Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-08
THE WELSH MOUNTAIN GANG.
A BAND Or NOTORIOUS THIEVES AND
ROBBERS BORKEN UP.

BAND OF NOTORIOUS TH1EvEo AMI
ROBBERS BORKEN UP.
s.FOr . Long Time the Terror" Of all Eastern
Entering Houses with MASKS and
for SeIf-Defonco.
Heading Dispatch 20 New York SUN.
Thirteen men, ranging in age from 10 to
II. have been quietly arrested by twos and
threcs within few weeks, and placed in
the Berks and Lebanon jails, on the
charge of being concerned in plundering
stores, railway stations, freight depots,
a1d farmhouses. The full details of the
organization OF the band are here given
for the first time because all concerned
have been captured. Jacob r. Heffiy was
the first man arrested. lie made con-
fession to Magistrate Schultz. The entire
gang lived lin the forest country near the
Blue Mountains. They met in Ghost
Hollow, where each took an oath OH the
Bible to be loyal one to the other and al
ways he ready to protect and defend and
divide all plumber. At the conclusion of
the oath daggers were drawn and every
man threatened with death should he
reveal their secret. Edward Schaum,
Alfred Lehman. Fred Brill, Benz. Keller
man, Sam McDonough. Geo. Good, w.
Meyer, Quack Scl,acffer, VIM Meyer,
Jacob IIOuck, and several others were
taken into custody. They are rOugh-look-
ing back woodsmen of the poorest class.
Some procured bail. They all claim that
the man who confessed against them
sworc falsely. Their thieviDg operations
extended into four or five counties, and
the band was terror in Eastern Pennsyl-
vania. They had night signals and coun-
tersigns. and carried on the boldest opera
tions, driving off cattle and plunderinS
indiscriminately, hiding their booty in the
mountains. and then running it off to the
city.
These robbers have been long known as
the Welsh mountain gang, from the fact
that their home and stronghold was in
those low ranges of hills and wilderness
known as the Welsh mountains and Bar
ren hills, about fifty miles from Philadel-
phia, twenty miles from Lancaster, and
eighteen miles from DowningtOwn. This
section comprises the borders of three
counties, Chester, Lancaster and Berks.
BOti, ranges begin in Chester county, north
and south of IIoneybroOk, and come to-
gethcr in the form of Il Y in Lancaster
county some miles beyond the line. The
nearer they approach the end the wilder
becomes the prospect. until point is
reached famous throughout all that part
Of the countryls the rendczvOuZ of the
gang which for years has boldly defied the
law of Lancaster, Berks and ChestercOun-
ties. This 5 known as ''Thc Sassafras,' -
an extensive thicket Of sassafras trees, SO
dense that 4 horse would find it impOs-
sible to force its way through, and many
parts of it would prove impcnetrable even
to man. In many places the land is un-
even and broken by deep gOrges. Down
the mountain side arc many caves, almost
screened from sight by the the thick un
dcrbrlsh. Looking down from the edge of
the hills upon the country below is like
transition from wilderness to paradise.
To the west Us far as tile eye can reach,
stretches the fertile ConestOga Valley, with
its endless prospect of wellcultivated farms
neat white farInhOuses and barns. its
numerous wheat fields and pastures filled
with grain. cattle. This garden country
is populated by the thrifty Mennonites,
the Dunkcrs and the descendants of the
famous Dutch stock. 1t is this thrift and
wealth in live stock, coupled with the
peculiar topography of the country, which
makes this fertile section 4 favOrite field OF
operation FOR the horse and cattle thieves
who have been plying their trade for
years. 1t is hard to tell when these wilds
were free from them. No farmcr'within
radius of ten miles from the SaSsafraS has
escaped their ,lcpredatiOns. HoncybrOOk.
over ten miles away, has been invaded
twice in the night and two of its most val
nablc horses carried away. Every farmer
with any valuable stock in the surround
in" neighbOrlinOd has 1T one time or an
other suffered. Every previous effort to
capture an:l bring to punishment the
thieves has failed. At length the farmers
bande;! together after the manner Of the
Western vigilance committee for mutual
protection. The farmers in the Lancaster
section organized themselves into what is
known as the Harmony Detective Associ-
alton. while the farmers and citizens ofthe
Chester county section banded to-
gctlicr rs the l!oneybroOk Detective Asso-
clarion. 4 liberal supply of arms was dis
tributcd in both Of these communities and
the members of the respective associations
agreed to shoot any man Oh sight caught
stealing from their premises.
The thieves carried off not only horses
and cattle, but wheat, corn, pigs and poul-
try. Then houses were broken into Oh
Sunday nights, when the occupants were
at church, and wearing apparel and bed.
clothing We're carried Off, to the extent, in
some instances, OF depriving families OF
everything in this line that they possessed.
Some months ago three masked men ell
tered the house of Isaac Seldomridge,
well-to-do bunker farmer, living three miles
from Honeybrook Chester county, Occu
pied by Seldomridgc and his aged sister,
drew pistols, bound the woman fast, and
holding a pistol ut the head Of the brother
compelled him to dclivcrer up all the
money in the house. This was only $50,
which they took away, with the silver
ware and other valuables, swearing that
they would call again, and that next time
he had better have more money about him.
These Outrascs were so often repeated that
the citizens tlTonghOut the whole section
Of country which had been invaded by the
robbers became thoroughly aroused, and
meetings were held daily to organize
measures TO break up the gang. This has
at length resulted in the arrests just made.
Whether the whole Of the gang has been
captured Or not, confidence is felt that the
arres s will put 4 stop to any ulther dcpre-
dations for some time at least.
LANCASTER: HOUSEHOLD MARKET.
DAIRY.
butJsr r Be-. .JVVooc
Cup cheese, cups. &c
Cottage cheese. pieces. &c