The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-02-10


-.' .. .-s.-.'. .-,. 49,
PURSUED 10 THE DEATH.
e.s'~1 n the year-lsl2, the western portions
Of Pennsylvani., 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 st
that period it was 1. lonely and dangerous
pathway to al wayfarers between tho
Eastern cities and the great Western
wilderness Of Ohio and Kentucky, t<>-> -.
u, About midway Of this road, and i'm Z
olsmM locality, Was located an inn, kept
6y on honest well:to-do German named
Stott!ers. The house was . small one,
but tho accommodations were ample sufi-
Gent for tho travel that came that way.
In the spring Of the year mentioned there
came from tho stock raising region around
Pittsburg drover, who, with his flock of
Well.iattened bullocks, was on his way to
Philadelphia. He was we'll: armed, and
Eounted on horse of spotless Wilderness.
In conversation with the inmates Of
Strottlcrs inn--the most Of whom we're
ordinary huntera---he stated with reserve
the objects OF his trip, and communicated
the TACT that on his return he would stop
1t the tavern with tho proceeds from the
sale Of his cattle in his possession. ~. l.
On tho day. following his arrival the
stranger departed for the East. About
three weeks thereafter, or at the time be
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 4
third traveller, who was mounted on :
white horse that closely resented that
ridden by the Pittsburg drover. This
third party, in the course Of his converse.
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 we're,
however small they might be. 1T the dis
posal in equal shares with destitute trav.
elers, such Is those whose company he
was in, and whose expenses to Pittsbure
he expected to pay,
After partaking OF some refreshments.
the three men then took the road west.
ward. In less than IN hour Stott-
Ter and his brother.in.law, John Lam.
bert, blacksmith BY trade, and thorough
frontiersman, were startled while in con.
vcrsation on the porch outside the inn,
to SEQ Pollock's riderless horse approach.
ing them 1t gallop. As the animal
neared them they saw that he was be.
spattered with blood, and Lambert, who
had just been communicating his suspi.
cions of the Frenchnen, 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 a leader, were soon
in pursuit of tho murderers. After 4
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 snd greatly
discolored with blood, and 4 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 we're several gaping wounds that
had evidently been inflicted with large
hunting-knife. One of the hands of the
deceased was terribly disRgured, 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 countcnance indi.
Gated the intense agony Of his dying mo.
mcnts. F." -; -. 49,
It appeared. from the foot tracks: in
the snow leading to the west, that the
inurderers had set their horses free or
been compelled to part with them, and
this seemed wise precaution on their
part, Is the mountainous condition of
the countr y ahead Of them rendered
travel by foot, to those accustomed to
such exertion, far more expeditions than
by horseback. Lambert and his com.
panions knowing this to be the case. de-
terminded to follow their prey on foot
also. Accordingly the major part of the
party ut; once continued on tho trail,
while three or four of the men removed
the: body and the horses to Stottler's
inn. Shortly after night had fallen,
Lambert's associates became dissatisfied
with their errand. and in body returned
to the inn. :. :, 49, =:
The intrepid blacksmith notwithst.nd.
ing this demoralizing detection, contin-
ued the pursuit alone. After travelling
in northwestern direction for twelve or
fourteen miles, he came to IN old and
disused road, running nearly parallel
with the one he had left. This was called
the "Old Pennsylvania Trace" between
Philadelphia and Red Stone Old Fort,
situated on the waters of the Mononpa.
hela river. It was the: first road ever
opened between Eastern Pennsylvania
and the head-waters: of the Ohio river;
and the ancient landmarks, ''three chops
and blaze" we're still visible by day.
light on the old trees. This ancient road
and land marks were adopted by the sur.
veyors and openers Of roads in the West
to propitiate Heaven in favor Of the first
settlers ofthe great western wilderness;
and hen;e the first chop was for the
Father, the second for the Son, and the