Life and adventures of Frank and Jesse James, the noted western outlawsDacus, J. A. (Joseph A.)
History
Life and adventures of Frank and Jesse James, the noted western outlaws
Dacus, J. A. (Joseph A.)
Brigands and robbers; James, Frank, 1844-1915; James, Jesse, 1847-1882
Tuesday morning, May 27th, 1873, was lovely, as such spring days
are, when the sun is bright, and the flowers blooming, and the
air balmy. Mr. O. D. Harris, cashier of the bank known as the
Ste. Genevieve Savings Association, being a gentleman of fine
sensibilities, thought so as he sniffed the delicious aroma of the
perfume-laden air, when he wended his way to the bank, and so he
said to his friends who saluted him by the way. Arriving at the
bank--it was just about the hour of opening--he was joined by young
Mr. Rozier, a son of General Firman A. Rozier, then president of
the bank. As Mr. Harris was about to enter the bank office, his
attention was momentarily engaged by the appearance of two men who
were walking on the street in front of the building, and looking
up at it with an intense interest. They were just passing it,
when suddenly they turned, and came back as though they intended
to enter. They approached the steps and commenced to ascend them,
preceded by Mr. Harris, who, having reached the front office,
started at once to go behind the counter. He had not progressed
half the distance when he was suddenly arrested by a harsh,
authoritative command:
"Stop! Surrender, d--n you!"
Of course Mr. Harris stopped, but could not turn round, because the
fellow who had given the command had two pistols, with muzzles
against his temple.
The other fellow presented a pistol at the head of young Rozier,
and called out:
"You keep still, you d--d little rat, if you don't want to die in
an instant."
"I? for what?"
"Not another word, young chap! That's enough! A blabbing tongue can
be stopped d--d easy."
Fearing to remain, and impelled by a sudden and overpowering desire
to take his departure, young Rozier sprang down the steps, near the
landing of which he was standing, and fled swiftly from the place.
As he ran away, the fellow fired at him, the bullet cutting its way
through his coat on the shoulder, and just grazing his person.
A neighbor across the way saw the robber with his pistols at the
cashier's head, and started to get his gun. Just at that moment the
other robber fired at Mr. Rozier, and the wife of the neighbor,
seeing the predicament of Mr. Harris, dissuaded her husband from
attempting to fight them, because she feared resistance would
inevitably lead to the shooting of Mr. Harris. Young Rozier, after
his escape, gave the alarm to the citizens, who at once began
preparations to make an attempt to capture the bold marauders.
Meanwhile Mr. Harris, without arms, was helpless, and could only
comply with the demands of the robbers.
"Open that safe!" thundered out one of them.
"Certainly, sir. I cannot do otherwise," said Mr. Harris. The safe
was opened.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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