The age-herald., 1901-05-14
TRAGICAL HISTORY OF
 FAMOUS YOUNGER BOYS

them the bleeding bodies or scores or SOL dlers They. as well as the James boys, were bound together by the black oath which was administered to each member of Quantrell's guerrillas, and were sworn to exterminate all Federals and never to desert a comrade as long as life remained in their bodies.
 During the war their father, Colonel Younger, was assasslnated and robbed on the high road, and this rendered the Younger boys more desperate and blood thirsty than they had been before. They took part in several massacres and raids on unsuspecting towns and were re- sponsible for the killing of many non- combatants and for the destruction of an immense amount of property. A price was set on their heads by the federal author ities, and they became outlaws in name as we'll as in fact.
 John Younger one of the brothers, was hung. and Mrs Younger, their mother, was forced at the point of a rifle to set fire to her own house and watch its full destruction This occurred in the depth of winter, and the old woman was obliged to walk for miles through the snow be- fore she reached a. place of shelter. Only those who knew the details of the awful and bloody struggle along the Missouri and Kansas border can understand the bitterness of the feeling it engendered.
 When finally peace came the Younger and James boys and their immediate as- sociates had become so accustomed to murder and robbery and to be hunted in turn that they turned bandits. Their, home was burned to the ground, their father assassinated. one of their brothers hung, and they themselves were in con- stant danger of their lives. They were desperate men, having nothing to live for, and were ready to take any chances.
 In October, 1866, occurred the first of the series of bank robberies which kept the western country in state of com motion for ten years. It occurred at Lex ington, Mo-, and was entirely success full $22 900 being secured in safety, one small boy being killed in the attack on the bank. Both the James boys and the Youngers always denied that they were involved in this raid, but it was admit tedily the work of some of Quantrelrs old guerrillas and in the opinion of most people the Youngers planned If they did not take part in the execution of the robbery. Fast following the attack at Lexington came similar daring bank rob- berries at Savannah Richmond, Russell vile and other towns in Missouri, until the whole state was in terror.
 Finally matters got so hot that "Cole' Younger went to Louisiana, where he in- tended locating. One day, being banter ed to take part in horse race, he did so. but was defeated by the trickery of his opponent, who had a red blanket shaken in the face of Younger's horse, frightening it off the track. Younger ap- pealed in vain to the referee and to the stakeholder and judges. Then he drew his revolvers and with as many shots killed all the offending officials Alter this exploit 'Cole'' and Jim" Younger went to California, where they spent nearly a year with relatives and altogeth- CT abandoned their career of robbery. Fin ally they came back and in company with the James boys started that series of startling crimes which resulted in their capture. They held up the Hot Springs stage, robbed the treasurer of the Kan SaS Clty 1alr III DrOdh daylight ohu .cleaned up" a number of country banks. They always adopted the boldest tactics. often dashing into a little town, shoot- ing at every living thing on the streets, and forcing the bank officers to open their vaults at the point of their revolv- CTS When pursued they took refuge among the hills, every inch of which they knew by heart. They had secret caverns to which they sometimes retired and they could safely seek refuge with hundreds of families in the country, where they had always lived. Scores of officers and citizens were killed or wounded in att tempts to capture them and enormous rewards were offered for their arrest. In spite of all efforts, however, they were always successful in evading capture un- til 1876, when they were caught after the Nortnfield robbery.
 
 mate. and the stars do not shine so as to tighten our way through the wood and across the wild on moonless nights. For tunately this discovery need not take away our appetite for the feast which is spread out; we need have no more com junction in coming to 1t uninvited than has the bee or the, moth in slipping the nectar of the blossoms; it may even be that we like they, do render uncon-