The Grange advance., 1876-02-09

the unlucky bequest Of the Box of Dia.
monds.
PURSUED TO THE DEATH.
In the year 1912, the western portions
OF Pennsylvania, embracing the mountain
GUS regions between Chambersburg and
Pittsburg, presented little more than an
unbroken wilderness, through which the
great road from Philadelphia to the head.
waters of the Ohio valley passed; and at
that period it was lonely and dangerous
pathway to all wayfarers between the
Eastern cities and the great Western
wilderness of Ohio and Kentucky.
About midway of this road, and in a
dismal locality, was located an inn, kept
by an honest well.to-do German named
Stottlers. The house was small one.
but the accommodations were ample suffi-
cient for the travel that came that wav.
In the spring of the year mentioned there
came from the stockraising region around
Plttsburg drover, who, with his flock of
well-fattened bullocks, was on his wav to
Philadelphia. He was we'll armed, and
mounted on horse of spotless whiteness.
In conversation with the inmates of
Strottlers' inn-the most of whom were
ordinary hunters--he stated with reserve
the objects of his trip, and communicated
the fact that on his return he would stop
at the tavern with the proceeds from the
sale of his cattle in his possession.
On the day following his arrival the
stranger departed for the East. About
three weeks thereafter, or at the time he
was expected to return, two Canadian
Frenchmen, of villainous appearance and
both heavily armed, arrived at Strott.
lers', and, after breakfasting, continued
their journey eastward. In less than an
hour they returned, accompanied by a
third traveller, who was mounted on 2
white horse that closely resented that
ridden by the Pittsburg drover. This
third party, in the course Of his conversa-
ton with the landlord, stated that his
name was Pollock, that he lived near the
residence of General Arthur St. Clair, in
Westmoreland county, and that he was
on his way to rejoin his wife and his chill.
dren, from whom he had been separated
for some weeks. He stated also that he
was farmer, but possessed of small
means. The contents of his purse were,
however small they might be. at the dis
posal in equal shares with destitute trav.
elers, such as those whose company he
was in, and whose expenses to Pittsburg
he expected to pay.
After partaking of some refreshments,
the three men then took the road west.
ward. In less than an hour Stolt.
ler and his brother-in.law, John Lam.
bert, blacksmith by trade, and thorough
trontiersman, were startled while in con-
vcrsation on the porch outside the inn,
to sec Pollock's riderless horse approach.
ing them at a gallop. AS the animal
neared them they saw that he was be-
spattered with blood, and Lambert, who
had just been communicating his suspi.
clons OF the Frenchmen, insisted that the
farmer had been murdered, and urged an
immediate pursuit Of his companions.
The servants about the inn were at
once mounted and sent out to scour the
country for assistance, while Lambert
and his less energetic relative 6usied
themselves in preparing their horses and
arms for the chase. BY MONDAY about
dozen of men residing nearest the inn,
congregated at the general rendezvous,
and, with Lambert for leader, were soon
in pursuit Of the murdercrs. After a
journey of about one mile, the party
came to the scene of the murder. Here
they discovered the evidence of terrible
struggle. The snow which lay upon the
ground was much trampled and greatly
dlscolored with blood, and a few feet
away from this scene lay the corpse of
the murdered man, wedged in between
two logs, and covered with the rubbish
OF Leaves and broken twigs. Two balls
had passed through the body, and in the
breast were several gaping wounds that
had evidently been inflicted with a large
hunting knife. One of the hands of the
deceased was terribly disfgured, as he
had evidently grasped the knife, which,
being drawn through his fingers, nearly
cut them in twain. His clothing was
badly torn, while his countenance indi.
Gated the intense agony of his dying mo.
ments.
IT appeared. from the foot tracks in
the snow leading to the west, that the
murderers had set their horses free or
been compelled to part with them, and
this seemed = wise precaution on their
part, rs the mountainous condition of
the country ahead of them rendered
travel BY foot, to those accustomed to
such exertiotl, far more expeditions than