Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-12-15
DOMESTIC 8RIGAYDAGE


Italy and Spain, little dreaming that
something of the same kind would oc.
cur in the Quaker wealth,
and that, too, about midway between
the great city OF the State and the
State Capitol, where civilization is
certainly las tony" as anywhere else
IN the United States But such is the
fact In addition to being annoyed by
the Indian on our Western borders,
we have the brigand right in our midst.
For a number of years the papers Of
Berks, Lebanon, Lancaster and Dau-
phin counties have referred to the nu.
merous ontrages committed in the
shape of bold burglaries, daring high.
way robberies and numerous petty
theits pcrpetrated within the borders
OF said counties-the robbery ofstores,
railway stations, freight houses, mills,
farm houses and barns. These theits
were traced to the infamous crowd
known as the "Welsh mountain gang"
Their stronghold, and place of refuge,
was in the low range of hills aud will.
derness iamiliarly known as the Welsh
mountains and Barren hill, about fifty
miles west OF Philadelphia, and nearly
the same distance from Harrisburg.
The place where their stronghold was
located composes the border of three
counties Chester, Lancaster and
Berks) but their deprcdadions extend.
ed over Upper Lebanon and across
the eastern limits Of Dauphin county.
A correspondent of the New York Sun.
writing from the neighborhood infested
with this notorious gang, says
The resort of the desperadoes is
known as the "The Sassafras,n an OK
tensive thicketoi sassairas trees, so
dense that horse would find il i'm.
possible TO force its way through, and
many parts of it are impenetrable
even to man. In many places the
land is uneven and broken by deep
gorges, Down the mountain sides
are many large caves, almost screened
from sight by the thick underbrush.
Looking down from the edge of the
hills upon the country below is like a
transition from a wilderness to a para.
disc. To the west, as far as the eve
can reach stretches the fertile Cones.
toga Valley, with its endless prospect
OF well cultivated farms, neat white
farmhousos and barns, its numerous
wheat fields, and pastures filled with
grazing cattle. This garden country
| is populated by the thrifty Menonites,
the Dunkards and the descendants of
the famous old Dutch stock. 1t is
this thrift and wealth in live stock,
coupled with the peculiar topography
of the country, which makes this
fertile country favorito field of oper.
alton for the horse and cattle thieves.
who have been plying their trade here
for years. II is hard to tell when these
wilds were free from them. No far.
mer within radius of ten miles from
"The Sassafras" has escaped their
depredations. Honeybrook, over ten
miles away, has been invaded twice
in the night and two of its most valu
able horses carried away, Every far
mer with any valuable stock in the
surrounding neighborhood has at one
time or another suffered Every pre.1
vlous effort to capture and bring to
punishment the thieves have failed.
AT length the farmers banded together
after the manner of the western vigi
lance committee for mutual protection.
The farmers in the Lancaster section
organized themselves into what ia
known as the Harmony Detective As.
sociation, while the farmers and citi.
zens OF the Chester county section
banded together as the Honeybrook
Detective Association A liberal supply
OF arms were distributed in both these
communities and the members OF
the respective associations agreed
to shoot any man on sight canght
stealing from their premises.
"The thieves carried off not only
horses and cattle, but wheat, corn,
pigs and poultry. Then houses were
broken into on Sunday nights, when
the occupants were at church, and
wearing apparel and bed clothing were
carried of, to the extent, in some in.
stances, OF depriving families of every.
thing in this line that they possessed
Some months ago three masked men
entered the house of Isaac Seldomride,
a well-to-do Dunkard farmer, living
three miles from Honeybrook, Ian.
caster county, occupied by Seldomride
and his aged sister, drew pistols, bound
the woman fast, and holding q pistol
at the head of the brother compelled
bin to deliver up all the money in the
house. This was only twenty dollars
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 outrages
were SO often repeated that the citi.
zens throughout the whole section of |
that country which had been invaded !
by the robbers became thoroughly 7
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 arrests !
will put stop to any further depre. /
dations for some time at least.
"Within the past few weeks thirteen '
men ranging from eighteen to seventy
years, have been quietly arrested in ?
pairs and trios and jailed in the Leba.
non, Berks and Lancaster county iails.
Jacob p. llefily was the first man or.
rested, and he made full confession
before Magistrate Shuttle"
lleffly, II appears, had quarrel !
with his wife and threatened her with
bodily harm. In order TO protect her. ,
self, it is alleged, she Informed tho au.
Ihorities of the actions of her husband. !
The Sun correspondent continues q
'The entire gang lived in the forest
near the Blue mountains.
They met in Ghost Hollow, whore
each took an oath on the Bible TO be
oyal one to the other and always be
ready to protect and defend and also
10 divide all plunder At the conclu. 4
zion of the oath daggcrs were drawn :
md every man threatened with death
'hould he reveal their secret
Edward Schaum, Alfred Dehmam, f.
Brill, Ben, Katterman, Sam McDono. {