Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Virginia Bandit.

Early in the spring Of 1854 cattle
buyer when crossing the Bald Top
mountain on horseback saw walking
before him a young fellow who drag
ged himself along as though tired.
Catching up with him. the cattle buyer
| spoke to him
"Whar yO' goin' at:'
"Deering," replied soft. bOyish
voice, and a smooth faced boy looked
up.
.'Whar did yo' come fromf"
"LinwoOd."
That's quite ways. Reckon l kin
help yo' spell. Git up behind me-"
The boy sprang up. placed his arms
around the trader. and the two logged
on, chatting pleasantly. Suddenly,
while passing lonely place. narrow
defile in the mountain. the trader felt
something against his head that as
tOnished him-the cold muzzle of a pis-
toll. At the same time the boy behind
him called in as commanding a voice
as he could assume:
"Give me your money or I'll shoot"
The trader, hearing click. did not
dare diSobey He took $500 he had in
his pocket and handed it to the boy.
The latter jumped down from the
horse.
Stranger" he said. las you're broke
and l took your own pistol from your
belt to do the job here's $50 to buy an
other
Handing the trader the money, the
youthful highwayman ran away, and
the trader went on to Huntley. where,
- IL - = l.
berry. A posse was dispatched which
secured the mountains for three days,
but found no trace of the rObber.
Three weeks later peddler was held
up and robbed near the place where
the trader had lost his money. The
rObber was small. youthful looking
person except for a very bushy beard.
From that time rObberies We're fire.
quent in that region, and ii was sus-
pected that a gang of highwaymen
We're Secreted in the mountains. the
different members of which made
Journeys alone and committed the rob
berries. But the fact that they were
committed in the same locality finally
led to the belief that they were per
petrated 10y one person in different dis
guises. \ deputy sheriff was sent out
to patrol the mountains. but never
found Il person answering To the de-
scriptiOn of any Of those given of the
Desperate Then Il reward OF $500 was
offered
This was enough money to induce
Gabe Unison and Al Wheaton to
spend all their time in hunting for the
rObber. They lived in the locality
where the rObberieS had been commit
ted and were familiar with the roads
and trails by which the robber might
elUde his pUrsuers. One morning. with
Gabe'S bloOdhounds in leash. they were
climbing Rattlesnuke mountain when
they met Jew peddler who had just
been robbed by highwayman with a
bushy beard. Guided by the peddler
the two men went to the place where
the robbery had occurred and the dog
placed on the robbers trail. The trio.
Gabe holding the leash. followed the
dog over q trail leading around the
mountain. At the end OF couple of
hours the dog gave evidence of coming
near the object of their search. and
Gabe caught sight of n form fitting
along before them. Gabe fired. but
the figure kept on. though il soon dis
appeared. However. the dog tracked
the fugitive to the hollow trunk of a
fallen tree. Having ''treed'' their man.
the dog was not allowed to go in after
him. The two men called on the man
in hiding to come out. threatening. to
smother him with smoke if he refused
The fugitive did not reply. They
listened. but could hear no sound with
in the log. Then the men, fearing
some desperate move. concluded that
Al should go for assistance while Gabc
remained on guard.
An hour after noon the messenger
returned with the deputy sheriff, who
directed that the log be forced apart
by means of axes and wedges. When |
the aperture was we'll widened the !
party and the dog stood ready to shoot |
or seize the prisoner. but no prisoner
came forth. A form was found lying |
on it's face perfectly motionless The !
officer took hold Of the shoulder and |
turned it over. The prisoner was dead. |
GabeS bullet had done the work |
piercing the robber through the back !
Then the whiSkers fell away. and il !
was seen that they were false Gabe |
threw up his hands
Its Nell PrescOttr'
Such is the story of the only woman |
bandit ever known in the state Of old |
Virginia. Nellie Prescott was the |
daughter Of Job Prescott, who lived at !
the foot of Bald Top mountain. Her |
parents were very poor. and in order |
10 secure food and clothing for them !
she had resOrted TO highway robbery. |
Living at home. she could easily in !
male attire hold up wayfarers in the |
neighbOrhOod. changing her appear !
ance occasionally 10y beard or other /
devices and when the deed was done !
slip home and appear again as girl.
AS Nellie Prescott lay on the ground /
her pretty upturned face was recog- |
niZed by otheTs-her neichbOrs-who /
came up To see the dead highwayman. |