The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-05-03
WHEN OUTLAWS RULED THE KANSAS BORDER

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A THRILLING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN '69.


few miles. and one on the Marina.
ton river west of Uniontown, and
another on the Drywood in Bour.
bon county, only few miles from
the great military road running to
Fort Gibson and Fort Smith from
Fort Scott.
In the fall of 1860 heavily load.
ed wagon and team left Fort Scott
bound for the new settlements being
made west in Wilson county. The
road ran west up through the hills,
rocks and timber of the Marmaton
river to Uniontown and Humboldt.
1t was dreary, desolate road and
considered one of the most danger
Gus ones to travel. The driver went
into camp late on the same evening
at the entrance of the timber west OF
Uniontown and near the junction
of Turkey creek with the Marina
ton. A strong northeast wind was
blowing, but he soon built cheer
full fire, chained his horses to some
trees and fed them, and after sup
per while seated on his grub box
watching the blazing fire, his
thoughts reverted to the many stir
ring scenes that had been enacted
in the past in the woods and hills
around him; for this was the site of
the great robber camp. These
thoughts, with the signing of the
cold wind through the trees, the
rattling of the horse chains and the
threatening indications of a storm,
brought over him a bad fit of lone
someness. In order to throw it off
he got up and walked around the
camp and piled more wood on the
fire, but still the sickening, lonesome
feeling clung to him and he sat
down again and watched the flashes
of light come and go through the
trees. To the south of his camp,
but few yards away, was a group
of large oaks. and several clumps
of bushes, and the ground was rocky
and broken, On the other side the
trees were scattering, but the brush
thicker.
While thus following with his eyes
the freight that lit up the trees and
rocks around him, he was startled
by the light disclosing under one of
the oaks what appeared to be the
form of a man. This was alarming,
as he knew there we're likely to be
more near. Their object in skulk-
ing about his camp he could guess
without trouble. But what could
he do? He could not get away,
and to stay probably meant to lose
his life and team. He piled on
more wood and stepped back into
the shadows and carefully worked
his way toward the oaks. As soon
as the blaze lit up the trees that he
was watching he laughed at his
fears, for there was no sign of any
men. Coming out boldly from be-
hind the bushes he made several
steps toward the oaks, but stopped
as though he were shot;
for there was not only one man, but
three men standing in a row and ap-
parently facing him! He broke out
into a cold sweat and his knees
shook together while he gazed. How
long he stood and watched them he
did not know, but the men made no
move and the situation became un-
bearable.
If he started back to his camp
they would probably after HIM.
What could he do? he kept repeat
ing to himself. AT last he could
stand it no longer. Grasping a re-
volver in each hand he yelled with
all his might, and with two or three
Jumps and both pistols presented,
he was under the oaks.
There were the men-not three,
but five. Three in the first row and
TWO just behind them, but yet they
did not move or make any motion
70 shoot. He now saw something
from each mans neck to
1 limb above. Stepping up to the
nearest man he gently touched him
With his pistol and the form gently |
'wayed back and forth! All were
swinging about a foot from the
ground, and they had been there
apparently two or three days.
The only living member of this
,rewsome party returned to his
amp, stood up between his horses
ind waited for day to break over
he eastern hills.
1t is believed that these we're the
asst men who paid the penalty of
heir crimes on the old camp ground.
A scientist of Vienna is now
eaching children who were born
lind IN see