Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-12-13
NEW SERIES--V0L l2, NO. 40.

midnighta cavalry force was despatch
cd to mako some more prisoners.
cannot understand why Major John
sou makes any arrests at night.
"lt is not the nero possibility O
our being arrested that makes u
anxious said a citizen to mo "it i
the uncertainty as to what We may b,
arrested for. Some negro may uharg,
me with murder; he may swear, 10
instance, that | was one of the per
sons who lynched the murdercrs o
Mat Stevens. There is no telling. il
fact, what hatred and muIevolencc
may not allcgc against mo 1t is nc
secret to us that our servants hay,
been employed as spies upon us
Hence one uugnarded expression il
tho midst Of our family may be made
through a mnlicinns negro Tho insirn
mcnt Of our Imprisonment"
THE ROADS PIoKETED.
This morning | arose at an earl,
hour, and, on going down stairs, learn
ed that something important was on
the tapis, At daylight IL was asccr
tained that the roads leading into til,
town were picketed by iorcc of sol
diers, and that no persons were al
lowed to leave or to enter. This mill
tary measure was carried out will
needless severity. Two carriages con
tanning ladies en- route for the fair Il,
Columbia were stopped at the picke'
line and turned back, aud their iail
occupants debarred the pleasure o
the Trip. ] have no idea that eithel
MPrshaI Johnson or the military com
mandant intended carrying the mat
ter so far, but the effect is very baC
indeed.
THE ARREsr-AN UNPLEASANT sPEcTA
Gle.
On taking breakfast and walking tC
the porch, almost the first person
met was Major Johnson, who had Just
arrived on the down train. He wa,
engaged in conversation with a lieu
tenant-the commander of force o
some twenty or thirty infantry, which
was drawn up in line OF battle in front
Of the hotel. The ir.t person arrested
was MIR Hughes, proprietor of the
hotel. His arrest was decidedly sum
mary. Deputy Marshal sherman sim
ply called him out of the hotel, tapped
him on tho shoulder and ordered hin
to take up position in the midst o
the soldiers ! suppOso.that Sherman
had warrant for his arrest, but hC
exhibited none and saw none. Al
that | saw was u piece Of paper in hi,
hand containing list OF names, ov
IDENTIFY of the men to be arrested
The arrest of Hughes was followed
by the arrest OF quite respectable
looking young man, and the soldier,
then started for the depot with thrr
two prisoners Before they had gone
one hundred yards Sherman whisper
cd a few words to the lieutenant, after
consulting his black list, and a squad
of four soldiers was told off and start
cd of in another direction with him
Presently another squad was told of
and another; all OF which had been
sent to make arrests, Probably fOuI
or five squads Was securing tho town
ut one time.
A PAINFUL SPECTACLE,
These wcro the first arrests / had
witnessed No violence was offered
tho prisoners by the marshnl1 or sol
dlers, neither were they subjected Ia
insults Of any kind. Nevertheless the
spectacle was most painful one.
Military arrests, summarily executed
in Time OF profound peace, shock
ones ideas Of civil liberty and republi
can government. Tho cltizcns who
looked on gave no expression to theiI
feeling, unless they did so in whispers
Not large number were on the
streets. but such us were cOngregateo
ia small groups on the sidewalks and
convcrscd in low tone. That they
were indignant was evident in spit,
of their passive behavior FlushcC
counlenanccs, bitter flashing glance,
aud firmly compressed lips, told, in
palmer language than words, what
the popular sentiment was. The ne
groes were silent and orderly, though
now and then one of them nudged q
companion with an air OF intense graft
ficntion, us if the arrest of whllo men
was for their special benefit and politi
cal advancement. Aud | have nC
doubt they believed such to be the
case Altogether ! trust never again
to witness u similar scene. Had Il
been one nf violence and bloodshed
the effect would have been less pain
ful il even filled with graver conse
quenccs. But the submissive attitude
of the people, the pale, thoughtful
countcnanccs of the prisoners, the war
Hko exhibition made by the govern
ment, seems rs u page taken out oI
tho history of Russian dcspotlsm ~
Poland, or British violence IN Ireland,
or Austrian tyranny in Italy
CHARGE AGAINST THE PRISONERS.
When the train moved off the
squads of soldiers were still securing
the town, aud from the list in the
deputy marshals hands suppose that
many arrests were made. The troops
were armed with loaded rifles They
were loaded in my presence. When
the prisoners reached the depot sentl
ucls were placed around them, and nC
person was allowed to approach oi
speak to them. Two or three ciuzcn'
-your correspondent among them -
were rudely showed back by one OF
tho soIdicrs-a gruii, brutal.lookina
frllow-and ordered TO keep away
understand that all the prisoners
ARE charged with completely IN th,
lynching of the negro militinmen who
murdered the white one armed mar
named Matt Stevens. 1t is, OF course
impossible for me to form any opinion
concerning their guilt or innOcence
but MS the ynching was the result q
an ungovernable popular excitement
II is not impossible that three.iuurths
OF the citizens OF the town will bc put
| into prison on suspicion of being con