The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-29
FRANK JAMES TALKS.
He is Willing to Serve as Scout
Must Be on the Move.

St. Louis, April 29.-For the last ten days
Frank James has been flooded with letters
from many localities in the west and the
southwest wanting him to take part in
the hostilities against Spain. Some sug-
gest that he should raise regiment of
cowboys, and others that he should mus
ter various organizations of men noted
for their courage, accuracy of aim and
ability to undergo hardships. For the
present, at least, Frank James will not
accede to any of these suggestions.
Il am not at all anxious to take an act
i've part in another war" said he. II
served through the last war, and it has
been good many years since peace was
declared. Men who have led quiet lives
since the close of the civil war are not SO
active now as they once were, and it
seems to me that good many of the old
SIOIu!erS VINO are laiklns ABOUT gong
stand the hardsnips- They must remem-
and that going into an unhealthy Climate
life would probably land most of them in
the hospital very soon after they pitched
Il believe am as we'll preserved as any
of the men who served in the Confederate
army, and think that within two months
practice l could get used to the saddle
again, and probably would be nearly as
good 1 ever was, for my health now is
first class. But there is no opportunity
should 1 be ever anxious to do so. The
Missouri national guards nave enlisted all
under the presidents call.
7 will say this much, however: I am
pose my person to the dangers of war in
the capacity of a scout or as the captain
stand the dull monotony of camp life. MY
Irlends all think that am best fitted for
siderable experience in that line, and be-
!leNe my services would be of some value
70 the country in such a capacity at the
anything serious.
ahd But at this time there is no use to talk
5 raising a company of scouts, and L
have written to some of the many who
Iidre ASKED i;4 me to raise a body of men of
some hlhd that there would be room
Ior US unoer the present call, and, more
oyer oyer t Inat mad no information to the eff
sta ties We're thinking of Offering the seT-v-
Ices OF such an organization to the gov
Judging from the letters I have receiv-
ed l would nave no difficulty in raising a
large number of men of undoubted cour-
age and skill, and men who would give
an account OF themselves in the service as
scouts. Ihey are all perfectly willing to
assume the dangers incident to such a life
ana many OF them are anxious to go
Some OF my Texas friends have suggested
that 1 should raise a company of Scents
IN that state, and they have assured me
that they would apply to the governor
and secure me commission for such
purpose purpose
stand lounging around in camp and I
know that 1 could not endure it now
am certainly better qualified for that ditV
than any other, and my friends have con-
fidence that my services in this field of
action would be of some genuine value
Well. if the governor wants me as a scout
1 will go, but 1 have no idea of enlfstinr
in capacity where have every reason
to believe that most of my time would be
spent in camp
My dear old mother is wondering If I
will go to war again. If 1 should go and
get killed she would not survive the news
of my death very long. Few women have
gone through the troubles my mother has
and there are few who could have surviv-
ed them hear from her every week of
my life
This morning." resumed Mr. James. ct
had letter from a nephew of Colonel
David Poole of Texas in which the latter
urged me to organize company of Texas
rangers. Among other things he said that
his uncle was lying at the point of death.
All old residents of Missouri will remem-
Der David Poole.''