The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-08-03
LEWIS md CON NELL

icaH. an old man. furnishes the following
in reference to the above named robbers of
the early times :
There are few incidents in the subse-
quent lives pf these t,esperadoes (Lewis and
Connelly,) remembered by the writer, which
perhaps may not be unintercsting to the
present generation,
About she time referred to in the article,
Lewis and Connolly, with an accomplice by
the name of McGulre, attacked q wagon
loaded with store goods in hat is known as
the Seven Mountains" belonging to Ham
mond 81 Page, then merchants of this town,
and succeeded in carrying Oft valuable
part OF the cargo, consisting mainly of dry
goods, a portion of which were afterwards
found secreted in the mountains.
Some time after they came to Potter 5 mills
in Penn'S valley, where they made an at
tempt to enter the store of j. & j. Potter,
at that time kept in an old log building un-
der the superintendeuce of John Kerr, as
sisted by Jacob G.. Lebo, clerk. Kerr aud
Iebo, having been aroused, made some de-
nonsjration, which caused them to leave
without securing much plunder. The latter
gave them the contents OF an old shot gun,
when, it said, Connolly proposed re-
turning rifle ball, but was prevented by
Lewis.
The next heard of them was that they had
gone to the home of Lewis, on the Sinnetua-
honing creek, in what is now Clinton coun-
ty. At this period the whole community
was alarmed a. the depI edatiOns they were
committing, and hence it was extremely de-
sirable that an effort should be made to ar
rest them.
A party of reputable citizens of the town,
namel y--Hon. John Mitchell, afterwards
canal commissioner aud for number of
years a member of congress from this dis
trict Jas. M'Ghee, a prominent member
aud supporter of the NJ. f. Church John
Hall, the father of our county commissioner
and very intelligent and influential man !;
Maj William Armor, familiarity known as
one of the best, il not the very best, hter i'll
the whole country Peter Deisal, a
ed man, and Samuel Askey, who was un-
doubtedly the most noted back woods hunter
in northern and western Pennsylvania, COM
posed the party who started with their rifles
i'll pursuit.
1t was considered a daring undertaking.
and many advised them not to attempt IT,
a. these brigands were the terror of the
whole community, and il was believed they
We're desperate men, who would never sur
render with their lives. A Drawer and more
determined set of men never started out on
such an enterprise, and, as the result show
ed Were just suited for the occasion.
Having travelled foot for a week or
more through the woods there being no
roads of any kind, with their provisions in
their knansacks, in addition to the game
they secured they finally approached a house
on the SiuuenahUuing, and from an ad ia
cent hill top at some distance, discovered a
party of men shooting at a mark. Satisfied
! that Lewis. Connelly and Mcclure were
amorg them. and having first examined
! their guns and picked their fiints, they made
sudden raid down the hill and surprised
! the marksmen, when firing commenced on
/ both sides, tn the great CONSERVATION of all
| concerned. Owing 10 the fact that !he pur-
| suers were prepared for the contest, and the
| pursued unaware of their approach, the
| former had the advantage, and a conse-
! quence, the victory was gained by the noble
| men who rsked their lives for the welfare
! of their fellow citizens.
! 1t was an act of bravery and courage sell
| dom witnessed, and should have secured for
the participants monument to their bra
very. They have all long since passed away.
! Connolly ran TO spring house near by,
! where, as he was reloading his rifle, he was
! MORALLY wounded. After receiving the shot
! he made his way TO The forks of tree, 10
which he was traced by the flow of blood
from his wound. He died the same day
and was buried in that locality.
| Lewis was shot in the arm by, il is said,
! Peter Deisel, although this was never GER
/ tanly known, from the promiscuous fiT-
! ing it might have been done by another
and they all preferred sharing the reSpOn 81
| biity of taking life, under the circumstances,
! rarher than placing it upon Que of their num-
ber
He was brought to BeIlefonte in = two
( horse wagon. covered with muslin sheet,
/ on the evening of a very sultry Gay, and, as
/ may he supposed, TO the great relief of all
! the inhabitants. He was taken to the front
! room in what was known as the old Jail,
! where he remained until he died from the
/ effects of the wound. 1t was the opinion of
! the attendant physician that he might have
! survived but for his refusal TO snbInit to an
ampufatiOn of his arm. which afterwards
mortified and caused his death.
/ Every attention was paid to Lewis by The
citizens of the town, especially the la'lies,
! during his sickness, and much sympathy was
| felt for him in consequence of the impression
which prevailed that among his bad ones he
had some good qnalities-one OF which was
/ his aversion to taking life in pursuance of
/ his calling, and another his preference for
robbng the rich that he might give to the
poor. 1t is not known tn the writer what be-
came of III Guire. He had been frequently
arrested and imprisoned. but usually made
/ his escape and it was the general opinion
that there was Jail in the courtry suffi-
Gently strong to hold him. He had the repu-
! tation of being particularly expert in this re-
I spect. They had all been frequently con
cerned in the robbery of the mails and of
I passengers in stage coaches hut neither, II
! is believed, were ever convicted.
! COMFORT IN AFFLICTIoN.-It vas court
I week.in certain county town and dozen