Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25

ing for employment. made several journeys
across the prairie to Osceola. carrying tele-
grams and letters to Lull, and on one bright
morning in March rode with him and the
other detectives to a point where side
trail leaves the main highway for Mont
gaw. The latter. guided by Edwin Daniels,
a deputy sheriff of ST. Clair county. met
the Youngers and their gang near Moni-
gaw Springs and fought a bloody battle.
Daniels and all the detectives were killed
except one named Wright. who ran away.
Lul was MORALLY wounded and died short
y after the fight. During the night after
the battle he was kindly cared for by
negro named Mcdonald. who is still living
in the same cabin. The reporter heard the
news Of the battle at Appleton City and ac-
companied posse of citizens to the scene
the following morning. Lull was car
ried on a litter to the town Of Roscoe, where
he was attended by DR.. McNeill formerly
Of Dewitt, Iowa, and nursed by the re-
porter until Detective Linden of the Pinker-
ton agency arrived with Mrs. Lull.
A day two later. having understood
that the outlaws had left the country and
were on their way to Indian territory. the
reporter went up to Monigaaw Springs
alone. to interview the neighbors and see
the scene of the battle. He was captured
and taken to the old hotel where he was
retained as a prisoner for two days. He
was kindly treated and obtained note
book full of interesting information con-
corning the history, motives and opinions OF
the Younger family. On the morning of the
third day his host escorted him to the same
fork in the road where he had parted from
Lull few days previous. and after a sol
emn warning that. caused shiver In the
reporters soul sent the young man on his
way rejoicing.
Revisiting Old Scenes.
Appleton City and Osceola are both con-
siderably changed. as one might expect after
an interval of thirty-one years. but many
of the same cordial. hospitable people I
80 L. II
residenters were good enough to remem-
Der the young reporter who spent a short
time among them and was identified with
the most exciting period Of their local his
tory. The postmaster who gave him the
mail for Lulrs party in 1874 now keeps the
hotel at Appletons, while Mr.. Donahoe
who kept the hotel at that time. is now
prosperous farmer. Squire Cooper who
presided at the inquest, was the only man
who recognized the reporter offhand. with
out hearing his name, but the editor of the
local paper. who reported the inquest thirty
one years ago, was very quick to discover
his identity.
The Monigaw wilderness has been civilized
a great deal since that date. Several wagon
roads have been constructed and consider
able land has been cleared. There Is quite
a group of cottages and stores around the
springs, most of them occupied by invalids
who have come to drink the healing waters
and dancing pavilions, bowling alleys, ice
cream booths, lunch rooms and other &C.
commodations for picnic parties have been
provided. The ancient tavern on the hill
remains unchanged, and is now occupied by
Mr. and Mrs. Alton, the owners of the
property, who entertain few guests. They
are considering and will probably accept an
offer from a syndicate of Kansas City capt.
talists, which proposes to modernize the
place. convert the old tavern into a club
house, erect a modern 20O-room hotel and
build a trolley line from the railroad to
make the place accessible The springs
now four hours drive by carriage from
the nearest railway station.
The Younger brothers have never returned
to Monigaw since they left 1t, twenty-eight
years ago, for the fatal raid into Mime
sofa. They seem to feel no affection for
the place. Their relatives are all dead or
have moved away-some Of them to Okla
homa and others to Texas. while the neigh
bors have very little interest in them now
They gave the county and the surrounding
country very bad name. They kept away
immigration destroyed public credit and are
therefore responsible for the slow develop
ment of its material resources. The SenSa-
tional accounts of their exploits gave the
public a false idea of the character and
habits of the people Of St. Clair county and
southwestern Missouri The impression
went out that the population was chiefly
composed of train robbers and outlaws, and
it has taken many years for the community
to outlive that unjust and unfortunate rep
utation.