ard educated.
Young Mckenzie, then about 30years
80 1870 = : =; tho Crows
married and was living at Fort Peck.
He. with his wife and young child, to-
rether with q large number Of Indians
OF both sexes and Of all ages, had en-
camped on the bank opposite where the
boat was discharging. They all had
access TO The boat, and w.re constantly
passing to and fro.
Tie bar on the boat had been closed
by the order Of Charles 2. Chouteau,
the owner Of the line, and no excessive
drinking was allowed. They had on
board as 4 passenger ali the way from
St. Louis q Mr.. Clark, formerly from
Philadelphia, quiet, gentlemanlyman
OF education, who for ten or twelve
years had been living among the In
dams at Benton.
After the boat had been lying there
for several hours Mr.. Mckenzie came
aboard with others and stepped into
the cabin. just as he got abreast of
the stove in the hall Clark came out
Of his stateroom, one of the first in the
cabin. with pistol in hand, and without
word fired at Mckenzie. The latter
fell dead, shot through the heart. His
wife, with her kindred and friends, was
among the first to rush aboard. The
excitement among the Indians became
intense.
The crew and passengers, too, were
badly frightened, experimenting sum