The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-03
TOLD BY THE OLD
STAGE DRIVER


Missouri. and for several years drove
a mail hack between Columbia and
Jefferson City. In relating his expert.
ences RECENTLY Mr. Tmrp sqla. lSm
''rhe ffss regular four and sixshorse'
stage that drove ran from Columbia
to Providence. ON the Missouri river.
This was in 1858 and 1859 ! next
drove in Arkansas, from Pine Bun to
Napoleon From there ! returned to
Missouri aud drove next from Column
bia to Centralia. Huntsville and Glas-
gov. This was during the civil war
and in the time Of the Jayhawkers.
"On one occasion just as ! reached
the place the James and Anderson
crowd captured train, killing IA OF
the soldiers having charge Of II They
ran tie train off SOME distance and
robbed the passengers. There were
so of the gang They went into camp
near the place to which they took the
train One hundred and fifty militia
men were sent TO capture them The
militia did not effect their capture. On
the contrary. SO OF the militia were
buried IN single grave.
Next / drove for Barton and San
derson from 1865 to 1870. from Fort
Scott to Kansas City. ] also drove
ahead Of the Missouri, Kansas &
Texas railway when It was being con-
structed in the 7Os, driving ahead Of
its terminus until il reached Sherman
Tex
WAS l ever held up? Yes, more
than dozen times ! was more fire.
quently held up by the James and An
derson gangs than by any others. ]
was never molested personally. The
robbers always took the valnables of
the passengers and the registered let
ter mail and rifed the express. Some
times the Jayhawkers would also rob
me OF my horses, leaving the stage
standing lonesome in the middle of the
road
"Once when the Jayhawkers held me
up their leader, who was named Ander
son, went through the express bundles.
One OF them contained pair OF very
fine bots and a box of good cigars for
a colonel Of a regiment. When Ander-
son opened the package and saw its
contents he sat down. pulled of his
own boots and tried the new ones be
longing to the colonel. He emptied the
cigars out OF the box and handed the
cigars around. giving me several of
them. He then told me after the rob.
berry had been completed to give. his
compliments to the colonel
Anderson was picturesque char
acter. | remember one incident that
occurred that impressed me with his
admiration Of grit and bravery. On this
occasion tall, lanky, raw-bcncd chap
was among the passengers. Anderson
asked him for his valuabIes. He re-
Piled 7
81 haIn't got none
Anderson then asked him where he
was going. He said he was going to
look for the leader of the Jayhawkers.
a man by the name cf Andersen. An
derson asked him what he was going
TO co with him after he had found him.
The lanky chap said:
'Jine him and his gang
Could you swim the Missouri
river?
81 guess so, II had to-
Anderson next asked
"Could you kill mang The would
be recruit replied:
"Guess so. II had to-
Anderson then spat in the lanky
chaps face. He had hardly done so
before the lanky one had knocked An
derson down and was on top of him.
Anderson's gang, who had been snick-
ering at the stranger. promptly pulled
him of and Anderson got up, shook
the dirt Off him and said:
"Youll do; III take YOU
"The lanky one asked then;
Who are your
"Oh, I'm only Anderson, the leader
Of, those Jayhawkers you have just
Joined
The stage went on without tho
anky passenger heard afterward lie
became one of the most daring and
prominent members of the gang.
"On another occasion. Just as | go'
Into Huntsville, the Jayhawker ganl
was there. They had gone into mum
ber of stores. took what they wanted
and had either made the merchants
open their safes, which they rifed, ol
had broken the safes open with {
sledge hammer
George Damon was a liquor drum
mer. he was In town when the Jay
hawkers were robbing the place, an'
was about to go into the hotel The
ordered him 10 halt and throw up hi
hands. Instead he ran into the hotel
just as he entered the hotel door h,
was killed.
During the many times I wa
robbed there were frequently womel
on the stage. None OF them was eve
robbpv or molested by the robbers
The Nomen usually appeared at frs
10 be badly frightened. but finall
wound up by laughing and hlrtin
with the robbers or chatting wit
them frequently noticed the wome
putting powder on their faces or Akin
mp their hair. prlmping and straighteI
Ing their attire while the men wer
being relieved OF their yalg4bles."
"a