Evening journal., 1899-07-15
RAINSBARGER GANG.

country has ever produced. Known as the
Rainsbargcr Gang" they terrorized the
country with murder and rapine. Banks
we're robbed, trains held up, people shot
down, counterfeit money hoated, and gen.
eral fear instiiled into every law-abiding
eitzen's heart as to his personal safety.
This gang, composed Of five brothers and
a numerous following, lived in the noun.
Ainous regions of Hardin county, Ia, in a
thisk forest of hickory and red oak, where a
dense underground sheltered them from all
observation.
At the time wish 10 speak Of, however,
four OF these brotheia had been captured.
Two had been placed in strong steel cages
n the Jail at Marshaltown, and Manch and
Finch incarcerated in an old-fashioned Jail
made OF cross logs, spiked with irons, at
kldora, the county seat of Hardin. The
night following the capture of the latter
two, ] was awakened by piercing cries of
Helpl helpl Murder People of Eldora,
for Gods sake, helpl helpl" evidently com.
ing from the Jail. quickly dressed myself
and rushed downstairs When ] opened the
front door l was suddenly confronted by
revolver, thrust within three inches of my
tace, accompanies by a peremptory com
mand TO go backl" The man wore mask.
and his very attitude indicated a resolution
could not mistake, so ] closed the door and
hurriedly returned to my room. On open
ing the window j could distinctly hear the
tlud, thud, Of some Ponderous instrument.
used with great force, battering at the prison
door, across the public square. From its
slumbers the town was awakened. The
screams Of terrified women, the walls of
children, and the anxious voices Of men could
be heard upon the air from every side.
Armed sentinels walked the streets, stern
and determined, calling out: "Stay in your
homes-stay inl Judge Lynch is out to-
mgnt. and holding court. Stay in, stay inl"
accompanied by volleys from their guns as
a warning to those who disobeyed. Being an
artist, l made up my mind to venture out,
and by some circuitous route try and get near
the JAN to sketch the scene. l climbed from
a back window Of the hotel, and, after many
narrow escapes, managed to screte myself
on the roof of an unused one-story house.
within 50 feet, quite unobserved. II was
with great difficulty did so, for found
guard had been placed by the viglants TO
watch all avenues leading to the Jail, and
thus prevent any interference with, or iden.
thcation Of, any Of those so desperately at
work there. Seating myself as best ] could
upon the shingles of the roof, behind big
slgn-boaTd, could see very distinctly all
that was going on. Not far away fully 100
horses, saddled and bridled, were hitched in
a vacant lot; while below me, across the
street, big crowd Of armed men, all wear
ing red bandanna handkerchiefs across their
toces, were silently at work, trying to break
open the Jail door, Not a word was spoken.
out like spectres they moved about, each
enc intent on a desperate deed. As ]
watched them, ! could see about 30 men
swinging a huge tree, fully so feet long.
against the door, The branches had been
avn oil. while spikes had been driven in
| ong its length, for willing hands TO hold.
hare was one man Standing among them,
evidently a leadei-a iine-looking fellow,
NTH a slouch hat placed on one side of his
-ead-who, by the motion Of his hand, gave
orders. Everyone seemed to obey him, and,
! NJ given signal, mighty effort was made,
9hd with one tremendous rush the door was
Il last burst from its hinges, and an entrance
made INTO the dark passage within. Yet
act word was uttered-no exultation
ilaswn. A stern, deliberate body of men
safched in, and only their tread could be
heard as they CROPPED their way along the
walls to the cell, where, in defiance, Maneh
and Finch Rainsbarger were shouting blood
ouIdling execrations. The very atmosphere
seemed to reek with blasphemy from those
desperate men. Soon the sledge hammers
we're at work beating at the cell door, but,
swing to the narrowness of the passage, very
little force could be used. Blow after blow
ell, and when at last it began to give way,
With desperate leap, both brothers threw
themselves with superhuman strength
against it, and with their feet bnoed against
The cots, and their hands on the wall. frus.
rated all further efforts to free it. Baked
10 their attempts to break open the door, a
consultation was held. Suddenly a dozen
men emerged from the passage, and went
ound 10 a marrow window which looked
nto the cell. Each one in turn fred six
chambers from his revolver through the iron
sratings into the darkness. Not a sound
came from within as round after round was
! bred. In the distance / could still hear the
shrieks of women and children-but all
else relapsed into stiffness as these men re.
, turned to the passage and rejoined their
, companions. For long time / heard moth
ing-moments of suspense which seemed
ages TO me. But suddenly there broke upon
the air shouts and the scuiiling sound Of men,
. which made the Jail shake to its very founda.
{ lion. The cell door had given way, and, like
A tiger springing from its lair, Finch Rains.
oarger had leaped through the opening, and
midst oaths and desperate struggles. wa.
b lighting his way along the passage, calling "a
his brother to follow. But Manch lay NOR
ially wounded en- the damp floor Of his cell
with his blood oozing out, and his life pass
} ng away, from bullet wounds received
through the iron gratines Of the window
and made no response. Through a living
mass Of men who sought his life, Finch
fought his way to the front door, calling, a,
! be went, t. the other criminals In the Jail:
Tell the boys | died like a mani" With
oaths pouring from his lips, he stepped over
/ the threshold; and. while the stars twinkled
and the glory of heaven shone from innumer
able worlds, he Strengthened himself and
with quick gasp. fell to the ground. pierced
with many balls, and hiss spirit fed away
2 Almost simultaneously, shots were fired
from the cell. as the heart and brain OF
Nanch we're pierced with lead; and to.
sether these two brothers, whose lives had
been STEPPED in crime crossed the border
5 land 70 face their God. | cannot describe
p my feelings as ! looked upon the solemn
scene Of silent men, grouped around the pros
trate body Of Finch Rainsbarger. Stern
e the very embodiment Of vengeance seemed
s 10 mark their actions as they stood there