The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-07-02
A Narrow Escape.
NOTES FROM A prrEcr1vn's DIARY.

AURlNG Jne year lofi INC WesJ was
IL flooded with counterfeit coin. 1t was
so we'll manufactured that it passed readily.
The evil at length became so great that
the United States authorities requested
that skillful detective might be used to
ferret out the nest of coiners. was fixed
upon to perform that duty
had nothing to guide me. The fact,
however, that Chicago was the city where
the counterfeit coin was the most abund-
ant led me to believe that the manufactory
was somewhere inside its limits proceed
ed, therefore, to that metropolis of the
west, and spent five weeks in the city with
out gaining the slightest clue to the coun-
terfeiters. .. .U .Hrl.
/ began to grow discouraged, and really
thought should have to return home with
out having achieved any result. One day
received letter from my wife requesting
a remittance of money, as she was out of
funds. went to bank and asked for
draft, at the same time handing sum of
money to pay for it, in which were several
half dollars. The clerk dashed three of
them back to me saying, Counterfeit
g WHAT" said /, "you don't mean to
tell me these half dollars are, counterfeit ?"
"I do" .H. Hfl
"Are you certain?"
Perfectly certain. They are remark
able well executed but deficient in weight.
See for yourself"
A,,1 10 ,,lo of in tho hal
ance against genuine half dollar, and the
latter drew up the former. ul
"This is the best counterfeit coin / ever
saw in my life" exclaimed, examining
them closely. Is all the counterfeit money
in circulation here of the same character
as this?"
80 dear, no % the clerk replied. i" 1t is
not nearly SO we'll done. These are the
work of the famous New York counterfeit
er, Ned Willett. / know them well, for
have handled a great many Of them in my
time. Here is one of the money that is
circulating here" he added, taking some
half dollars from the drawer. "You see
that the milling is not SO well done as Ned
w bIObH blbpOuBh 40 piObpJ SOOh,
too" 13e r1 Irr.
/ compared the two and found that he
was right. I supplied the place of counter
felt with good coin, and returned the form
er to my pocket. A few days after this
received information which caused me to
to make journey to small village about
thirty miles from Chicago. / arrived there
at night, and took up quarters at the only
tavern in the place. It was wretched
dwelling, and kept by an old man and
woman, the surliest couple / think it was
ever my lot to meet. In answer as to
whether / could have lodging there that
night noticed that the host gave o pecu-
liar look at his wife, and after some whisp-
ering was informed in the most ungra-
cious manner possible, l could have bed.
/ have frequently in the course of my
life been obliged to put up with wretched
accommodations, so did not allow my
equanimity of temper to be destroyed by
the miserable sleeping apartment into
which was ushered after had finished my
repast. r. ~ a
The chamber was of a small size, and
certainly well ventilated, for could see
the stars through the roof. The bed was
simply bag of straw thrown in one corner
of the room, without sheet or covering Of
any kind. This last fact, however, was
not of much consequence, as it was summer
and oppressively hot.
stood more than an hour gazing out of
the opening which served as window.
Before me was an immense prairie, the
limits of which could not see. The tav-
em in which / had taken mp my abode APP
peared to be isolated from all other dwell
ings and, save the croak Of the tree frog
and the hum of the locust, not sound
reached my ear. 1t was beautiful moon.
light night, so bright that / could read the
smallest print. " Di.t l
AT last began to grow weary, and
throwing myself upon my pallet, l was
soon asleep. How long slept know not
but was awakened by dull sound, which
resembled some hammering in the distance
l suppose it was the popularity of thu
sound which awoke me, for it was not loud
but conveyed to me the idea of some on
striking iron with muffled hammer. I.
rose from my bed and went to the window
The moon was now in the horizon, b,
which fact knew 1t must be near morning
The sound have before referred to reach
ed me more distinctly than when in tn
a