The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-10-24
M isc elan g Ou Is.
For Tile Agis and Intelligence r.
PEDLER'S RUN;
OR, THE
BLACK DEMON.


from Dublin, about mile distant, and pur.
sues an easterly course until it falls into
the Susquehanna at Glen Cove. This run
received its name one hundred years ago
on account of terrible murder that was
committed on its banks, not far from and
just below where the public road leading
from Dublin to Darlington now crosses the
stream.
One gloomy November evening, in the
year 1878, French pedler, whose name
was afterwards found to be M. De Louis
Lassee, approached the Bald Friar ferry, on
the east side Of the river, and requested the
ferryman to set him over the stream. NJ.
DeLassee travelled on foot and carried a
pack of light dry goods and notions. The
ferry was kept by an old man named John
Reese, and he was assisted by large negro,
who went by the name of Guinea Tom.-
This fellow was a good waterman and did
the most of the work, as Mr. Reese was
getting old. He told Tom to take the
stranger over, which was soon accomplish
ed. M. DeLassee was travelling on foot,
en- route from Philadelphia to Baltimore
Town journey which was not uncom-
mon in those days to take on loot. After
luCJ IuSt lSdShSl tllS dllOllt SllOlC, ON
told the pedler that he wished to buy q
handkerchief, and the polite Frenchman
opened his pack and displayed his goods
to Toms admiring gaze Tom soon bought
several small articles, and gave the trader Il
e5 note on the Bank Of England. Monsieur
now, in order to get the negroes change,
unfortunately showed the savage large
sum of money, which made his snaky, deYi-
lish eyes glisten.
Tom now told Monsieur that lie could
take him to rich farm house about three
miles distant, where he was quite sure he
could sell out his entire stock, and that at
any rate he would be sure of kind wei
come and good cheer Our unwary French
man eagerly accepted the protfered bait,
and gave himself up to be guided by the
treacherous savage. They assembled the riy
er hill and then followed bride path and
went nearly in the direction of where Dub
lin now stands-the voluble Frencbman
talking necessarily to his demoniac guide.
When they neared the run aforesaid, it be-
ing now quite dark, Tom told his victim
"dat we is most dar," when suddenly
springing behind his unsuspecting com
panion he drew large knife and with a
terrible plunge he sent the sharp blade of
the weapon through the unfortunate mans
back, into his heart, and he fell dead in
his tracks. The assassin now searched his
victim, and took his money and a valuable
gold watch. He likewise oyerhauled the
pack, but fearing detection he left the
goods where they were. He now dragged
his murdered victim to the run. and threw
the body into a deep pool of water. Now
he left the bloody scene, and made hasty
strides for the river, and getting into his
canoe he soon pushed himself to the east
ern shore, where he tied his boat and left
for parts unknown.
On the next morning the old fcrryman
was greatly surprised at finding Toms
boat but no trace of him. Tine passed on,
and in three days afterwards some hunters
came across the pedler's pack, which sur
prised them greatly. Upon looking around
they discovered traces of blood, and after
further search they found the body of the
murdered man in the water. OF course
they were horror stricken, and taking the
body out OF the water they laid it on the
bank OF the stream. They then gave the
alarm, and gathering all the persons they
could find in the then sparsely inhabited
nelghborhood, they buried the unfortu-
nate traveller on beautiful knoll, about
one hundred yards from the stream.
Some papers found in one of the ped
ler's pockets indicated that his name was
NJ. Louis DcLassec, and that he was a
Frenchman. There was no police here
then, and although every one believed that
Tom was the murderer, after it had become
known that he was seen with him last, yet
years passed away and no trace of the muir
derer could be found. The hunters who
found M. DeLassce gave the name of ped
ler's Run" to tho stream, by which name il
has been known ever since.
In the year ITS, one very dark night in
January, "a guard discovered dark figure
approaching Washington's tent at Valley
Forge, and calling other guards he was i'm.
mediately captured. The person proved
to be huge negro, who was armed with O
large knife. He was soon secured and
placed under strong guard until morning
After sunrise next morning he was brought
into the presence of General Washington
and the officers of his staff. He gave his
name as Guinea Tom, and admitted thai
he was from Philadelphia, and said that hi
had been promised rich reward if Ii,
would pass through the American CAM
and report the condition thereof to Genera
Howe. He begged of them to let him re
turn as soon as possible, as "de ginera
would be angry ifhe staid too long" HI