The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-11-26
THE BLACK TARN.

Five or six miles to the north of the
small town of BrOmpton, i'll Cumber-
land, England, there is a mount tain lake
known as Black Tarn. In the neighbOr-
hood are sheep farms, aid few magnifi-
cent hamlets lie here and there around.
In one of these, known as Hayton, muir
der was recently perpetrated, accompanied
by cruel outrage. AT the east end of the
village there resided one John Coulter,
who kept a beer saloon, and cultivated a
small farm. He was rough, uncouth
man, addicted to drink and when he was
incapable of attending to his customers
vino came of night for beer, his daughter,
a comely girl of seventeen, waited upon
them. He had a son, also, but he was in
Carlisle. learning trade, and seldom
visited his native village.
Coulter was reported to be worth a few
hundred pounds, and consequently, passed
in the neighburhood for a man of means.
a young man named Armstrong had been
courting his daughter, but. he had been
driven of by Coulter, for assaulting a farm
Ell, who was the latter's friend. Armstrong
had Quilted the neighborhood, having, as
WAS supposed, enlisted. At the time now
referred to, Kate, Coulter's daughter, was
receiving attentions from one George Rout-
ledge, the son of a grocer in Brompton.
On tho morning of the tenth of last
February, Coulter arose late, having been
drunk as usual the night before. Hearing
no sounds that would indicate his dau2h-
ter being around, he went to the top of
the stails and called her by name. No
answer came, and he hastily donned his
clothes and descended. The stairs led
down into the back kitchen, and when he
reached the bottom he saw the door lead
ing into the yard open. Thinking that his
daughter might be i'm the Dyer, he again
called her name, but to no purpose. Then
he passed into the bar, which was small
room with a window opening into the main
room. The glasses stood around unwashed,
there was no fire i'm the CRATE, and the dis
order showed plainly that Kate had not
been at work that morning.
Coulter searched around, but could see
nothing Of his daughter. The bed in her
chamber had not been slept in, and her
cloak and bonne. were missing. He sum-
moped one of the neighbors, and when the
news got around that Kate Coulter had
suddenly disappeared from home, a crowd
of sympathizers gathered round the father
aud offered assistance and counsel.
David Redd, blacksmith, testified that
he was the las. to quit the inn the night
before, and that Kate bade him good
night, and drew the bolt in the door. 1t
was then ten o'clock. Peter Steele, the
village constable, confirmed Redd's state
ment, as they were in company, Steele leav-
ing the house only few minutes before
Redd, who remained to get light for his
pipe. Beyond this there was absolutely
no testimony.
Coulter, accompanied by his friends,
searched the neighborhood for the missing
girl, but with no success. George Rout-
ledge, her lover, who had been notified,
reached the village in the afternoon, and
Joined in the search. Mounted police from
Brompton, and the officers from Carlisle,
were speedily on the spot, and the whole
country side was secured. No traces, how
ever, of the lost one were met with.
DAYS and weeks went by and the mystery
remained unsOlved. One day, about
week after the girls disappearance, Arm
strong's old mother put her head in at