Year: 1872

BLOODY BURTON..BUTCHER OF $50 MEN.


During the war hundreds of scoundrels took
advantage of the situation to plunder the de.


fenseless in the districts overrun and laid


waste by armies. They robbed and murdered
without hesitation or regard to sentiment.
Their hands were against every man, and eve
ry mans hand was against them. One of the
most ferocious and horrible creatures of this
class was known to live in the Ozark Noun
tains, near the Arkansas and Missouri State


line, and in very short time he was spoken
of and feared in that region, both by citizens
and soldiery. The name of the rufian, robber
aud red-handed murderer was Frank Burton,
and he was originally horse thief in Arkan-
sas, but was so closely pursued into Texas by
a crowd bent on lynching him, that he con-
cluded to seek pastures new, and found them
in the Ozark Mountains Forsyth, Missouri,
and Carrolton, Arkansas, are about forty miles
apart, and at the side of the road between
them Burton selected his place Of abode He
built half hut at tie mouth Of natural
cave in tho side of the mountain, about four
hundred feet above the road, and there lived
alone Few people saw him and lived to re-
late it afterward. He always carried long
rifle and heavy side-arms, and would shoot
down and rob any unfortunate enough to
come within range of his gun. After his
deeds began to be known, detachment of
Federal soldiers was sent after him a halt
dozen different times, but always returned one,
two or half dozen men short. Burton wore
and old butter-nut suit, much the color of the
trees and rocks on the mountain side, and was
an adept at hiding himself and slipping from
bush to bush without being seen. On one oc-
casion company of twenty or thirty men
hunted him for week, and at last got him on
mountain, which they surrounded. They
then started up the slope, but had proceeded
only few PAGES when puff of smoke issued
from behind a rock two hundred yards away
and the foremost man fell with bullet hole
through his chest. Before the others had re-
covered from their surprise another puff of
smoke was seen and another man fell. The
survivors made rush for the rock, firing as
they ran, but ere they reached it another shot
from the deadly rifle of the robber brought
down third man. The party at last reached
the rock only to find that the assassin had dis
appeared without leaving trace. While
looking for his track they again heard the
crack Of his rifle, and another of their num-
Der dropped dead. This was continued until
terror took possession of the party, and they
beat hasty retreat, nearly one-half of those
remaining being convinced that the object Of
their search was something more than mortal.
The General in command Of that district, at
last offered large reward for the head of the
scoundrel, and the reward was increased when
it was found that he continued to rob and kill
unmolested. $4,000 was at last offered for
him dead or alive, and description Of him
was printed and circulated among the troops.
He was described as short and heavy set, with
immense and muscular hands and arms. His
hair and rough unkempt beard were black as
the plumage of crow, and he was utterly
filthy and disgusting in appearance, as ne
sometimes did not wash his face or hands in
weeks. The neighbors living too near him he
killed or drove away, and it is said, and prob
ably with truth, that he murdered no less than
one hundred and eighty persons while in that
region. One family, living within couple
of miles of his cave, he spared for his own
convenience. The family consisted of the
father, halfwitted puny creature, the wife
and one child, boy ten or twelve years old.
Burton, when in the neighborhood, occasion
ally visited the house and forced them to fur
nish him with provisions. He threatened
them with death if they ever admitted that
they knew him, or that he came to the house,
and as they knew that he would keep his word
they answered all inquiries by denying that
they knew or had ever seen him. The hut in
which the family lived was at the base Of the
mountain, and stood in the centre of cleared
slope, about three hundred yards across.


Burton, when coming to the house, would stop
at the edge of the clearing and carefully in
spect the premises to satisfy himself that no
enemies were concealed there. Finding that
all was secure, he would then hail the family
and order the man and boy to leave, which
they never failed to do. With his rifle on his
arm he would then advance to the cabin and
direct the woman to prepare his dinner or
breakfast, as the case might be. The woman
feared and loathed him, but was afraid to re-
fuse, knowing that he would shoot her down
at the first word of remonstrance.


Two Federal soldiers, in camp seven miles
from the spot, concluded to attempt his cap
ture, and obtaining leave of absence, started
for the house. Before leaving camp they
dressed themselves in dirty, tattered linen
clothing, although the month was November,
and the weather was bitterly cold. One of
them was Zachariah Thomas, of Company A.,
First Iowa Cavalry, and the other was men,
Der of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, whose name
is forgotten. On approaching the house, they
concealed their pistols in the woods, and with
out arms of any kind entered the clearing
and hailed the woman. It was then about
twilight, and both men we're shivering with
cold and fear, and Thomas afterwards said
he would have given anything he possessed to
have been out Of the scrape. The woman an
swered the call, and they told her that they
wanted to see Burton. She said he was not
there, but they insisted that they must see
him, and would remain until he came. The
woman, finding that they were obstinate, at
last consented to let them remain over night,
and promised to send her son for Burton in
the morning. They passed a miserable and
anxious night, and rose long before daylight
About o'clock the boy returned and repor-
ted that he had found Burton and informed
him that two men were waiting to see him.
Burton had answered that he would come over,
and in few minutes afterwards he appeared
at the edge of the clearing. Thomas and his
walked out to the gate and they
each other for moment or two in
silence. Burton did not seem pleased at their
appearance, and once or twice drew up his
gun as if to fire. They shouted to him not to
shoot, and, throwing up their arms, declared
that they had no weapons. Burton took an
other survey of them, and finally slowly ap-
preached, informing them that he would fire
ON them ON the least appearance of treacherY