Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-08-08
under my feet,' he said, giving it kick as

! under my rect, he SAID, giving 1t KICK a:
! though he had showed it forward
Just at that moment my horses numbered in
to deep snow drift; and 1 was forced to gel
! out to tread down ahead of them and lead
| them through it.
This took me all of fifteen minuks; when
l got on again, pulled the mail ba forward
and got my feet upon it. AS was doing this
| saw the man take something from his lap and
| put it into his breast pocket. At first tho't
| it was a small liquor flask, but upon second
| thought | made up my mind that it was pis-
| tol. | caught the gcam of the barrel in the
star light, and when | had time to reflect |
knew / could not be mistaken.
About this time began to think somewhat
seriously. From what l had heard and seen /
soon made up my mind that the individual be-
| hind me not only intended to rob the mail,
but he was prepared to rob me of my life. II
| resisted him he would shoot me- and perhaps
| he meant to perform that delectable operation
at any rate. While | was pondering the horses
! plunged into another deep drift and | was
| forced again to get out and tread down the
snow before them. | asked my passenger if
he would get out and help me, but he said he
didn't feel very well and wouldn't try; SO
worked alone, and was all of a quarter of an
| hour getting my team through the drifts.
/ When | got into the sleigh again | began to
| feel for the mail bag with my feet / found
it where | had left it; but when | attempted
to withdraw my foot, discovered that it had
become entangled in sQmething-I thought it
the Buffalo robe, and tried to kick it clear;
but the more l kicked the more closely 1t was
held. / reached down my hand and after feel
ing few moments found my hand in the mail
bag 1felt again and found my hand in "a
mong the letters and papers. l ran my fin
gers along the edge of the opening, and be-
came assured that the stout leather had been
cut with knife.
eb
had taken little more forethonght before
leaving Danbury but as knew that making
such wishes was only waste of time, | very
quickly gave it up and began to consider what
| had best do under existing circumstances.
L was not long making up my mind upon few
essential points. First the man behind me
was villain; second he had cut open the
mail bag and robbed it of some valuable mat
ter. He must have known the money letters
by the size and shape third he meant to leave
the pung the first favorable opportunity /:
ard fourth, he was prepared to shoot me if |
attempted to arrest or detain him.
l resolved these things over in my mind,
and pretty soon thought of course to pur-
sue. knew if could get my hands safely up
on the rascal, must take him wholly una
wares, and this could not do while he was
behind me /; for his eye was upon me all the
time, so l must resort to stratagem. Only
little distance ahead was house, where an old
farmer named Lougee lived land directly before
which huge snow bank stretched across the
road, through which track for teams had to
be cleared with shoves.
AS we approach the cot, saw light in the
front room, as felt confident should, for the
old man generally sat up until the stage went
by. drove on. and when nearly opposite the
dwelling stood up | had f:equntly done
when approaching difficult places. l saw the
snow bank ahead and could plainly distinguish
the deep cut which. had been shoyeled through
it. l urged the horses to a good speed, and
when near the bank forced them into it. One
of the runners mounted the edge of the bank
after them, the ether ran into the cut, thus
throwing the sleigh over about as quick as if
lightning had struck it. My passenger hadn't
calculated on any such movement and was not
prepared for it, but | had calculated and was
prepared. He rolled ont into the deep snow,
with a heavy buffalo robe upon him, while l
aighted on my feet directly on top OF him.
punched his head into the snow and then
sung out for old Lougee. l did not have to
call second time; the farmer had come to
the window to see me pass, and as soon as he
saw my sleigh overturned he lighted his Ian
tern and hurried out.
What's to pay asked the old man as he
came up.
"Lead the horses into the track and then
come here,'' said |.
AS spoke had partially loosened my hold
Il
from his bosom. But saw it in good season
and jammed his head into the snow again, and
got the weapon from him. BY this time Lou
gee had led the horses out and come back, and
L explained the matter TO him in as few words
as possible. We hauled the rascal out into
the road, and upon examination we found a
bout twenty packages OF letters which he had
stolen from the mail bag slowed away in his
pockets.
He swore, and threatened, and begged and
prayed but we paid no attention to his bar-
ney. Lougee got some stout cord, and when
we had securely bound the villain, tumbled
him into the pung. | asked the old man if he
would accompany me to Littleton, land he said
ssof course" So he got his overcoat and
muifler and we soon started.
reached the end of my route with the mail
bag safe, though not so snug as it might have
been. The mail robber was secure, and with
in week he was identified by some officers
from Concord as an old offender; and | am
rather inclined to the opinion that he's in the
States prison yet. At any rate he was there
when last heard from him.
That's the only time that ever had my
mail troubled, and think that under all the
circumstances, l came out of it pretty WELL
LIBERAL BEoUEsTs.-M Victor Thompson,
wealthy druggist at Hagerntown, Md, died
on the 17.h July, leaving the following be-
quests :-S20,000 to four Boards of the Old
School PRESBYTERIAN Church, viz $1,000 to