FRANK JAMES RIDES AGAIN, ERIE COUNTY, NEW YORK

Copyright(c) 2002 by Margaret Logan-Behrns

http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm
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SOURCE: BUFFALO EVENING NEWS-VOL.XXXIV - NO. 145 - September 27, 1897 

FRANK JAMES AGAIN 

The Notorius Former Outlaw Revisits the Scene of the Centralia Massacre - Glories in His Share 

Centralia entertained a visitor yesterday who attracted fully as muich attention as William. J.
Bryan did during the campaign, says a dispatch from the Missouri town to the St. Louis Globe-
Democrat.  It was no less a personage than the notorious Frank James, who stopped over here to
revisit the scenes of his exploits 33 years ago. Frank James drove over the battlefield of the
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Anderson marauders, pointing out the position of the opposing forces. He took great
interest in talking with old citizens, This is Frank James' first visit since the memorable
fight. He stated that Jesse James killed Maj. Johnson, that the Younger brothers were here.
Quite a number of people called upon Frank James at the Globe Hotel. The proprietor, H. O.
Threlkeld, was here on the day of the fight.  T.S. Sneed owned the hotel and was burned out.
Tom Hodge and Clint Chrisman were eye-witnesses of the fight.  W. R. McBride, now president of
the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank, helped bury the dead after the fight.  James Clark, now
engineer on the branch train, had charge of the engine that was captured by Bill Anderson's
men, September 27, 1864.  Dr. A.N. Sneed was the physician who attended on the rebel wounded.
T. J. Jennings made the coffins to bury the three dead rebels.  Capt. James R. Bryson, now a
prominent citizen, fought in the fight with Frank James.  Enock Kruit is a survivor of
Johnson's men.  It was a notable gathering. The history of the Centralia massacre, briefly
told, is as follows: Sept. 26, 1864, 350 guerrillas, under the united command of Tom and George
Todd, Si Gordon, John Thralhill, Dave Pool and Bill Anderson, encamped southwest of Centralia.
On the morning of September 27, 75 of Bill Anderson's men rode into Centralia and blundered the
stores and terrorized the citizens.  About 11:30, the passenger train arrived from St. Louis
and was captured and plundered by Anderson's men. Twenty three Union soldiers, going home on
furlows or invalided, were taken from the train, stood up in line and shot in cold blood. The
train was set on fire and started up the road under a full head of steam. The depot was burned
and the guerrillas departed for their camp. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon Maj. Johnson
arrived from Paris with 193 Union soldiers, mounted infantry. They started out after Anderson
to punish him for his depredations. The rebels came out of the timber in force. Johnson's men
dismounted and fired one volley, when the bush-whackers charged like demons, giving no quarter.
It was a slaughter, 123 Union soldiers being killed and only 3 rebels.  Such is, in brief, the
history of the bloodiest fight in the annuls of the war. Frank James seemed to glory in his
achievements, and did not deny the report that he killed 19 men with his own hand.  He was 20
years old at that time and is now 54.