Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-11-24
war ON the Tramps.


QUEENSTOWN, Pa, Nov. 18.-The
brigandish tramps and masked rob-
bers have pursued their Illicit avo-
cations to such an extent in North
Pennsylvania, that the people in
the communities that have been
subject to the outlaws raiding incur
sions have risen en- nldsse against
the invading nomads, and several
lively and sanguinary skirmishes
have occurred between the authOri-
ties, citizens and maurauders. The
last of the conflicts occurred near
Coopersburg, a small town inst
above here, on the line of the Penn
sylvania railroad, and in a section of
country that has been infestea,by
wandering laWbreakers for several
months past.
A number of stores having been
broken into and plundered in Lee
high and Bucks counties, the au-
thorities, upon the complaint Of
Levi Meschter, a merchant, whose
store at Gerrysville was robbed on
Friday night, determined to hunt
down and bring to Justice the per-
petIators of what has become eX-
tensive and systematic robbery.
From certain suspicious circum-
stances, it was believed the house
of Thomas Wadrife, which is situ-
ated about mile east of CoopenS-
burg, was the rendezvous of the
outlaws as well as being the recep-
tacle of their plumber. Constable
Ponti, a number of Vigilants and
citizens visited the place, and, after
slight resistance, captured the in
mates and discovered several thOus-
and dollars worth of goods that
have been stolen from the mer-
chants and citizens of Lehigh and
Bucks counties. The prisoners were
brought here and locked up in a
room in Barrow's Hotel, and
strong guard placed about the build
ing to prevent any attempted res
cue.
Another visit was made to Wild
rife's house early last evening by
the vigilants, and when they were
within short distance of the prem
iseS a party of men, who were am
pushed in the woods, opened fire
upon them. The vigilants made
an onslaught upon their assailants
and succeeded in capturing two of
them, the rest of them managing to
elude pursuit. The two outlaws
were locked up with the others.
One of these, however, informed
Constable Ponti that another party
of robbers were secreted in an old
limekiln, near Echard's mills, be-
tween three and four miles from
Coopersburg, and that large guam
tity of valuable booty was also
stored there. Acting upon this hint
the constable and the vigilantS made
a raid upon the place designated
about II o'clock.
Between thirty-five and forty des-
paradOes were concealed in and
about the limekiln, and these, upon
theapproach of the vigilants, opened
a heavy and rapid fire upon them.
The assailed returned the fire of their
assailants briskly, and for about half
an hour terrific battle ragged, which
ended, however, in the repulse and
capture of ten of the laW-breakers.
Three of them areseverely wounded.
The whole party was brought here
and imprisoned in the hotel. James
Waters, one of Constable Ponti's
posse, was slightly wounded during
the affray. The most desperate
members of the gang, who give their
names as Charles Stein, Frank Mil
Ter, Charles Keiser, Franz Schnei-
der, Henry Price, Nicholas Burnley,
George Ramey, Oscar Printz, George
Schmidt and Mrs. Annie Schmidt,
have been taken to Doylestown and
lodged in the Bucks county Jail to
await trial before the December
term of court. AS the rest of the
party, with Thomas Widirife, the
keeper of the robbers resort, opera
ted in Lehigh county and We're cap
tured within its boundaries, they
will be taken to Allentown for trial.
AS it is known other bands of out
laws are roaming about Lehigh and
Bucks counties committing Outra-
ges, the vigilants have gone in pur-
suit of them, and it is expected that
by tomorrow they will be captured.