The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-01

Ga Thursday evening last our usually
quiet Town was thrown into quite Il fever
OF excitement hy the announcement that
a tramp had put in an appearance in Som
erset. In "A short time the citizens began
to gather in groups on ihe street corners
and 10 talk in an excited manner of yigi-
lance committees. Of increasing the police
I force from one to three men, of calling a
public meeting. and of organizing all able
bodied citizens into a home guard to pro-
tect lIfe and property in the absence of the
regular military company. Later in the
evening the excitement was greatly in
creased as the s;cry was told from mouth
to mouth how the house of Mr.. George
Stitely had been visited bya vicious look
ing tramp, calling himself the "Avenger,"
who had thrown down his pack,
and had with uplifted staff compel
led the brave and chivalrous George To
prepare and place before him such meats
and viands as would nourish the inner
man and strengthen him sufficiently TO be
able 10 kill. burn and destroy, as seemed
to be expected of him by our citizens.
These were indeed not only serious times.
1 but times that tried mems souls, and as
Mr.. s. was known to be a courageous
man, the more timid of oar citizens began
10 grow weak in The knees. and 10 inquire
/ whether il would be possible tO telegraph
70 Washington and ask whether a COM
pany OF regulars could net be forwarded
by special train, Others spoke of packing
and removing their most valu ible personal
property, and of sending their womeni
and children a safe distance into the coGn-
try, and others, still, spoke OF a general
PRAYER meeting 10 pray for aid in this our
hour OF danger; but while the more eX-
citahle citizens were engaged in discussing
the most available means of capturing and
disarming this tramp. thereby preventing I
him from carrying his cold-blooded inten
tons into execution, and of preparing for
cases OF this kind in the future, a few cool
headed men had armed themselves prepar
atoIy 10 patroling the town during the
night. The example of this handful of
brave men, who, with their lives in their
hands and their flint locks on their Shout
ders, or their swords by their sides, an
nounced their willingness TO sacrifice their
lives, their purses, and a good night rest,
had d very salutary effect on most OF our
good people. and by one o'clock the streets
were quite deserted, and nothing could be
heard but the steady tramp Of the Mayor
and his handful OF braves as they walked
their beats. Early Friday morning the
streets again presented an unwonted ap-
pearance. Men were around with all con-
ceivable kinds OF weapons. going from
place to place. each inquiring %anxiously
whether anything had been heard Of the
tramp, whether any lives had been lest
during the night. and whether the time
for him 10 commence committing his dep
relations was not close at hand. By ten
O'Clock the excitement knew no bounds,
and when at halt past ten a man with a
pack on his back, and who looked rs
though he hadn't tasted blood tor seven
days and wanted to eat some one, mean
dered slowly up Union street, the scene
beggared description. But this was not
the tramp. This man was not near so
vicious as he louked, for when he was
waited upon by the town council, headed
BIZ his honor the Mayor. ant politely ask
ed as to his wants, be replied In 3 low soft
voice that he wanted something To eat %
strengthen him sufficiently 10 continue his
Journey. This being furnished him. be
took his peaceful departure and quiet was q
again restored. Bat a feeling of uneasi
ness still prevailed throughout the entire
community. and wnen one of our aged
had passed from house requesting
all able bodied men 10 assemble al the
ringing of the bell. all felt that something
was going to be done and that no more
need be ap~prehended, The bell
was rGng at seven o'clock, aud long ere il
ceased ringing the entire male population /;
Of our town haG assembled in the court !
room. The meeting was called 10 order ,
by electins A. j.. ColborB. Esq tn the /;
chair. Afier soul-siirring speeches by I
Of our citizens, in which they 4,
needlessiy told the object OF the meeting
and called upon all present to enrol them
selves as MEMBERS of the LONE guar1,
organization was effec,ed by e~icciing !
Col. J. II. Eiie as commander in chief of ]
all the land forces. The Colonel made a .
short speech in which he suggested that il
would be advisable TO divide the forces !
into two companies. This suggestion was I
acted upon Immediately, and TIVE compa- q
MES OF 81 men each were formed, TO be '
known as companies A and b. Jonas VI. !
Cook was chosen captain Of Company 4, :
and VIM. NJ Schrock captain Of Company !
The following il . list OF the lieuten. I
ants and n-commissioned officers Of the J
companies: Company A-First Lieu Y
tenant, John ID. Zimmerman Second a
Lieutenant. VIM. ". Ruppel. First Ser ;
geant Daniel z. Davis: Second Sergeant, y
L. G.. Colborn: Third Sergeant. j. r. a
Scott: Fourth Sergeant. W. III. Hochsiei !
Company B-First Lieutenant. A. +. .
Second Lieutenant, Ed. b. Col q
First Sergeant. jacob p. Kimmel,
Second Sergeant. II. Z. Knepper; Third Q
G.. VI. Holierbaum: Fourth 5
Harry Endsiey. e
The following orders issued hy the !.
omnsnder-in-ehie explain themselves; Il
ORDER No. l. II
Somerset, july %, 1877. n
The Undersigned having been selected Il
: officer in charge al the two companies q
his day organized for the protection of e
he town and lis property hereby assumes 81
;ommAnd. and announces Z. j. Kooser s.
S his Adjuiani, WIN viii be obeyed ac- d
,ordingly. J.. r. EDIE. 81
Officer in charge. Il
ORDER No. III. rrt4qI
Somerset, July -. 1877.
The captains of the two COMMANDS or \;