Year: 1874

their venerable victims blood.


The murderers remained IN the den at Dev.
rs Creek and no one coming n with news
during that time. it was judged expedient to
send one Of their party 70 ascertain whether
the news of their crime had reached that quar-
ter, and learn the impression il had produced
Aaron Long was pitched upon for this piece OF
service, and it was decided that Harrison Red
den, the youngest son of the old man, should
accompany him. to be used in gong abroad tc
make inquiries. IN pursuance OF th!s ann the
two set forth, and on arriving at their destna-
ton not only learned that Davenport was dead,
but saw the public handbill advertising for the
murderers and describing the watch and part
of the money which they had carried OIL IN
their possession. Leaving Redden TO pros
ecute his inquiries and IL possible whether any
special person was in pursuit, Aaron Long re-
turned to Devils Creek and reported the alarm,
adding for the particular comfort Of John Long
and Fox that the description given u the
proclamation as to them was =" a ID good one
and no mistake


Upon the rendition OF this doeful news
council was held, at the end OF witch John
Long took the gun and pistol which had been
brought from the house OF Davenport aud
beckoning to Fox LETT the hut. Fox followed
and together the pair went upon tie pra!re
and secreted them. They then returned 20
the wheat field and took up the buried treasure
and the watch, which they had deposted in
that place, three nights before Betarnilg TO
the house they divided the amour: equally be
tween them, with this exception, that blrch
consented to take a small portion of money On
condition of receiving the murdered mans
watch, while the other three obtained share
OF one hundred ana forty dollars each Thus
being settled. further debate was bed, az to
what course they should pursue 20 eecure their
safety from pursuit On all hsBus II was
agreed that the excitement which their atrocious
deed had occasoned in Rock Island, would ex-
tend to the Reighborhood Of DEVILS Creek, and
that, therefore only the alternative renamed
Of an immediate and distant fight. The mur-
der OF Col, Davenport. was no ordinary crime,
and would be succeeded by no common con
sequence. The agitation which had commenced
in the circle of q small island. would widen Ike
the dow OF disturbance in laEe, and there
could be no escape from the consequences OK
the perturbation until they found safety IN
new meridian. Aaron Long, the most stupid,
but nevertheless the most cautious Of the three
preferred to go alone, but in contradiction Of
this judgment he intended 10 turn the resolu-
ton to account by stealing horse in Iowa
Territory, on which some weeks before. lie had
fixed his mind. John Long, Fox and Birch





Missouri. travelling all night. and shrinking
from the daybreak IN a thicket, and sought n
few hours OF concealment and repose Bestir-
ring themselves at ten O'Clock, they changed
clothes and otherwise disguised themselves so
as TO elude the description of the proclamation.
After this precauton they felt more AZ ease,
and ventured when they had travelled few
miles farther on, 10 stop at a farm b0rsa near
the Des MONIES River. IN order TO &c. break
fast. At this place, John Long, who repre-
sented that be was tailor by trade purchased
from the good woman OF the house large
piece OF beeswax for the purpose Of using 1t to
enclose the bank notes in their possession thai
they might be deposited in the earth without
danger Of destruction.


The murderers did not lcCer over their
morning meal but making quick despatch, pa,d
their hostess and retired, felicitatinp them
selves that they lad accomplished oil the pur-
poses OF refreshment during the absence OF
the farmer. and without being seen by any one
but the mistress and an ignorant servant maid
On leaving the farm house. they turned from
the main road and passed down ravine to
the distance Of half mile, when fDdIng a con-
venent spot they made preparation to conceal
the money and the watch, which they had been
too prudent to conceal in the ne;ghborhood Of
Devils Creek. Old Redden would have smelt
them out il they had been anywhere IN the CIR
Gle OF half a mile said John Long, lp ac-
counting afterwards for this change OF place,
and no tin box or beeswax would have ever
broken his SCENT


Carefully looking around TO see that no OBJ
server was perched on any angles Of The scene
and that no eavesdropper was peering among
the trees. the brigands took out from their
pockets and their secret belts, not only the
money which they had recently obtained at
Rock Island, but a considerable amount OF
other property which they had accumulated in
recent depredatons. Among thls was Por-
tion of the money which had been obtained by
Fox and Long, in the robbery Of strawn, in
Putnam County, Illinois, and also number OF
bank notes, which were a share Of depredations
on Knox and Dewey. These latter we're pnt
in a glass bottle and carefully sealed up,
making thus enclosed sum Of zine hundred
dollars. and by ts side. further gum OF two
hundred dollars IN coin, which With the watch,
was enclosed in the 5eeswax that Birch had
made dnctile in the sun, and deposited IN the
earth. 4 memorandum was then taken OF the
marks of the spot, and the robbers, to make
amends for the delay which this short per-
formance had occasioned, started Off on
sharp run as If they could perceive how much
nearer this detention had brought Their pur-
.uers on their heels.