The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-26
From the Clearfield Republican.
Another Horse-Thief Capture.
A RARE AND EXCITING CHASE.


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On Tuesday, July Sd. Senator Peale,
of Lock Haven, saddled and mounted
his blooded steed and set out for the
railroad celebration at Spring Mills, on
the 4th. The nag, like the Senator,
attracted considerable attention
among the Pennsvalley Grangers.
On the evening of the 4th, the Senator
made his way to a friend, residing at
Rebersburg, where he remained over
Sunday. On the night of the 9Th, a
horse fancier from Stone Valley,
named Stewart Walker, stole the
mare and set out for the oil regions in
Clarion county. The Senator issued
$125 reward proclamation, and Deputy
Sheriff Westbrook and Constable
Harvey, of Lock Haven, upon learn
ing what had occurred, soon equipped
themselves for an expedition. They
passed over into Pennsvalley, where
they got on the track of the thief, who
only travelled at night. He was
tracked to Pine Grove, thence to War
rior's Mark, via Bald Eagle Furnace,
Sandy Ridge, Phillipsburg and to the
Blue Ball, in this county.
Those in pursuit were satisfied that
the thief and his booty were concealed
during last Friday somewhere be-
tween the Blue Ball and Clearfield
creek. Messrs. Westbrook and Har
vey made arrangements at Wallaceton
during the day to send scouting
party across through Boggs township,
on to this place and made arrange
ments for picke:ing all the river
bridges and fordings from here to Cur
wensville. The Wallaceton party, on
arriving in the vicinity of Stoneville,
learned that a strange gentleman was
stopping with Mr.. Pickles, and, re-
pairing to the house, found just what
they were after-man and beast-and
who demanded to see the warrant,
threatening to make cold meat of
somebody if they attempted to arrest
him without a proper warrant. While
one of the party went about six miles
to obtain "a warrant, Walker went to
the barn, saddled and bridled his
horse, the parties watching him, and
when he was about ready to go, they
left the stable and closed the door but
while barricading it, Walker knocked
Misunderstanding enough off the rear
of the barn to make his escape on
horseback. About midnight the thief
encountered the pickets at Blooms S
bridge, who attempted to arrest him,
but at one bound Walker went over
their heads and was off again. One
of the pickets fired at him and clipped
some of the hair off the side of his
head. A mile and half to Curwens.
vile, where the thief encountered an
other set of pickets, and, after three
shots had been fired at him, he
wheeled his horse and crossed the iron
bridge in about three jumps, and up
the road towards Bloomington at fly.
ing speed. Here the chase stopped
for the night.
During Saturday arrangements
were made to picket the bridges and
fordings from Curwensyille to Lum.
Der City, as we'll as both turnpikes
leading towards Luthersburg. A
scouting party was also formed, made
up of men acquainted with the coun.
try between Bloomington and Lum.
} Der City, some of whom in the after.
noon discovered that somebody had
been haggling off some of Mr.. VIM
Prices oats. About six o'clock in thu
evening, Missrs. Enos and ALFRED
Bloom discovered Walker lying be.
hind log, and observing that they
saw him he jumped up and run like 1
: deer. They called on him to stop, bu
he pressed on. They commenced fir
ing at him with rifles, when the third
shot took effect and caused him to sur
render. The ball entered the back
just below the left shoulder-blade, anl
passed through his body, penetrating
| ehS iCio iuhSs liIOIc w tls
right and the ball would have passeC
through his heart. The wound is
,, dangerous one, and may yet cause hi
,, death. He is lying at the Irvil
House, in Curwensville. in the care O
!. physicians and guarded by an officer
y and will remain there until he is fit t,
be sent to the Bellefonte Jail.
The horse was found in the vicinit,
where the thief was captured, and wa
' taken in charge by Officers Westbrool
e and Harvey, who started with tn
e animal for Lock Haven last Monday
= and no doubt, by this time it is il
Senator Peale's stable.
t The affair caused great excitemen
: at Curwensville on Saturday nigh
t and during Sunday.
{ The thief assigns as his reason TO
turning about in Curwensville, tha
he was afraid the awkward "buggers'
S would shoot the mare-''they fired S,
e id carelessly."
| Notwithstanding the rapid decIjn