The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-12-05
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
From the Casket:
THE ROBBER CHIEF.

~N '"N yO~ AOOS viz DlaCk FOTosb was
infested with poachers. When game was
scarce they levied contributions on travel
lers, and having ensed them of their prop
erty, they returned to conceal themselves
in the woods. Robbers and poachers are
almost synonymous; in fact, a man who
steals game at night, armed to the teeth, is
seldom backward in numbering anv one
who opposes him, and, when game is
wanting, 1t is easy TO replace it by purse
OF gold; and with this advantage, that there
is no need of going to market 10 dispose Of
the spoil. Besides, il is merely drawing
a trigger in either case. The chief of ,hes
marauders was young man of good fam.
lly, born at Aschafenbourg. Libertinism
had hurried him into crime. In love with
young girl who had been refused TO his
ADDRESS, he resolved to carry her off; and
to avoid the pursuit Of she law he Joined
himself to knot Of dissolute young men,
who had already taken the Forest for their
abode. Determined and intrepid, they soon
became the terror of the gamekeepers and
woodsmen, who were speedily quieted by
an unseen fowling- piece, whenever an attack
on these lawless men was meditated. After
a time no one dared to pass through the
Forest,nor even TO travel alone in its neigh
borhood after dark.
Hans Rudinet, who had become chief
of the band, soon grew tired of the young
creature for whom he had first adopted the
profession OF robber; the gentleman loved
variety, and under different guises traver-
sed the neighboring villages, where, if he
saw handsome woman he wonld watch
her movements, and track her footsteps.
until the desired opportunity arrived; when
Pouncing on her like bird of prey, lie
would bear her off 10 the Forest. Nine
young women were in this manner taken
away from the vicinity of Frankfort, eight
o. whom returned, soon or late to their
houses, some i'll, some mothers, and all
more or less desolate. Hans Rudnet lett
other spois 10 his comrades, provided he
kept the women to himself. An excellent
marksman, the deer, the wild boar, or the
goat that passed within two hundred pa.
ces of his arquebuss received its contents
in his heart. Ifthe foresters assembled to
attack the poachers, the latter allowed The
former to advance deep into the forest, and
then' at signal gignel by Hans, all fred
at once, and rarely did it happen that man !
unhurt escaped to carry the news of their
neighbors. The comrades of Hans aimed
at the trunk oftheir adversary; but he in.
varla5ly lodged his ball in the left eye of
the man he singled out When a poor
wretch was found dead, with the left eye
pierced, the peasants would say, "This is
the work of Hans Rudinet."
These enormities could not but bring on
a catastrophe. The Senators of Frankfort
assembled TO devise means for destroying
or dispensing this horde of Prigands Some
troops were placed at their disposal, and
all the young men of the district joined in
lhe crusade proclaimed against the robbers;
hey were resolved to capture Hans RudI-
net, and bring him. dead or alive, into the
own. The forest was surrounded, and
lfler desperate resistance, all the poach-
'rs were taken, except the chief. They
were conducted to Frankfort 10 be tried
md executed, and great part Of the neigh
'oling population hastened to be present
1t this spectacle. Men and women reioi-
led in the downfall of their enemies, but b
he satisfaction was not entire, because
Hans Rudnct lad escaped. A young
woman, holding little boy by the hand, c
toOd near the gibbst, watching the execu- G
iOner preparing to perform his office;when
urning to observe man, who pressed 4
lose TO her, she observed Hans, and was
bout to utter a cry, but he whispered, f
Silence, or that child shall soon be an or d
'han." She was silent, but the words q