Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-01-07
CAPTURE OF LOUDERMILK.
The Young Brigand Hunted Down IN Itis
,a-a4aas Mountain Retreat.

The CHRONICLES SpeClal ulspatcn from
| Sweetwater Tuesday night gave the first
account of the capture of the famous
young brigand, whose crimes aud reckless
adventures have been the wonder of our
people for months.
His escape some months ago from the
Knoxville Jail, in company with Man
grum, the Mynatts, and others, is still re-
membered by all our readers. Ever since
he has been at large he has been constant
" committing robberies or lying out evad-
ing the pursuit of the officers of the law.
Near the N. G. line, in Monroe coun-
ty, lives the father.in-law OF Loudermilk,
and amid the mountains, laurel thickets
and pine regions of that sparsely populated
region, he found frisdds and good oppor
TUNES for keeping out of the way of his
pursuers. -
made by Deputy Sheriff Issac Lindsey, of
Monroe county, before success attended his
labors.
THE FIRST ADVENTURE.
On the 2Sd OF December reliable infor-
nation reached Mr.. Lindsey that Louder
milk was in his county, having just re-
turned from Georgia where he
had in his hands a search warrant
for goods stolen from johnson & Hood, in
Roane county. He had information which
led him to believe that Loudermilk would
be about Donley's. He married daughter
of Donley about FIVE months ago. The
report was that he reached his wife's home
the Saturday before. AT dark Of Tuesday,
23d ult., Lindsey, in company with Reu-
ben and Rufus Giles, Graham and Frank
Leming, David McNabb, James Yates and
Cooper Burress, citizens and neighbors,
started in pursuit of the brigand. AT
William Rhea's the party dismouHt-
ed and pushed the pursuit on foot
through the Tellico mountains to Albert
Phillips, at the head waters of Cane Creek.
Loudermilk had left there the night be-
fore. Through the mud they tracked him
| northward through the mountains to Pete
| Byrum's, where he slept Tuesday night,
only to learn that he had left half hour
before they arrived, but not suspecting
that they were on his trail. 1t was about
o'clock A. III. of the oath when they left
Byrum's. Still tracking him through the
mud, they followed him back by Rhea's,
where they had left their horses. Louder
milk had passed that house just fifteen
minutes in advance of them. They mount
ed their horses and rode on his track down
the road to where they found he had taken
to the woods and mountains, on what after
wards proved to be short cut to his wife's.
The pursuers went by road to Donley's
but reached there, as they afterwards learn
ed, before Loudermilk. They started back
towards Rhea's through the woods by the
short cut. Loudermilk was then on his
way, coming towards them. He heard
them before they saw him and dropped
down behind q log fifteen feet from where
they were walking. BE counted them
| from his hiding place. When Lindsey and
] party had reached Rhea's they gave up the
| chase and returned home.
THE SECOND CHASE.
Monday night 10Th December, Lindsey
again got information of Loudermilk's
whereabouts and with party, comprising
about the same men, started on second
chase in the direction of their first. They
rode on horses to near Donley's, when
| they dismounted about 10 p. H., and start.
ed up Cane Greek, searching every house,
| crib, barn and place of shelter as they adj
vaDced. They struck Loudermilk's tracks
| in the snow in hollow near widow Car
denis By the light of a pine torch, they
| followed his trail from Mrs. Gardens
to near Frank Veaps, the house in
Tennessee nearest the North Carolina line.
When they came within sight of the
] house Lindsey ordered lights put out. 1t
was past the hour of inidnight, and amid
! the mountain fastness not sound was
heard save the footballs OF the pursuers on
| the crisp snow. They surrounded Veal's
house, and Lindsey, with gun in hand, ad-
vanced to the door TO demand an entrance.
In reply to his loud raps and question as
to Loudermilk's presence the old man gave
hesitating replies. Lindsey was on his
guard and his quick ear heard the click of a
pistol near the door. He called again, this
time TO Loudermilk, demanding his surren :
der. Loudermilk saw the situation and when
Veal opened the door quietly gave himself
up. Lindsey took his arms, ordered him
to dress himself and at . A. NJ. the party
with their captive started for Lindsey's
home which they reach by daylight
Loudermilk refused to talk or answer
any questions. Said he had been told that
Lindsey was in lockwood. On their way
back they found a stolen horse at Albert
Phillips that Mangrum had left for one OF
Phillips's. It was John Jackson's, Ia
ken at Winton & Johuson's store, in
Roane county. Winton found about six
~ dollars worth of his stolen goods al
Fork Creek. Lindsey brought his man t.
Knoxville after being assured by Sheriff
Gossett that his expenses would all b'
paid. He understands that Hale, o
Blount county, Jackson & Hood, Winton
& Johnson, Dr. Hall, and Welker, o
Roane, have offered rewards which h'
hopes TO get.
Loudermilk is about twenty-five year
of age, looks very young and not at al
like the desperate and outlaw he is. HI
was raised Ia Georgia and had two brother
| in the Confederate service. He YVES to'