The Atlanta constitution., 1902-11-17

the Jameses.
There was no place for any of the
gang. They went armed constantly ana
had n finger on a trigger when meeting
stranger in the road.
The Youngers managed to avoid an en-
counter with the detectives up to 1874.
Soon after the Cad Hill robbery John ana
Jim Younger encountered three men near
Osceola. Mo-, whom they suspected. Inc
meeting was in the big road, and as the
Ioungers were conversing with the meh.
whom they had disarmed, one OF me
strangers. having a pistol secreted IN ms
coat pocket. fired without drawing IL.
The ball took Johns life and Jim. IN
retaliation. killed his brothers slayer ana
companion. That is said TO have Deen
the first blood the ioungers had spilled
after the war. barring killing by Cole
in louisiana. Ii turnEd loose every man
Pinkerton had and from that day on un-
I'll the day the gang rode into Northheld'
Mimi. the Youngers. like the Jameses,
were prey for any man catcher. heWarus
running into four figures were marked
against them. 1t every corner tney
! faced their description with an officers $
name below it. No place onered tnem
safety. Honest work was out OF their
reach. Driven from place TO place. home
less and branded. what could have been
expected of them?
The three Younger boys. Cole. Bob and
Jim stuck together and for awhile made
their homes in Texas and Mexico. Tie
James boys remained in Missouri and
crime went on. Finally the Nounsers
were driven from the far west and came
But it is well known they did not mix
with the James boys In fact there was
n deadly enmity between Jesse James
and Cole Younger They had fought
side hy side under Quantren, togther
they rode into Lawrence, kans., ana to-
sether applied the torcn to that jay
hawker town. Yet they We're bitter enc
mics and upon one occasion were in the
act of fighting a duel, when mutual
friends stopped it. The bitter feeling
ute Bob Ford. James own cousin. killed
him for the reward Governor Crittenden.
OF Missouri. had offered. And unless a
quarter OF 4 century in saltwater peni-
tentiary has made wonderful changes IN
Cole Younger. that natred has not yet
died out on his patt.
There has always been grave doubt as
to whether the James boys were with
the Youngers in that-to the NoungerS-
fatal raid on the Northfield. Mimi, bank.
The Youngers and the Jameses did not
miugle pleasantly Stin tney may nave
declared a truce for the time because of
the gain contemplated But IL the James
hoys-there We're but two OF them. Jesse
and Frauk-were there. isn't IL rather re-
markabe that both should have escaped
without n scratch. while all three Of toe
Younger boys. Cole. Jim and Bob. Should
not only have been captured. but that all
three should have been desperately
wounded?
Band Was Desperate.
That the band was a desperate one and
that the hands of eacn member was died
in blood. while in the pockets OF eacn at
times jingled ill-gotten coin. there is no
doubt.
But was there a cause for the desperate.
reckless life they led?
In old Missouri there are many who.
though they do not indOrse tne deeds of
violence. the robbery. the bloodshed and
the torch used by the Jameses and the
Youngers at least deeply Sympathize
with them. especially the Youngers and
ever an anon utter a kind word about
the dcsperadoes.
Originally taere were five of the
Younger boys. Richard. who died IN 1860;
Thomas Coleman. James Henry. John
and Robert r Their father. Colonel
Henry Washington Younger. was born
IN crab Orchard. KY. and moved to Mis-
souri, when a young man. lie settled IN
jackson county on the Kansas border
lie was the father Of fourteen children,
eight girls and six boys. Colonel
Younger was an educated man. lie was
Judge of the county court and once a
member Of the Missouri legislature. When
The war came ON he was a union man. so
were his sons The border troubles just
before the war made Jackson county un-
safe and Oh account OF his children Col
onel Younger moved into Cass county.
He was then worth slpJ.vp. At Harrison
vile he owned the finest horses in the
county aud was considered The most
ursmineut citizen. a captain IN the Mis-
souri, militia detieraD took "A great dis
like 10 Cole and lost uo opportunity to
annoy aim. The elder Younger appealed
TO tine United States army officers Tor
protection for his son. but without avail
cole Younger was compelled 10 hide ana
dodge as best he could. Ia lSbl the elder
Younger went to Independence 10 collect
Hsarsr Hrt RnA "a
he was Waylaid by Kansas jayhawkers
an1 murdered. Ills body was found IN
au old field When Cole Younger heard
this he came from his aiding ana sWorc
he j even IL mp. Mounting his horse he
Joined Quantrell. Later he was joined by
mis- brothers except the youngest one.
During the war there was no better sol
uier no more savage avenger, no more
reckless a rider.
While the boys were at toe front their
home was visited by jayhawkers. VINO
swung the youngest brother up To make
him reveal Cole lOungers hiding place.
The Kansas iayhawkers made Mrs;
Nounger set fire TO her own house ana
drove the family from shelter TO shelter.
None of this WAS calculated to allay
the spirit OF revenge which had seized
Cole John and Jim.
Enemies Oppressed Them.
After the war the Younger boys took
their mother back TO their Jackson c0un-
~ home. But they Were not allowed to
live in peace. The Red Legs, the JdyhstW-
lzers. the state militia all oppressed them.
Taey were fired upon from ambush and
We're ordered to leave the county. They
stuck il ont without resistance until 1t
fell to the lot Of one Of the boys TO kill
. fayhawker who was seeking his life
Then il was all off with the Youngers.
The four b0vs-ths was before Johns
death-wcnt to Texas. and. buying
ranch. began building a home for their
mother But before that home was fin
ished the good woman died Of consump-
ton the disease having been caused by
the exposure To which the jayhawkers
had forced her during the war.
Tae boys came home to bury their old
mother. What they promised beside that
open grave Is not known. Had they
promised an determination OF the jay
hawker band and then kept that promise
Ia the letter could any one have blamed
them2
And now Cole alone lives 10 recount
the sadness which surrounded his early
days. Alone ne must carry on his ven
geance If the oath he and his brothers
made beside that grave has not been
fulfilled.