Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-11-02
TRAGEDY
IN CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
A UNITED STATES OFFICER KILLED
By a DESERTER

ler and Lieut. David Van Nliet officers il the
service Of the I. S. Government, came to
Clearfeld to arrest deserters. On Saturday
night, Goth October, having reason to be-
lieve that the notorious 10. Lounsberry
would be at his house, about three miles
north of Clearield borough, Butler and Van
Flet, went thither. just as day was break
ing, on Sunday morning, Lounsberry came
out of the house, and proceeded to the barn,
probably for the purpose OF feeding his stock.
The light was, as yet, too indistinct, to ad-
NIT of his recognition to a certainty but on
his return to the house, all doubts on this
score were removed and the officers at once
rapidly approached the house i'll the hope OF
preventing his entrance This they would
have succeeded in had it not been for 3 sec
ond door on the rear side of the house, into
which Lounsberry rushed closely pursued
by the officers, who called upon him to stop.
This demand was, as matter of courses UNI
needed, and Lounsberry ran up stairs, fol-
lowed by Butler and Y an Iiet. The stair
way was too narrow to admit ef more than
one ascending, except by following each 9TH
er Butler went up ahead, Van Yiet fol
lowing close after Col Butler hadproceed-
ed nearly TO tho top of the stairs, when
I4ounsberrF fired at him with rifle, from
inside of the door, the ball taking effect IN
the left side of the abdomen Of Butler, who
at once fired upon Lounsberry with navy
revolver, with what effect was not known.
Lounsbelry then rushed cut and struck
Butler across the head with such force that
he broke tie gun-stock. and then grappled
Lieut. Van Flet In this encounter, the
latter dropped his revolver, ,butstruck Louns-
berry Liow with his fist, knocking him
down the stairway Lounsbelry, however,
recovered before Van VIict could get to him,
and running out Of the back door made good
his escape. It's believed that Lounsberry
was wounded by one of the shots fred by
Col. Butler, as blood was found on the line
Of BIS tracks
Col. Butler was brought to this place, on
Sunday, when Drs Wood, Hartswick, VII
son and Spackman examined and dressed his
wounds But all was vain; for on Monday
morning, at about clock, he died. Thus
Lounsberry has added to his other violations
of law, the horrible crime of MURDER for
Col. Butler was an officer of tic Govern
ment, trying to discharge his duty ard that
only He and Lieut. Van Yliet came here,
1.-THE request Of J3for2st Norsho! Campbell,
to arrest descgters.
WeLava endeavored to give the facts Of
this tragieal affair as nearly as we have been
able to ascertain them; and we regard the
affair as the natural result Of the teachings
Of the Copperhead leaders, who refused 70
extend the aid Of either men or money to
the Government, and talked of "a free fight
or a free lallog r. The blood of Col Butler
rests heavily upon their shoulders, and it re-
mains to be seen how far they viii, in the fu-
t,Ire. be sustained in this county by the hon
est and ltw abiding people.
On Monday morning an Inquisition was
summoned by Esquire Shugart, which after
cHciting the facts from witnesses called, flied
a verdict, settinsforth tnat the said Cyrus
Butler. a regularly appointed Provost Mar
shal BY the Government authorities, in the
discharge of his duties, was shot in the bel
ly about three inches above and to the left
Of the navel, which caused his death.
n B. 1t is rumored here, through what
source is best known to th6se who furnish
the information, that Lounsberry received a
flesh wound on the lower part ofthe arm.