The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-12

further. that any time he could not
keep up with the sound men he would
kill himself. so far as he and Frank
were concerned, they did not propose
to be surrounded and caught like rats
in a trap.
After considerable pickering Cole
Younger told the James brothers to
cut loose IN their W account. The
Youngers nae always held together
and they would go through TO the
end. And then the James brothers
made that marvellous getaway. 1t
seemed that all OF Minnesota knew
they were going. II was known that
two of the bandits mounted on gray
horses were riding westward. well
remember a party OF men who
had been out shooting prairie chick
ems near Jackson firing their guns
to discharge the birdshot and loading
them with heavy buckshot. for word
lad been received to guard the bridges
across the Des Moines River. That
very night the James boys crossed the
river at a point thirty miles further
north and continued their way west
ward to Dakota and thence on to
Nebraska, where all trace OF them
was lost.
They were pursued. but the pur-
suers were stood of by a few shots
from the deadly AS. once they
stopped in a swamp and Frank James
went forth in the night and captured
u doctor. He forced the physician to
20 with him to the swamp and by
the light of a lantern dress the wound
of Jesse James. Then they mounted
their horses and rode off into the
night. That was the last that was
seen Of them until they reached Mis-
souri,.
Meanwhile the four other men
moved slowly in a southwesterly di-
J rection. But they did not get far.
Pursued by a strong posse. they finally
took refuge in a thicket on the banks
Of the Watonwan River. Here they
made their last stand and fought off
their pursuers with their heavy "A
revolvers. But the men hunters
meant business and poured volley
after volley OF shots into the thicket.
severely injuring the already
badly wounded men. Cole Younger.
who had escaped harm at North
field. was wounded. Then Bob
Younger came out OF the thicket
waving a white handkerchief on
the end Of a stick and announced
their surrender. Charlie Pitts died
soon after from his injuries and II
was not believed that lin Younger
would survive. But he did.
The three Youngers were taken to
Faribault, the county seat OF Rice
county. in which Mortified IL situated,
and tried on Indictments for the MUIR
der OF j. l.. Haywood. They all
pleaded guilty and were sentenced TO
Imprisonment for life in the State
penitentiary at saltwater. There was
a law at that time in Minnesota which
prevented capital punishment on a
plea OF guilty.
Thus ended disastrously one OF the
most famous raids OF the James
Younger gang. OF the eight who rode
into Mortified so jauntily that Sep
TENDER day three were dead and three
in prison for life. Only the James
brothers escaped and they got away
on their indomitable nerve. Had Jesse
James's advice been taken and Jim
Younger and Charlie Pitts killed Cole
and Bob Younger might have made
NhNll 'S'dpt'
How the men managed to live dur
ing the days they were trying tC
escape was almost a mystery. Ir
the haunts of their former exploit.
the inhabitants always could ne de
pended upon to furnish them foe,
and shelter and through f%riendlinesi
or fear inform them Of danger. II
Minnesota every person who saw
them gave the alarm. One man the,
captured and compelled to give then
food and forage was kept with then
for some time. He was threatene,
with death and finally compelled 4
. swear strong oaths that he would no
mention having seen them. Thu
bandits, after their capture, com
planned bitterly because this man VIC
: lated his forced obligation and CAV
> information which helped the pursuing
party to track them. In their forme
haunts such a betrayal would hav
: meant a visit at some future tim
!, and death for the informer.
Fol the most part the bandits gath
, cred food from the fields and live
: on roasted corn, chickens from tn
hen yards and a pig from the farm
: yard. When they went to a farm
! house and demanded food they oh
. tanned II. but It furnished another clu
to their whereabouts, as the farme
informed the authorities as soon a
they departed. Several times the
took fresh mounts and horses wer
!. found by their owners many mile
distant. The gray horses which tn
, James boys rode carried them NOR