The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-20
TELL The TRUTH.
Fred WeHhouse Of Topeka Tells
How It Pays.
Only Once Did He Leave Narrow
Path.
HAD A CLOSE CALL.
Nearly Cost Him His Life at
That Time.
Interesting Interview With the
Apple King.
HAD A CLOSE CALL.

$50 far as know have not told a
lie in forty-one years. I do not wish
to convey the idea that I am an ex-
traordinary man and [ am not brag-
ging on my veracity. I had lying
scared out of me in December. 1864,
by bushwhackers.'
Fred Wellheuse. who lives at 1925
Topeka avenue. who is known the
country over as the apple king"
made the foregoing statement to a
Kansas City friend who spent last
Sunday with him on his 40O-acre ap-
pie orchard at Moore's Summit, Kan.
Mr.: Wellhouse then told a story in ex-
PLANTATION which described the last
raid the bushwhackers made into
Kansas. With the apple grower when
the bushwhaekers frightened lying out
of him was Simeon B. Bell, who lives
at los Southwest boulevard, this city.
Another man named Armstrong from
Fort Scott was shot dead by the push
whackers just before they reached a
store in Johnson county, Kansas,
which they burned. Armstrong was
killed because he wore a federal army
The last raid of the bushwhackers,
according to Mr.. Wellhouse, occurred
in December, 1864. 1t terminated
near a little LOWll Called AQDECE OCloN
Kansas City in Johnson county, kan,
the bushwhackers being driven back
into Missouri by federal troops from
Olathe. A Mr.. Dan Vaughn COM
manded the squad of bushWhackers
who made the raid. Mr.. Bell at that
time had store at Aubrey-the store
the bushwhackers burned. Mr.. Well
house lived in KickapOO township,
/ LeaVenwOrth county, Kansas, but was
down near Aubrey on the double mis-
! fa, n a
contemplated buying and of visiting
his son Walter. who was then in the
federal army and was stationed in that
vicinity.
Ills Last FaIsehood.
"I do not want you to think" con-
/ tinued Mr.. Wellhouse, that I was an
hahitual liar before I had my ex-
perience with the bushwhackers.
guess my record for veracity was as
/ good as that of the average man of
my age. Perhaps it would have been
/ better had I said they scared any m
cHnatiOn I might have had to lie out
of me. The encounter was one III
never forget.
"A man named Armstrong from
/ Fort Scott and I had been riding to-
gether bound for Aubrey. He reached
/ BeII's store before I did, as I stopped
along the road, and when got there
4 he was gone. I tied my horse and
went into the store. While I was
I
or eight maybe ten. young men who
| looked like country people. 1 paid lit
/ tie attention to them until they
showed big revolvers and then Bell
and I realized that they We're bush
whackers. Dan Vaughn, the leader Of
/ the gang, covered me with a revolver
/ and searched me. In my pocketbook
he found about six dollars. I had fifty
| dollars more with which I intended
to make my first payment on the farm
land, hidden in my vest pocket. Dan
didn't find that. When he turned his
attention to robbing Bell and the
money drawer another bushwhacker
came up to me and began search
/ ing me.
e Have you any valuables?' he
/ asked.
That man just went through me,
| I replied, pointing to Vaughn.
90 Any money Ieft?' he asked. Then
7 told my last lie.
isfed with my answer and continued
his search. Finally he ran across my
roll of fifty dollars and pocketed it.