Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-03-02

tS7 BOLD ROBBERY IN ScHUYLKILL COUNTY
Tie Robbers enter tie Office Of a ColiieIy on Pay
Day and Garry OF Forty:fre Hundred Dollars.
We copy the following account of a daring robbie
ry, near Mabanoy City, Schuylkill county, on the
18th ult from tho Pottsville MaerS Journal, of
Saturday last
The most daring robbery that took place in
Schuylkill county, perperated on Saturday last
by ten men, at the office Of the Boston Run Coiery,
Althouse Focht, about three miles from Mahanoy
City. Saturday pay day at the Colliery, and
on the previous day Mr.. George D. Althouse had
arrived from Philadelphia with S6,O5O to pay the
miners. On Friday evening this money was put in
envelopes, as is the custom, by MIR. Benjamin Focht
During the night an attempt was made to enter the
house where this money was kept but lights having
been kept burning, the men who made the attempt
desisted after opening some shutters.
About o'clock ON Saturday morning Mr.. Focht
took the money TO the Office and commenced paying.
Shortly after Mr.. Althouse and Mr.. Jacob Focht,
(Mr. b. Focht's father,) went to the office, where
they sat talking, and when a man came in paying
him. They had paid twcnty.one men, and there was
in the office except Mr.. Althouse Mr.. Focht
and his son, when Mr.. Jacob Focht who was looking
out of window suddenly exclaimed, There come
four men" He had hardly uttered the exclama-
tion before they entered the office. One of the men
asked for work He was informed that there was
mono to give. The men then made movement to
enter inside railing which separated the entrance
from the interior of the Office. The moment they
made this movement Mr.. b. Focht, suspecting that
their object robbery sprang over the railing for
the purpose Of going out to give an alarm and to get
his revolver, which was Mt his residence near the
Office In rushing out he was seized by the throat
by one of the robbers Mr.. Focht, however, broke
away from the man, out and cried for assistance
A shot was fired at him from behind which came
close to his head. At the same time man sprang
in front Of him, and presenting revolver told Mr.
Focht that If he gave any further alarm, he would
put q ball through him. The two men then took
about
verng him into the hands of a confederate, at the
same time with their revolvers keeping of unarmed
men who were coming TO his assistance. The man
| took Mr. Focht down the road about two hundred
| yards. A woman who saw the occurrence screamed,
and of the robbers fired three shots at her with
| out hitting her. The man who had Mr.. Focbt in
charge robbed him Of gold watch and chain valued
at $500, and then compelled him to jump into a
creek and lie down, firing shot at him, which,
however, passed over him. Shortly after the other
robbers, nine in number came down the road and
passed on. Mr. Focht then rose, went to the house,
saddled horse, and went to Shenandoah City, where
n hundred armed men were soon got together, TO 60
| in pursuit of the robbers.
While what we have narrated was going on out
side, desperate fight took place in the Office be-
| tween Mr.. Althouse and Mr.. Jacob Focht and two
Of the robbers Mr.. Althouse had succeeded in
I getting his man into corner, where he choked him
until be was black in the face. comrade, how
ever, came TO the robbers assistance and striking
| Mr. Althouse a severe blow on the head with the
butt of his revolver knocked him to the floor sense
less. Mr. Focht also had his assalant by tho throat
with one hand while with the other he helu the
barrel of the robbers revolver, from which -four
shots fired while in that position, without inju
ring Mr.. f. After Mr.. Althouse fell the robber;
succeeded in getting the money which was in one
hundred and twenty five envelopes, and decamped
hastily, dropping sixteen of the envelopes in making
| their hssty exit, The amount taken was 81 800
| During the fight shots were fired and several bal
| passed through Mr.. Althouses clothing, He wa
slightly wounded in the hip by ball. Mr.. Foch