Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-02-16
The Buxzard Brothers.

nve brothers whose names are now before
the public in the role of leaders Of the
Welsh mountain gang OF plunderers, in
Pennsylvania. Two of them, Abraham
and Joseph, are in the Lancaster Jail The
remaining three are at large. Two of the
alleged members of the gang. Diller
Clarke and Henry Howes, who were ar
rested with the two Buzzards, aro also in
Jail. Seven Of the band are now serving
time in JAIL and three are in the Eastern
penitentiary in Philadelphia The five
Buzzard brothers have all served out diff
ferent sentences In prison during the last
five years. Joseph and Isaac labored
eighteen months in the Lancaster Jail for
horse-stealing; Jacob was in the same
prison five years for burglary, Abraham
was sentenced to four years for burglary,
! escaped, and was recapturej; Martin has
also made similar record, and his terms
have numbered more than one. In Febru-
ary OF last year the five were in the Lam
caster Jail together, serving out their SEN
tences, but during 1880 their various terms
expired, and they were released. They at
once repaired to their old haunts, the
Welsh mountains, strip of wild and bar
ren backwoods country and forest lying
along the borders of Berks, Lancaster and
Chester counties. Rising out of a rocky
and scrub-oak stretch of barren is the
Welsh mountain, with its caves of lime
stone rock, caverrs, and dreary yet safe
and secure, hiding places, where officers of
the law never visit Prior to their depart
ure for the old haunts, they made many
vows and promises that they would never
again ''take to the road" for a living, and
they pointed to the fact that, notwith-
standing their absence from their hunting
grounds, the robberes. burglaries, and
high outrages had continued the
same as ever. Old Martin said to the
| sheriff.
| "iou see, we are not to blame, because
we weren't thar. Now, if these stealings
go on when we're down thar, don't blame
it on to usi'
| Martin Buzzard had spoken truthfully;
for when his brothers and himself had
been captured and convicted a young and
handsome man assumed charge OF the then
almost panic stricken gang of thieves. His
true name was Henry Brit, although he
had many aliases. He was daring and
intrepid outlaw, and always had charge of
running the stolen plunder into market
after the gang had captured ard delivered
it in neighboring county. When the five
BuzZards had been run down, and the band
scattered and dishearteneA. Birt's occu-
patton was gone. He therefore came TO his
own rescue, mounted his horse, penetrated
the wilds OF the forest and mountain
country, and rallied the men once more.
They left their huts and followed his
leadership as bravely as they did under the
old regime. Brit soon became known
as 'Wild Harry of the Welsh mountain.
As an innocent looking pedd.er b,
roaned the country during the dsy
Ot of evenings he courted the farmers
pretty daughters. His lair was long, blacE
and wavy; his eyes dark; his complexion
olive. tie had black mustache, very
pretty teeth, and was well formed. Ii,
! was not an educated man, but his conver
sation was entertaining, and his unaffect
ed. plain, blunt manner engaging. The
girls liked his brusque, Careless manner,
snc, after he had won his way into theil
affections be took good care to take suffi-
Client points to enable hun to work his way
into the house few evenings afterward on
a mission of plunder instead of love. A
volume might be written of the romances
of this modern Claude Duval. He could
write fairly, and many of his loye-letters
found their way into the homes OF the rich
est farmers In that section of country. So
far as Is known his conduct to the young
women was perfectly honorable. When
he was at last run down and arrested, and
his many sweethearts heard of it, they not
| only denounced the officers and pronounced
| the charges untrue, but earnestly entreated
| their friends and relatives to go to his aid
Brit was captured with load of plunder,
end committed to the Jail at Reading. His
red necktie, velvet coat, corduroys, and
| top boots were changed to prison strips,
and he served long term, after which he
went to Mexico.
The Buzzard boys, after their liberation,
found the gang nearly broken up and very
poor. 1t was some time before they were
again mustered and organized. Martin
Buzzard went 10 his hut on the mountain
at what is called "Buzzard's Roost, " and
commenced making baskets. He was de-
iermined to reform and quit the road All
1.-THE present winter the burglaries have
gone on. NEARLY every night the bold
band has been abroad. Churches, stores,
stations, offices, and private houses, have
been broken open and burned. Vigilance
committees, horse thief detective associa-
tions, and other companies for the preven-
tior of crime and for the assistance of the
conslabulary, have been organized, but the
burglaries 20 on Many farmers are afraid
TO take active part In the prosecutions, lest
their barns may be fired. Indeed, many
notices, something similar to the MOLLY
NaU1iraN xarninUs have haap sapt ca,,
tioning farmers 10 beware how they volun-
teered to give evidence against certain par
ties under arrest.
The BuZzard brothers are middle sized.
broad shouldered men, ranging from 20
years of age to 40. Isaac is the youngest
and Mart the Oldest. They have red COM
plexIons and brown HAIR, gray eyes and
heavy, shaggy eyebrows. Their boots are
of coarse hide, and their corduroy panta-
looms are stuck in the tops. Generally
they wear short, heavy pea-jackets, which
enable them 10 ride more freely. Three
are married and have several children each,
all living in the same cabins. The Buz-
yards are desperate men, and for long
| time it was considered certain death to at
tempt to arrest them in their homes.
some of the band live in '.Lousetown,"
a small mountain village near the home OF
the Buzzards. The arrest of the two
brothers is TO be followed up, and it is ex-
pected that the entire quintet will soon be
brought in. Some say that Martin Is aid
ing the officers, while Others deny 1t.
Martin has written letter for publication,
in which he declares his innocence, says
that he has reformed entirely, and thanks
God that he has luckily escaped from the
gallows.
Would not Give IL.