The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Rear View of Home of Alex
ander Hilton on Shades
Mountain

native state. Missouri Jayhawkers,
partly disorganized bands of federal
soldiers, Were ravaging the country,
and it was not long before the iden-
came known, and his life placed in
jeopardy. 1t was at the home of his
uncle that Mr.. Hilton first met Jesse
and Frank James, afterwards the fa-
nous James brothers, who were at
that time leaders of a band of guerilla
soldiers. These boys, we'll known to
the uncle of Mr. Hilton, were frequent
visitors at his house and often warned
the young ex-Confederate of impend-
ing danger
1t was some two weeks after Hill
toms arrival in Missouri that the Jay
hawkers made their first attempt upon
his life. He was captured at the home
of his uncle by band of II men,
who took him from the house and
prepared to hang him.
Mr.. Hilton's own words in describ-
ing the trying moments that followed
present a vivid picture:
MY utter helplessness,' he said. 'in
the hands of these men, whom l knew
placed no value upon human life.
rather maddened than terrified me-
had been in tight places before, but
had had always a fair chance for life
This was my first experience in the
life with which ] was soon to become
familiar-but with positions reversed
My captors tied a rope about my neck
and marched me some distance from
the house into the woods. 1t was bit
ter cold, and l was clad only in my
undergarments. My teeth chartered
as | made by way limping over the
snow-covered ground. This taken for
fear by my captors, increased their
taunts and jeers. Some distance in the
woods a suitable tree was selected
and hasty preparations were made to
bring about my end. Helpless before
them, they could not forego the op-
portunity to taunt me, and to their
my life. They jeered me for being a
rebel taunted me with defeat, and
Str1lPlS fa
with their hands. Finally, l was or
dered to pray"
The old man paused. He drew the
back of his hand across his forehead
and with a whimsical smile, said,
retrospectively, Il had never been near
church. In fact, l never saw one
until was IS years old, and the only
prayer that. l had ever heard was
grace said by my father at meal
time Instinctively this invocation
returned and without thinking Of the
humor of my supplication, knelt upon
the snow and fervently exclaimed, 'Oh.
'eNNit many hs lildllhlul lOT WHdl we
are about to receiver
The jeers of my captors were still
ringing in my ears when I heard a
guard, placed in the outskirts of the
woods, give command to halt.
Halt. hell!' The words rang out
on the frozen night air. 1t was a
clear, fearless voice, and a voice which
| was often to follow in love and
admiration in after years Almost
simultaneous with the exclamation
the cracking of pistols followed and
in a few moments Jesse James and
Cole Younger came dashing through
the woods, firing as they came Be-
fore their impetuous charge my cap
tors broke and fled, leaving seven of
their number lifeless upon the frozen
ground.
Startled by the unexpectedness of
my rescue, | remained almost literally
frozen to the spot, the halter still
about my neck, unable to express my
qualification. jesse James rode to-
ward me SINKING
You had pretty close call. Alex,
he laughed unconcernedly, as he re-
moved the rope from my neck and
assisted me to my feet.
mat night l slept between Jesse
James and Cole Younger.
The next morning Jesse remarked
to my uncle that they intended to
engage the Jayhawkers the following
day near AIonteagau Springs. This at
tack was my first encounter under
the leadership of the afterward notori
Gus guerilla leader and highwayman.
During the next few years Mr.. Hill
ton was member of Jesse James
famous band of outlaws Hc was a
constant comIAnion of both jesse and