The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-07-16
BALTIMORE, JULY 8,

morning, (July % most daring robbery
of the eastern mail was committed about
two miles east of the Great Falls of
Gunpowder. The mail was on its way
| from the east to Baltimore, and at the
place above mentioned was arrested in
! its progress by fence which bad been
erected across the road. The night
was dark, but the lamps Of the carriage
Showed to the guard and driver the ma
ture Of the obstruction, and at once led
them TO anticipate lis object We learn
from the guard that when the mail was
thus stopped, he saw four men, and
three being near each other, he fired
his bluuderbuss among them. They ia
stantly uttered loud yolling shouts, and
two of the robbers came up TO the car
riage, one on each side of H. The
guard then seized bis pistols and dis
charged them at the men, bnt he be-
lieves neither of them took effect. The
robbers then advanced TO the carriage,
and seized the guard and the driver
The guard was struck across the head
with a pistol with which one of the ruff
fans was armed, and the blow deprived
him, for a short time, Of his senses
The driver being stout active man,
jumped from the carriage, and, after
scuifie with two of the robbers who had
seized on him, he finally made his es-
cape from them and got off unhurt, al
though shot was fired after him.
The guard was taken about thirty
yards from the carriage, when the ruff
fan who had first struck him, stood over
him with a pistol presented to his breast.
The villain asked the guard why he
had fired at him-to which the latter
replied he was only doing his duty
that he was sworn to protect the mail.
Some of the robbers called out 10 their
comrades to shoot him, or they would
shoot him (the robbery The guard
begged earnestly for his life; as they
talked Of tying hin, and kept him in
the most anxious suspense as 10 bis fate.
At one time the rebber held his hands "a
cross the eyes of the guard for about
five minutes. Daring the time that
these events took place (Which the
guard suppeses was about half an hour)
the rest of the robbers were engaged in
rifiing the mail. The robber then d.
rected the guard to sit down at the foot
of tree, at the road side and not to stir
at the peril Of bis life. The robber then
went towards the wagon, and the guard
heard one of them say-'s The packet IS
ready"--or " Tie packet is eating for u.s.
After short time, the guard slipped
of his shoes and crawIed iuto the woods
Il short distance, where he remained I'M
til the driver returned with Mr.. Rouse,
the postmaster at Joppa, and two or
three other persons. They found the
mailbag cut open, and, in looking bout
the spot where the robbers had been
fired at with the tIunderbuss. much
blood was discovered, and traced to a
neighbouring field. The faces Of the
| robbers were BACKED shirt was
also found, which has the appearance of
belonging to blacksmith.
The country round about has been a.
harmed, and vigilant search is making in
every direction for the apprehension of
| the robbers. AS soon as the. delay in
the regular arrival of the mail authoriz-
ed the suspicion of a robbery, Mr..
Stokes, one of the mail-contraclors, i'm
mediateIy left the city to ascertain the
cause. Parties Of horsemen have since
left the city to aid in the search, and
every possible vigilance has been adopt
ed to cause the arrest of the robbers.
We learn from Mr.. Skinner, that the
mail for Baltimore is perfect in every
part. That part of the mail which has
been robbed was Intended for places
south of Baltimore-and the depreda-
ton, Judging from appearances, has been
only to a small ertent. The robbers, it
is presumed, hurried off for fear Of be-
ing detected BY those whom the driver
might alarm.
T. S.-SIuca writing the above. we
have learned that traces Of blood were
discovered IN the woods about Gfty wards
from where the robbery was commit
ted; and from the circumstance Of a
grabbing hoe and spade, with blood on
the handle, being found there, it is sup
posed that the robber mentioned as fired
at, was either killed or so badly wound
ed that his companions, fearful ii would
lead to a discovery, PIT an end to his er-
iyteace and buried him.
Ha!fpaSt one O'Clock
We have just heard that three per-
sons have been arrested at Ridgcly's
Forge, one of whom is wounded in the
breast, and another has one OF his hands
nnch shnito rod tLcM ,rn sn.-- ctal A.