Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-07-11
A CHASE AFTER HORSE THIEVES.

For several days previous to the night Of the
2sth Of June, a number Of tramps were noticed
lowering In and around this borough. On the
morning Of the 29th, Judge Clyde was short a set
Of harness, and Samuel Irwin, neighbor, (both
residing in Lawrence township, about three and
a half miles north Of this borough was minus
horse aud buggy. Hence 1t was pretty well set
tied that there was case Of horse stealing on
hand, and Mr.. Irwin aud two other gentlemen
soon htched up team and set out to overhaul
the thief, or thieves. BY the tracks Of the horse
and buggy, 1t was pretty plain that the thieves
were moving down through Rrenchyillo, and pur-
suit was made as rapidly as possible. But Mr.,
Irwin, finding that he could not ovcrtake the run
aways, telegrAphed to Wcsport, upon reaching
tho railroad at tho mouth Of the sinncmabonng
In this way the thieves wero headed OF between
Westport and Renoya, and when ordered to halt,
one man jumped from the buggy and started for
the woods, and on refusing to halt, one of tho pur
suers discharged pistol at him, the ball taking
effect in the arm, which caused the fellow to twir
around three or four times Ikea top, and then be
begged for quarters. While this was going on,
the other fellow leaped from the buggy, too, and
plunged into the river, and while making for the
"Other shore" the captors fred several shots at
the swmmeb one ball passing through his hat,
peeling the hair Of the top Of bis scalp The firing
and noise attracted the attention of parties on the
opposite side Of tho river, who, upon learning that
the fellow in the water was 5Qrso thief com
mcnced stonng him, pelting him right smnrtly.
Mr.. Thief, discovering that his reception would
evidently be rather warm cover there" turned and
commenced swimming down stream. The cap
tors then also commenced fiBging stones at him,
and when he found the pebbles lighting on him
from both shores, and the water getting deeper,
and supposing that thore would be no " let up" in
the lingng Of stones, he begged for quarters and
turned for tho shore from which be started. And
after reaching the dry land again, he made an at
tempt to escape by running into a thiehet Of
bushes, into which the capturing party hurled the
stones by the handful, This soon extracted the
yell Of "murder" out Of the fellow in the brush,
and upon surrendering, he was secured and hand
cuaed to his confederate, and the next day lodged
10 our prison.
The thieves made a very narrow escape with
their lives, and they complain bitterly Of the re-
cepliou they received at the hands Of the West
porter,, alleging that the people down there can
not be more than half civilized from the way they
treated them. As there is no sympathy for horse
thiovcs anywhere, we think that they made
fortunate escape when they got away with their
lives.
The thieves claim to hail from Columbus, Ohio,
and give their names as Pred Smith and Frank
Long, the former aged rs and the latter 10 years
Of age--ra,her young for tba, Kind Of calling Mr..
Irwin found his horse very much run down, and
he buggy almost ruined. The thieves had missed
tho roads, short distance below the mouth Of the
sinnsmahOnings md horse, buggy and all wen,
down l5o feet, and a.iei on the rail road track
all "righ, side up" except :be buggy, which was
considerably damaged. The escape from death Of
both men aud hOrse, was miraculous.