The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-05

crlmlnate plumber. They adopted the
name of 'jayhawkers."
Conspicuous among the irregular he
roes who thus sprang to arms in 1861,
and ostensibly their leader was an
Ohio stage driver by the name OF
Charles Metz, who having graduated
with honor from the penitentiary OF
Missouri, assumed from prudential rea-
sons the more euphonious appellation or
! cleveland" He was a picturesque
| brigand. Had he worn a slashed doup-
let and trunk hose of black velvet, he
would have been the ideal of an Italian
brigand
Young, erect and tall he was sparse
| ly built, and arrayed himself like a
gentleman in the costume of the day.
His appearance was that of a student.
His visage was thin, his complexion
olive-tinted and colorless as if sicklied
DER with the pale cast of thought
Black piercing eyes, finely cut fea-
lures, dark hair and beard trimmed cor
rectly, completed a tout ensemble"
that was strangely at variance with the
aspect of the score of desolate and dir
| ty desperadoes that formed his COM
! mand.
These We're generally degraded ruff
fans of the worst type, whose highest
idea of elegance in personal appearance
was to have their mustaches dyed
villainous metallic black, irrespective
of the consideration whether it's native
hue was red or brown. 1t is a noticea-
! bic fact that dyed mustache stamps
its wearer inevitable either as pitiful
snob or an irreelaimable scoundrel.
! The vicinity Of the fort with it's
! troops rendered Leavenworth unde-
sirable as a base of operations. ST. Jo-
seph was also heavily garrisoned and
they accordingly selected Atchison as
the point from which to move OH the
enemy's works.
Atchson, at that time, contained
about twenty-five thousand inhabitants
Its business was transacted upon one
street, and extended west four blocks
from the river. Its position upon the
extreme surve of the Grand Detour,"
/ of the Missouri afforded unrivaled facil-
! tiles for the escape to the interior in the
event of pursuit. Having been princi-
paly settled by southerners 1t still af-
! forded much legitimate game for our
bird Of prey, and its loyal population
having already largely enlisted, the city
was incapable Of organizing resistance
to the Expectations Of the marauders
! They established their headquarters
! at the saloon of a German named Err
nest Renner where they held their
councils Of war, and whence they start
ed upon their forays. The winter was
favorable to their designs, as the river
closed early, enabling them to cross
upon the ice
Cleveland proclaimed himself marshal
of Kansas, and announced his determi-
nation to run the country. He invited
the cordial co-opera ion of all good citi-
zens to assist him in sustaining the
government ard Furnishing it's foes.
Ignorant of his resources and his pur-
poses, the people at first were inclined
to welcome their strange guests az a
protection from the dangers to which
they were exposed but it soon became
apparent that the doctors were worse
than the disease.
They took possession of the town, de-
fled the municipal authorities, and
committed such intolerabl excuses
that their expulsion was matter of
public safety. Their incursions into
Missouri We're so frequent and auda-
cious that a company of infantry was
sent from weston and stationed at
Winthrop to effect their capture, but to
no purpose. They soon ceased to in
quire about the political laws Of their
victims.
If man had an enemy in any part of
the country whom he wished to injure,
he reported him to Cleveland as a rebel,
and the next night he was robbed of all
he possessed and considered fortunate
If he escaped without personal violence
In some cases, at the intercession of
friends, the property was restored; but
generally there was no redress.
A small detachment of cavalry was
sent from the fort to take them, but
just as they had dismounted in front of
the saloon and were hitchng their
horses, Cleveland appeared at the door
with a cooked navy in each hand, and
told them he would shoot the first man
that moved finger Calling two or
three Of his followers. he dsarmed the
dragons, took their horses and equip
mentS, and sent them back on foot to
reflect upon the vcissitudes of military
affairs.
Early in 1862 the condition became
desperate, and the city authorities, in
connection with the commander at
Winthrop concerted scheme which
brought matters to crisis. Cleveland
and about dozen of his gang were alb
sent in Missouri on a scout The time
Of their return was known, and Marshal
Holbert had his forces sta toned In the
shadow of an old warehouse near the
bank of the river. 1t was a brilliant
moonlight night in mid-winter
The freebooters emerged from the
forest and crossed upon the ice. They
We're freshly mounted and each had a
spare horse, Accompanying them were
two sleighs loaded with negroes har-
ness and miscellaneous plumber.
AS they assembled the steep shore of
the levee unconscious of danger, they
We're all taken prisoners, except Cleve-
land. who turned suddenly, spurred his
horse down the embankment and es-
cared.
The captives were taken to Weston,
where they soon enlisted in the Federal
army. The next day Cleveland rode
into town, captured the city marshal on
the street and declared his intention to
hold him as a hostage for the safety of
his men. He compelled the marshal to
walk by the side of his horse a short