Gentleman Train Robber Traditional Cache
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!!PLEASE DO NOT ENTER CEMETERY AFTER DARK!! It wasn’t until I got older that I became more interested in the history of our little town of Franklinton. In truth, there is quite a bit of history here, as you will find in my new series of caches. I’m starting off with this one as it has been on my mind for quite some time. It just so happens that this gentleman is buried in the same cemetery as my family and remember hearing of this gentleman many times. He is not the only bit of history here, some on the good side of the law as well as the bad. Eugene Bunch, who always introduced himself as Captain J. F. Gerard was born in Mississippi on February 9, 1843. He enlisted in the Civil War in Louisiana in May, 1861 where he served in Company E. of the Third Louisiana Calvary. After the war was over, he married a girl from a neighboring parish of Tangipahoa. He was working as a school teacher in Louisiana when the couple moved to Gainesville, Texas. There he became an editor of a local newspaper. Rumor has it that he became heavily involved with gambling and may be the reason he started robbing trains. Bunch and his gang robbed trains in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi from 1888 to 1892. During this time, he robbed six trains, ending with his largest and last robbery from a train near New Orleans. The Pinkertons were hot on his trail and soon caught up with him in a swamp just outside of Franklinton. It was on August 19, 1892, that he was shot and killed and is now buried at Morris Cemetery. There is so much more to his story and how he ended up being buried there after being laid to rest some where else. You might also be interested in his treasure that, as to this day, I don’t believe has been found. Now that’s another cache in and of itself. You might ask yourself how he got the name, Gentleman Train Robber? Well its been said that every time he robbed a train, he would tip his hat to the ladies but never took their valuables. He did however take the wallets and valuables of the gentlemen on board. It appears that someone, maybe family, is still visiting this grave site so please be respectful. You are looking for a small camouflaged container slightly larger than a film canister with log only. It is placed in edge of the woods bordering the cemetery. Please replace exactly as you found it so that the next cacher will have as much fun finding it as you do. Please be respectful of the residents and it would be best to grab this one in the daytime. Be sure to look around, there is a headstone of Robert Simmons, Lieutenant in Andersons Reg. S. C. Militia, Edward P. Hodges, CPL WWI, as well as an important lawman, Wiley Pierce. Thanks, and happy hunting.
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