Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-05-23
From the lndlaaa pa.) Register.
LEWIS. THE R0BBRR.

/ LEWIS, THE R0DBER.
Lewis was the master-spirit Of a gang Of
highway men, who lived BY rohbing travel
lers and committing depredations upon resi-
dents, chiefly between Chambersburgh and
Bedford, where they harbored in the forests
Of the mountains. They were terror to
the community, and western merchants who
travelled on horseback generally armed
themselves when going to the east, SO as to
be prepared 10 repel an attack, and for
greater security sometimes Went IN compa-
nies. II was understood, or at least beliey-
ed, that some Of Lewis band were stationed
IN Pittsbarg, where, BY mixing in genteel
society, and being unsuspected, they
would inform themselves of the time when
merchants Of that city and from parts fartll-
er west intended making their seniannnal
I trips to Philadelphia, and would then find
means 10 convey the intelligence to tlieir
accompliees along the road.
Lewis was young man man Of handsome
appearance and agreeable address, and it
vas said he supported his mother and sisters
| upon the fruits Of his unlawful pursuit.
lis more immediate associates were Conner
and Connely, who, at Tue time Of which we
are speaking, kept among the gorges Of
| Side!ing lIill, where, at distance Of sew
raj miles from the public road, they had
erected a shanty, which was well supplied
with provisions aud other comforts, whether
Lewis, after remaining about Bedford aud
Bloody Run as long as he could do 50
without exciting suspicion, or until he had
received letters which he expected, would
resort and remain FOR days aud weeks, con
Getting measures for ro6bing some unsus-
| pectiug traveller or for obtaining booty in
some other way.
Persons who have travelled the turnpike
between McConnellsburg and tue Crossings
Of the Juniata viii remember Reamer IS
tavern on the eastern slope of the mountain
and Nycum's on the western, the intervening
distance being about eight miles, which
formerly presented little else to the eye than
scrub-oak thickets, interspersed with rocks
aud fallen timber, with here and there a
slight opening, through which the cattle
feeding during the summer had troddeI
paths which served the hunter az guide and
passage when following the game along the
mountain range in winter. 1t was, indeed
| a gloomy road, with nothing to break the
monotony, save perhaps, OCCASIONALLY the
cawing of crow as she hoyered, overhead
or tie sudden bound of deer aroused from
bis lair by the noise eff approaching footsteps
and the lonely traveller, as he wended his
way slowly up the steep ascent, now urging
his jaded steed to greater effort, and now re-
lieving it by leaping from the saddle and
walking by its side, would long to gain the
summit, where be might proceed more speedi-
| ly and with more comfort to himself and
| his animal
On ascending the mountain from the west
one sees now on the south side of the turn
pike patch of cultivated ground, embrac-
ing several acres, which has been cleared
for number of years, but was dense for
est at the time to which our story has refer
enoe. ltwas here, Immediately opposite
the cleared field. that Lewis performed ons
of lis most daring exploits. and which lee
to his arrest and subsequently cost him biz
life.
! 1t appeared from what transpired after
] wards, that Lewis had received intelligence
| from Of his gang, of an individual carrying
a large SUM of money going eastward or
horseback, aud that Lewis and two associ-
ates were on the lookout for him, ready tt
make an attempt at securing the rich prize
whenever it should come within reach
From some cause or ether, however, that in
diyidual's departure was delayed; but about
the time designated by Lewis spy, q Mr.
McClelland, merchant in Pittsburgh
started for Philadelphia to purchase goods
travelling on horseback and having in his
saddlebars some two thousand dollars in
silver He had got to Nycum's on Saturday
evening, where he remained until Sunday
morning, and then early prosecuted his
journey, thinking to breakfast ut Reamer'i