The Blount County News and Dispatch, 31 Oct 1889 The Rube Burrows Excitement. For the past six days the eastern part of this County has been fearfully excited over the advent of two men heavily armed, who were passing through the country, and were supposed to be the notorious desperado Rube Burrows and one of his pals. On Thursday night Deputy Sheriff John E. Morris, accompanied by Messrs. E.O. McCord, Tom. Roberts and John Morris, Jr., left for Brooksville, the Chepultepec mail carrier having reported the desperadoes as being at Anderton, seven miles South of Blountsville in the morning, from whence they left in the direction of Brooksville. About midnight, the desperadoes were found to be at the house of Bud Ashworth not far from Gibb's Chapel, about three miles from Brooksville, where they had retired for the night, and here they could have been captured, but Mrs. Ashworth being in delicate health, they were requested not to fire, and the two fellows escaped by the back door, and were not seen until Friday, when they were surrounded near the same place in a thicket on the first plateau of a high hill or mountain. It was in this vicinity that Henry Anderton and Penn Woodward were killed, and John Hearn had his arm shattered near the shoulder. The conflict took place about 3:30 p.m. On Saturday Sheriff A.H. Morris arrived from Birmingham with supplies of ammunition, detectives and two bloodhounds. The search for the desperadoes was kept up all day Sunday and Monday, without any result save that one of the hounds was killed on Sunday by a shot fired by one of the desperadoes. On Monday night news came that one of the men (the smallest one) had surrendered, but on Tuesday that rumor was contradicted, by a man who left camp at midnight on Monday night; nor had the desperadoes been seen all Monday. The pursuers were expecting mounted troops this (Tuesday) morning. We greatly fear the villains have escaped. Henry Anderton was an excellent young man, aged about 23 years, unmarried, who resided with his mother near Liberty; Penn Woodward was married and the father of three children. May God comfort the two bereaved women and the three fatherless children. We could fill columns with the wild rumors afloat, but when sifted there is nothing worth publishing. The mail rider from Walnut Grove arrived at noon on Tuesday, and reports the arrival of the mounted men. If the desperadoes are any where in the section of country lately held by them they will soon be captured. [Notes: William Penn Woodward was born 1860; he was buried in the Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery; Henry M. Anderton was born 6 Mar 1860 and died 25 Oct 1889. Anderton was buried in the Sivley Cemetery at Brooksville]. The Blount County News and Dispatch, 7 Nov 1889 The men supposed to be Rube Burrows and his pal Jackson, it now appears, were Charlie Smith alias Johnson and Jim Stringer, known as the Blockton moonshiners who had a fight with C.C. Reed U.S. Deputy Marshal, near Blockton about four or five weeks ago. The wretches have added murder to their other crimes, and Gov. Seay offers Four Hundred ($400) Dollars reward for their capture. Appeal to the Charitable. Mrs. Woodward, the widow of the murdered Penn Woodward and her three children need the assistance of the charitably disposed, and James Herring, who was wounded in the arm also needs help. The following gentlemen have been appointed a committee: Abram Hyatt, A.G. McAbee and Peter Martin to collect Subscriptions for their relief. Mr. Richard Nation, of Blountsville, will receive subscriptions by mail. These people call for, and deserve the sympathy of the people of Alabama, and let all who can act generously towards them. Sheriff Morris and Posse. On Wednesday morning, Oct., 30th, 1889, Sheriff A.H. Morris, deputy Sheriff J.E. Morris, Messrs. R. Nation, J.I. Williams, V. Hood, Wm. Griffin, R.L. Thomas, G.G. McCluskey, Wm. Neely, David Nation, M.N. NeSmith, J.J. Campbell, J.B. Morris, James Hill, John Anderton, James Dunn, Sylvester Anderton, George Brown, B. Wimpey, F.P. Smith, James Campbell and Rufus McCay left Walnut Grove in pursuit of the two men who killed Anderton and Woodward at Liberty, making for Ben. Pinkston's on Sand Mountain west of Jourden Gap in Etowah County. When reaching Ben. Pinkston's found that one of the desperadoes had eat dinner there Monday and bought a pair of gray jeans pants. He passed Jourdan Gap at dusk same evening and tried to buy a lunch. He then went through Shuffel Gap on the Walnut Grove road, leading by the way of Jug Factory Gap, reaching the residence of W.D. Thomas at day light Tuesday morning-eat breakfast, went to bed and barred the room door and slept until 1 o'clock. He got up and eat dinner and tried to hire Thomas to carry him to Sam. Burns near Jug Factory Gap, where he went and spent the night. Thursday morning he started in the direction of Albertville. After traveling three miles he came upon Sheriff Morris and posse at a curve in the road. He broke for the thicket and the posse fired three shots without effect. The surrounded the thicket as best they could, and sent two men to Greenwood to telegraph for dogs, but as they could not get an answer, the returned to the camps. Thursday night the Sheriff and posse gave up the drive and came home. The Blount County News and Dispatch, 14 Nov 1889 There must be several Rube Burrows operating in this State from what the newspapers say. He was reported in Etowah, Cleburne and Jefferson counties about the same time. This looks as if Rube was a sort of ubiquitous fellow. There's a limit to human credulity, and should these rumors continue much longer people will conclude that Burrows is a myth. The terrible tragedy enacted near Gibbs Chapel, in this County, is too real for doubt, and we hope the murderers of Penn Woodward and Henry Anderton may be captured and hung as high as Haman was on the gallows that he had erected for Mordecai. The Blount County News and Dispatch, 19 Dec 1889 Two men, named Rufus Smith and Jim McClung, supposed to belong to the Rube Burrows gang, were captured at Amory, Miss., on the night of the 13th, and were lodged in jail at Aberdeen. Both are from Lamar County, Ala. McClung is outspoken and denies any knowledge of the "Gang." Smith is very reticent, and as he has been recently in Indian Territory, appearances are against him. Notes: For more information, visit the site below: http://www2.tombigbee.net/sections/at_home/athome_hero04_2003.html