Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-08-29
EBENBIRG. Pa. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1860


was pondering the horses plunged into an
! other deep drift, and was forced again tC
i get out and tread down the snow before them
/ asked my passenger If wouldn't get out and
/ help me. but he said he didn't feel very well
and wouldn't try, 50 l worked alone, and was
all of quarter of an hour getting nv team
through the drifts. When L got into the
sleigh again L began to feel for the mail bag
! with my feet. l found it where ! had left Il
! hat when attempted to withdraw my foot.
| discovered that it had become entangled in
something-I thought it the buffalo robe and
| trid to kick 1t clear. but the more | kicked
the more closely 1t was held. I reached down
my hand and after feeling few moments
found , iit'.na in the mail bagl 1 felt again
and found tny hand in among the letters and
papers. L ran my fingers along the edge of
the opening, and became assured that the
stout leather had been cut with knife
! Here was discovery. I began to wish |
| had taken little more fore;hought before
leaving Danbury, but as l 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 circum-
stances. 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 val
liable matter. he must have known the
money letters by the size and shape, third,
he meant to leave the pung on the first favor
able opportunity; and fourth, he was prepared
to shoot me if l attempted to arrest or detain
him.
L resolved these things over in my mind,
and pretty soon thought of course to pur-
sue. l knew if could get my hands safely
upon the rascal, L must take him wholly un-
awares, and this | could not DO while he was
behind me, for his eye was upon me all the
time; SO must resort TO stragatem. Only
little distance ahead was house, where an
old farmer named Lougee lived. and directly
across the road, through which a track for
teams had to be cleared with shovels.
As We approach the cot. saw light in
the front room, as felt confident l should
for the old man generally sat up until the
stage went by. L drove OR, and when nearly
opposite the dwelling stood up as [ had fire.
ces. | saw the snow bank ahead and could
plainly distinguish the deep cut which had
been shoveled through it. L urged the hor-
ses to good speed, and when near the bank
forced them into it. One of the runners
mounted the edge of the bank after them,
the other ran into the cut, thus throwing the
sleigh over about as quick as if lightning had
struck 1t. My passenger hadn't calculated
on aoy such movement was not prepared for
it, but | had calculated and was prepared.
He rolled out into the deep snow with heavy
buffalo robe apon him, while L alighted 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 Sec
ond time, the farmer had come to the window
to see me pass, and as soon as he saw my
sleigh overturned he lighted his lantern and
hurried out.
What's to paS?" asked the old man as he
came up.
Lead the horses into the track and then
come here" said L.
As spoke L had partially loosened my
hold of the villains throat, and he drew a
pistol from his bosom. But L saw it in good
season and jammed his head into the snow
again. and got the weapon from him. By
this time Lougee had led the horses 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
about twenty packages of letters which he
had stolen from the mail bag, and slowed
away in his pockets.
He swore, and threatened, and begged and
prayed; but We paid no attention to his blar-
ney. Lougee got same stout cord and when
We had securely bound the william, tumbled
him into the pung. L asked the old man if
be would accompany me to LittletOn, aud he
said ''of course" So he got his overcoat
and muffler, and we soon started.
reached the end of my route with the
mail bag safe, though not so snug as it might
nave been. The mail robber was secure. aud
within week was identified by some officers
from Concord, as au old offender. and I'm
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 l think that under all the
circumstances, came out of it pretty well.