The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-12-18

alusion to him. The signal had been
heard, and the squad of homespun cavalry
galloped up to the front of the house just
as the two rose from the table. The negro
was ordered to unite Pei.ler's feet, and
Thcus, speaking TO him for the first time,
commanded him to mount his horse. The
men, most Of whom recognized him, look
ed Significantly at each other rs he sylen-
~ obeyed, and one OF them dismounted,
and, coolly picking up the 2opc with which
he had been tied, fastened it in coil be-
hind his saddle, tight eneG his girthS. aud,
mounting again as il the last act was his
only Ieasou Tor alighting rode up and took
hold of the bride of the stolen animal,
upon which the prisoner had been placed.
A scout was then detached to gather in-
formation about The enemy'S cavalry, aud
after few necessary orders the command
moved rapidly down the road.
''Pci@ler maintained sUllcn silence and
avoided the looks of his guard, but his eye
wandered rcstlessly over the road and the
wood which bordelod it. He knew per
fectly well what lie had to expect. but the
first impulse of cowardico had given way
to desperate resolution, and he made up
his mind, as lie aftcrward acknowledged,
that it was better 20 De shot or sabrcd il
hopeless attempt at escape than to submit
quietly to the rope. His arms were tightly
! l,inioned, bat lis legs wee fec, aud he sud
denly lcapcl from the saddle, just as they
/ were approaching the Old Brick Church,
aud darted into q little bay 10y the roadside
| - Take him alive, meH shouted the
captain; and in q mencnt thc whole paT'y y
were scattered over Size woods IN pursuit
! The outlaw had the advantage Of the horse
I men IN the thick cover through Which he
ran. and they would have been forced TO
Shoot him to prevent his escape il his foot
had not caught III 4 builace vine, throwing
him heavily to the ground. lie was soon
secured and dragged back to the road.
f. The captain ordered Il halt, and began 10
inspect the trees, which you know are
mostly oaks and hicko.ies near the Brick
| Church. 1t was not long before lac found
one suited to his purpose, and, as few for
malities were observed in those days when
a Tory, rope and a tree were 50 convent
emily brought together, preparations were
soon made for the execution. The rope
was fastened securely to stout limb, til,
saddle was removed from the stolen horse
and the prisoner was set astride Of hin
! bareback, with the moose around his neck
When man finds death inevitable, he
must be a poor creature indeed if he does
not summon NJ ali his manhood TO meet it,
and Dave PeigleT, coward and bully as he
was, astonishcd his executioners by the
cool defiance with which he faced his end.
! You know there's q straight reach OF a
quarter OF mile in the State road at that
point, and just as the rope was adjusted
and the word about 20 be given, a cloud Ul
dust was seen on the Charleston side, and
the play Of the sunlight could be noticed
on the metal equipments of n party OF
British cavalry. Ny father said he distinct
ly heard The cla;ter of their sabros rs they
gallopcG rapidly toward the scene. There
was not a moment to be lost, for The enemy
had ten times the number Of tie IaT,iSans
and every man sprang into his saddle and
gathered up his rcns for a ran. Ihcus tore
"A stout twig from chinquapin bush and
struck the mettlcd stallion heavily on the
flank and theu, as thc horse darted wildly
from under the doomed outlaw, the whole
party dashed into the woods 1T half speed,
leaving him swinging in the ali.
~ he men were too much accustomed tC
these emergencies to require any orders,
They knew every foot of the woods by
night on day as well as a policeman knows
his beat, and they scattered like a flock OF
turlzo IS, each man taking his own course
and making his own way back to camp. 4
few days after my father was detached tc
bear dispatches 10 PickeHs, who was oper-
atinz on the Saluda, aud when he again
ioined his command it was in the Cataw ba
country, and it was two years before he
had another chance to visit home. The
negroes told him that Dave Peig!cr had
been buried 10y the British i'll old St Ste
phen' 5 churchyard, and there was not one
Of them who would have passed the church
alone in the daytime or at night under any
circumstances for they declared that the
outlaws ghost could be seen at any time
after dark sitting on the church step, with
. rope round his neck, q rum bottle in one
hand and a horscman' pistol in the other .
just here Ned Poole, who was Away;
ready with some inquisitive question, TOOK
advantage OF a pause eccasioned by Tho
colonels filing his glass with sherry ana
lighting a fresh eigar, to inquire, ''Did they
over find the pistol that Piegler left at Cap
tain Tteus's house ?''
Il never heard it if they did, resumed
the colonel, ''but about five years ago tht
washboard OF the dining g-room wall was re
moved and the lathing taken oil for re
pairs, and rusty old horse-pistOl was
found, heavily loaded with a brace of balls
the pan caked with what had once beer
powder, and the flint sss sharp as il picked
only yesterday. / never thought of it be
fore, but it may have been Dave Peigier' $
for remember as boy seeing a large rat
-, Which IlgNayl