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Fags 1
jor, Lett's, PW.,Wiehlta al1s, ...as
'Nerds 1600
-LAYS WITH JESUS JAMES
With an Irish accent, an Irish chuckle, and an Irish
twinkle in his eye, James Meanire, 98 year old vet-
eran of the Jivil War, is an interesting talker.
He vieits his son G.R.VeGuire, 208 Burnett Street,
lichita Falls, Texas. Though at preent (1937) a
resident of the Soldier's Rome in Leavenworth, Kansas,
Wichita Falls clai7s im as he was a cowhand for
Waggoner in the early days. Born in Kilkenny County,
Irilend, in 1838, McGuire came to the U'llted Sttes
in 18b7, locating at St. Louie, MO. t the out-
break of the war, lie volunteered his services, en+
listihg in ,;c). B. 11th Regiment, Missouri volunteers
at Jefferson Barracks, nee* St. Louis. Tle described
tevidly the battle of Chattanooga and Cniekmaugua.
The regiments were const ntly on tne march and his
"legs gave out". He 37,ent five me the in the
hospital in Cnickemaugua. The hardest battle wan
the stru&ae at Vicksburg Lending, aissiseinel,
July 4 to July 7, 186o. Both sides lost heavily
a:Hd the soldiers suffer -d for lack of food. Lat,r
the regiment moved on to Savannah, Georgia, to
join Shermn in his torch to the sea. The follow-
ing reminiscences in'lude his aeAuaintance with the
James boys and experience with the Indians.
wYe I knew Frank Er'd Jesse Tames. New don't misunderstand me.
I nevar was with them in their meandorings or maraudinge, but we were
raised in the same c:mnuulty and as young fellows, they were pretty
good boys.
"I ;Ts living in St. Joseph, 10. when I heo:me ac4uai-ted with
them. net was in tho days of couree before they bmonne tnr? motarieus
b-nk and tr in robbers. I also knew the Younger brothers, nob Ford
end the Dalton boys. We all went to grammar school together in St.141,110.
"We had a favorite swimming nob o in the 'Ussouru River end it be-
came a favorite 87,ot for us on the hot su-ner days. /t s a favorit- lx
trick of Frank's to throw mud rt ZesSe when he c -me VI of the water.
3ne day Jesse fled taken ,i,ouz enough of it and he rushed et Frank and
told hiM he'd klil him if he didn't stop his tensings.
kettle, PW.,WIthila Falls, to
s 1300
Dip WITH MISSEE JAW (eont'd)
"The real turning point in she
bilthers came when one day their site
/mpg by a mob in the orchard at his
deOperadoes. A negro servnnt was Ire
Sad him and biased off his arm with
'Wank James appealed to the go
ThS gpvernor said that ne would give
I'll protect; myself' he said. An
.that later terrorised the so
'Vole YOun:er told me that iTes
Zanies boys and Bob and Cole To
huOry to =Ike a get -c -way. Bob was w
sh iff's posse. :ass. turned to Col
awalgt• Cole said would do no such
--7F
toilet away', Jossi; said and they did.
the at the mercy or the posse. That
a
SO site or Sulphur, Oklahoma.
"One or the most daring escapes
WO bank rabbitry at Clarkville,
,ft40 :ease swung into the town -n hr
todB that amount. officers, giving
hiSi He me* his brother Frank en the
'part or the way to the meeting
in Order to keep bloodhounds from tral
journeyed on, Frank ridiAg he
the destiny of Its Zama
ther, a man named Banderol, was.
Jig was acausad or harboring
d cruelly by a gong drum who
ignited turpintine ball.
nor of the state for proteetion.
provudtion. 'If I' don't get
that time the two boys formed
western section or the country.
amen knew no mercy. one time
pulled a bigrjob and were in a
dad, viehanging shots with a
d Bald 'Kill Bob ard ler's get
ng. 'Well, !no* and I have
They left the reel or mnxikukke
k ;lams in Indian Territory
by Zees* and Frank Tames Be.
on Red River, in the early
ek one day and single handed
it shot the horse rrlin under
r side or the river.
ee Tes:43 walked a picket fence
him, When he joined Frank,
With the money, Soon Ilkley net
Jr, Untie, PW.,W1ohlta Falls, To.
Words 1400
Pegs 3
DAB i-H SR :3E IA7E
a doctor driving a horse and buggy. They took his horse. A little
faneher on they met a negro on horse leek. They took his saddle and
bridle. Seale new hiA h rse and saddle so the: made their get -a -way.
"The it Jetting wxperience ever had in all y lire was wh n
I Was a cowhand for :an Waggoner in 1671. I was working jI.Lit then in
Green Co. :me day ftegener sent me end three other cowboys to round
up a bunch of onttle that had stampeded. We became sc,,,Darated, and when
croe T lay down weer a meaquite vush to sleep. It wai in Aigust
1871. Along in the night I wee awakened by es,, -A no shakirg me by the
sh,,ldere. I lo Iced up into the face et an Indian. 'S sid,'White man
sabe Indian I sho)k my head. The Indian arid 'Come go with me then,'
in ,lerfect Nnglish. I snid, '0, NO, *A me', but three m re Indians
In in their appearance so I changed ny mind. I aid, 'I was just joking.
I'll go, uf course'. You see I'd left my gun and ammunition in Us
pocket of my saddle and they had Buck, my horse, so I didn't see any
use in refusing to go.
"The Indians tied my hands and gent together, and swung me beneath
the horses belly and thets the way I rode to their camp.
"Their chief was half wlAte and half Osage. Fe was good to me
when we got tnere; no told me to sit down by him 9nd he oroerd soup
and istit and we /*twat
d. e were sitting in a circle a d the Indians
had built a fire in the middle. I ailed 'Wnat that for and the clef
said "Po burn you." Isaid, 'I'll 13 durned if you'll burn me alive.
You might burn me anon I'm dead, but you'll have to kill 'le fliait and
Vore got T:iy knife and so bard inside my slArt.'
!!ell you see I'm still
alive. Maybe he just said that ot noire me. Indins think its funny
to lc re folks. I'll never forget t dancing they did that night.
,jkovVI 1117's LI Goat 't
Lefts, Ptg.,,lehlta Falls, vexes Page 4
0
*I wa.; c tivn six .ionts and durirg that tin I learned to use
the bop and arrow and Lu t buffalo and antelope.
.$0.0ne c:ay I told the chief the; I'd like to go beck to my people.
TherCbe wondering whr I was. HO gave me a bovi and thirty-two
arrows. o co -:melee, a horie, and ./40 in gold and tole me, 'See that eta
,blimhthat and you'll 0070 to Achitm Falls.'
!tut about fifteen Indhans followed me. I reached the 7orth4
Saha Canadian rivers and swam my horse across, with the Indians yelli
-4S-Me to co n book. I got to Wichita ells in March 1872. The city w
*MIMI hut a great tr'-ding center with a-vorel log cAl'ins scattered
about" I sold -y bow Rea arrows for ?52.
1; ateyeo tnere three days and journeyed up to the W"goner ranc
masa I 4.oce up none of them knew me. One o the cowboys w lked up to
Me saist o:Aced him if there was a chance or getting a job.
Ifter ked if I had an experience d T told that I wasn't
swill* and that I could loon learU. He walked ,rund2to the otter
midi or, the N see and sw my initi Is on the saddle. 'You neean't bide
your Ilse any longer,' ho J'im McGuire. You old narpt where
have yoll been?' but that time Waggoner himself appeared on the scene
The fret thing tie maid was 'Whfr.e's Buck ?'---sening the Morse he'd
divan us bef7-r'e my c-.ture. Then I v)10 AU, ne said, 'I'll got 50
msa and .go over theta in the orning and get. aim.' Ana they did.
',1 drew, he first aVge from Nacogdoches to 7ansfield, La.(1872-
I was Utrried Sept. 5, 1876, at Voode not office, lb miles south of
eurtbSdr, Texas. When I married I Ned 11800 in gold, four good mules,
114gOhand :;arness, four milk cows, en ,ur7h hogs to make my meat, and
hmeHlf,gouse and furniture all paid 'Or.*