Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-11-18
z Gbrilliug Storp,
THE DEN OF ROBBERS

Soon after the close vi the ias0 "o' "
between Great Britiau and the United States,
Thomas, Stogdon, tobacco planter living
in the western part of Virginia, started on
Journey for the purpose of transacting some
private business which required has atteu'
tion in one of the north. eastern counties OF
that State. His route lay across one of the
loftiest spurs of the Blue Ridge, the longest
and most picturesque mountain range in the
South
Az the times were troubled, and the pas
s.oe across the mountains considered dam
perous on account of the robbers who lntes.
ted them, Mr.. Stogdou went not only we'll
mounted but we'll armed-a brace of trusty
borsemen's pistols being carried, according
to the custom of the day, in froat of the
r;der and attached to the forepart of tie sad
die.
The third night after leaving home he
otonned at roadside inn, distant about hive
miles from the base of the mountain. On
dismouutiug, he observed that one OF his nor
COS shoes had been lost, and directed anoth-
er to be put on at the shop attached to the
inn. He rose early the next morning and
resumed his journey, with view OF OBTAIN,
ing morning prospect of the mountain ana {
the scenery of the subjacent country which
he had heard was very fine.
His horse soon began to limp, and was
quite lame when he reached the base OF the
mountain. supposing that the shoe had
been unskilfully put on at the inn, ne stop,
ned at blacksmiths shop. near the foot OF
the ridge, and had the horses foot examln'
ed. After diligent scrutiny, the workman
said that the lameness was not produced by
the shoe, which was properly adjusted and
fastened to the hoof.
At the request of Mr.. stogdon, the smith
examined ali the shoes, but could find no
cause for lameuess in the fit or make OF any
one of them. His quick eye, however, de-
teoted ring of rufled or lifted hair running
sronpd one of the hind legs of the horse, just
,bove the fetlock. Raising the hair, he OBJ
served that the flesh was bloody and much
swollen. On more careful examination he
d,soovsred that small cord Of silk had been
tied SO tightly around the leg that it had cut
into the flesh, producing Inflammation OF
the part and, doubtless, also the lameOess OF
the horse.
The discovery at once excited the suspc,
ion of the workman. who was both honest
and shrewd. Calling the attention OF the
traveller to the coEd, which he speedily de-
toobad from the leg Of the horse, he express
ed his apprehension that foul play OF some
chr, was meditated. A few years before, he
related riderless horse had come down
from the mountains and was found to be
1omo from similar cause, tight sllken cord
HAVING cut in almost to the bone OF the aul-
mails leg. The owuer had never been heard
cf and it was believed that he had been
murdered and his body concealed in the
mountain.
She smith suggested to Mr.. stogdon the
nrecaution of examining the primlug and
loading of his pistols. On examination the
aipts and printing in the pans were found to
he in proper condition, hut the loads had
been Withdrawn from both barrels, and wads
of cloth substituted in their place.
The suspicious of Mr.. Stogdon were fully
aroused by these proofs of premed'tated
design of some sort upon him. He was
bold. brave man, however, and did not
ouoe think either of changing his route or
of abandoning his journey across the noun
tains. Carefully reloadins and testing the
reliability Of his pistols, he bade adleu to his
honest counsellor, after suitably rewardlna
him for his labor and advice, and rode OFT
The morning was already far advanced
when he began to ascend the mountain
The road, for several miles, wound along III
southern side, midway between the base ano
the summit. The prospect was grand ano
beautiful beyond his most saneuine ant'ol
nations. To the right the mountain sank down
by degrees, abrupt or regular, to the mar
gin of the champaign country below Whlct
stretched out as far as the eye could reach
and was covered with tobacco farms, corn
fields, dwellings, and all the diversified ob Of
ieots peculiar to Virginia landscrape o'
the left the Blue Ridge rose up like might!
arch springing to meet and support the sky
exhibiting, in rich profusiou, all the gran'
and most Of the beautiful features OF noun
tain scenery
Delighted with the scene, and absorbed
with the emotions which it inspired, Mt
stogdon rode slowly forward, recalling onl:
occasionally, and for moment the susp'
cions excited by the events of the morning
After running for nearly five miles along IN
side of the mountain, the road, BY an abruP
turn, struck towards the summit, through
deep gorge, whose jagged sides slanteo up
wards to great heights on either hand
Shut out of the prospect Of the subJacen
country, and hemmed in by steep aoollVitles
Mr.. Stogdou reverted more frequently to tn
mysterious developments which had come
light at the blacksmith's shop, and b.cam
both alert apd cautious in his movements
Arranging his pistols so that they could b
easily Withdrawn from the holsters he urge
his horse to quicker pace, as soon as D
entered the gloomy avenue OF the narro'
gorge.
He had gone about mile when he saw
some fifty yards ahead Of him, large ooulde
or earthly ridge, shooting nearly across I'd
nplu