Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-05-26
CHE Sturp Teller.
The Den OF ROBBERS.

Stogdon, a tobacco planter living IN the wes
tern part of Virginia, started on journey
for the purpose Of transscting some private
business which required his attention in one
of the north eastern counties of that State
His route lay across one Of the loftiest spurs OF
the Blue Ridge, the longest and most pictu'
rescue mountain range in the South.
As the times were troubled, and the passage
across the mountains considered dangerous
on account of the robbers who infested them,
Mr.. Stogdon went not only well mounted but
we'll armed-a brace of trusty horseman's
pistols being carried, according to the custom
of the day, in front Of the rider and attached
to the forepart of the saddle.
The third night after leaving home, ne
stopped at roadside inn, distant about i've
miles from the base of the mountain. On
dismountinp, he observed that one OF his
horses's shoes had been lost, and directed
another to be put on at the shop attached to
the inn. He rose early next morning and
resumed his journey, with view of obtaining
morning prospect of the mountain and the
scenery of the SUFFICIENT country, which ne
had heard was very fine.
His horse soon began to limp, and was
quite lame when he reached the base of the
mountain. oupposing that the shoe had been
unskilfully put on at the inn, ne stopped at
blacksmiths shop, near the foot OF the
ridge, and had the horses foot examined.
After diligent scrutiny, the workman said
that the lameness was not produced by the
shoe, which was properly adjusted and tasten-
ed to the hoof >,
At the request of Mr. Stogdon, the smith
examined all the shoes, but could find no
cause for lameness in the fit or make OF any
one of them. His quick eye, however, detect
ed ring of ruffied or lifted hair running
aroond one of the hind legs of the horse, just
above the fetlock Raising the hair, he ob-
served that the flesh, was bloody and much
swollen On more careful examination he
discovered that small cord of silk had been
tied so tightly around the leg that it had cut
into the flesh, producing inflammation OF the
part and, doubtless, also the lameness OF the
horse.
The discovery at once excited the suplclon
of the workman, who was both honest and
shrewd. Calling the attention of the traveller
to the cord, which he speedily detached from
the leg of the horse, be expressed his appre-
hension that foul play Of some sort was medl-
tated. A'few years before, he related, rider
less horse had come down from the mountain
and was found to be lame from similar
cause, tight silken cord having cut in al
most to the bone of the animals leg. The
owner had never been heard of, and it was
believed that he had been murdered and his
body concealed in the mountain.
The smith suggested to Mr.. Stogdon the
precautiou of examining the priming and
loading of his pistols On examination the
fints and. priming in the pans were found to
be in proper condition, but the loads had
been withdrawn from both barrels, and wads
of cloth substituted in their place.
The suspicious of Mr.. Stogdon were fully
aroused by the proofs of premeditated de-
sign of some sort upon him. He was bold,
brave man, however, and did not once think
either of changing his route or of abandoning
his journey across the mountains. Carefully
reoading and testing the reliability of his
pistols, he bade adieu to his honest counsel
lor, after suitably rewarding him for his Ia
Dor and advice. and rode of.
The morning was already far advanced
when he began to ascend the mountain. The
road, for several miles, wound along its south
ern side, midway between the base and the
summit. The prospect was grand and beau
tiful beyond his most sanguine anticpatlons
To the right the mountain sank down by
degrees, abrupt or regular, to the margin of
the champaign country below, which stretch
, ed out as far as an eye could reach, and was
covered with tobacco farms, corn fields, dwell.
ings, and all the diversified objects peculiar
toa Virginia landscape. On the left the Blue
Ridge rose up like mighty arch springing
to meet and support the sky, exhibiting, in
rich profusion, all the grand and most OF the
beautiful features of mountain SCENERY.
Delighted with the scene, and absorbed
with the emotions which it inspired, Mr.. Stog-
don rode slowly forward, recalling only occa-
sionally, and for moment, the suspicion ex-
cited by the events of the morning. After
running for nearly FIVE miles along the side
of the mountain, the road, by an abrupt turn,
struck tow ards the summit, through deep
gorge, whose jagged sides slanted upwards to
great heights on either hand.
Shut out of the prospect of the subjacent
country, and hemmed in by steep activities,
Mr.. Stogdon reverted more frequently to the
mysterious developments which had come to
light at the blacksmiths shop, and became
both alert and cautious in his movements.
Arranging his pistols so that they could be
easily withdrawn from the holsters, he urged
his horse to quicker pace, as soon as he
entered the gloomy avenue Of the narrow
gorge.
He had gone about mile when he saw,
some fifty yards ahead of him, large boulder
or earthly ridge, shooting nearly across the
avenue, and leaving only a space, broad
enough for the road bed, between its edge
and the steep side of the gorge 1t was a
spot favorable for an attack by surprise, and
Mr.. Stogdon surmised, at once, that if one
was meditated upon him, it would he made
at that point. Checking the pace Of his horse,
therefore, he rode slowly forward and enter
ed the narrow pass. He had scarcely reached
the middle of the de6le, which was about
twenty yards Id length, when two men rushed
from behind the farther side Of the boulder
into the road and stood, with leveled guns
only few yards distant from Mr.. Stogdon
His horse, frightened at the sudden appear.
ance of the men, whose blackened faces and
shaggy clothes made them look hideous
enough to startle both rider and steed, SHE'D
and refused to 60 forward.
The robbers approached and demanded, as
they approached, the purse and the valua
bles of the traveller promising to spare bis
life, if he would surrender them without
noise or resistance. Without making any
reply. Mr.. Stogdon quickly drew forth his
pistol from the hostler A derisive smile
passed over the faces Of the assailants at sight
Id klo,