The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-02
/. MIDNIGHT BATTLE IN BEnKs.
How Thirteen Brave Farmers Re-
pulsed Band of Determined Ma
raudcrs in the Village OF Hereford
vile = The RufIians Compelled 10
Retreat.

Sliie Inc tsumans tcmpeiiec 70
Retreat.
READING, July 26.-The full de-
tails of sanguinary battle with a
gang of at least a dozen determined
thieves have been received here from
the small village of Herefordville, in
the eastern section Of Berks. The
fight with guns and pistols ut the
dead hour of night lasted several
hours and resulted In the wounding
, of several OF the farmers VINO were
engaged in driving OFT the insruders.
The object of the thieves was to rob
rich farmer named Memo ID.
Clemmer. residing IA few miles from
Claytonville. The thieves first made
their appearance on Monday night
and surrounded the house They
came in a large wagon, and it Is
supposed they are strangers who
We're encsmped in the hills near
Perryville. Several attempts were
made to enter the house by battering
down the heavy oaken doors, but
Mr. Ciemmer aroused the neighbors
by sharp firing at the thieves and
they disappeared. Apparently they
were unarmed, because they di6 not
return the fire, and it is now sup
posed that they had not anticipated
such a warm reception.
PREPARING FOR THE THIEVES.
| Mr.. Clemmer was yesterday im-
pressed with the idea that the thieves
would make second attack and he
succeeded in getting a number OF
neighbors in the house early last
evening. The neighbors were Jacob
/ Mover, David G. Clemmer, James
b. Funk, Edward Klutz, Jas. Henry,
William Wiegner, Nathan Winner,
William Gaulman, William Geisler,
n. G. Clemmer, Christian Clemmer,
and ,Josephus Gerhard. These par
ties were fully armed with guns,
pistols and rifles, and were quarter
ed on the ground floor and stationed
at the windows in the upper stories.
! About eleven O'Clock a noise was
heard on the outside and two men
halted in front of the house. appar-
entiy wearing black masks. They
were observed reconnoitering ABOUT
! the front ard few minutes later
three more strangers appeared.
FIGHTING FOR AN HOUR.
| Closely following them were tLree
more ana finally four others arrived,
making a dozen in all. Their team
must have been tied some distance
away. As it was not seen near the
house. The thieves advanced TO
ward the rear part OF the house, but
before they reached the mousse the
farmers inside opened the doors,
rushed out and discharged :: volley
AT the thieves Sharp cries OF agony
and pain followed, but none of them
Dropped The thieves lei back 10
the road aud returned the fire,
wounding William Guuiinan Ia the
arm with Il bail from Il revolver.
The farmers were led by jacob Moy-
er and they fought with "a viii.
Volley after yollev was fired at Il
distance OF twenty yards at the
slowly retreating inarauders aud tue
firing was briskiy returned. Bullets
whislied by freely, but as they we're
| from fevolYers the aim was unsteady.
During the third round Jas. Henry
was struck in the left shoulder, Ia
| iiictiDg but a slight flesh wound.
The night WAS quite dark and the
farmers Kept well together and fired
! low. After at least one hours fight.
one of the thieves, apparently ihe
leader ol the gang, shouted that II
the firing did not cease they would
burn down every stable, barn and
house on the place. Ammunition
being exhausted the farmers fell
back to ClemerS house. 1t was also
| feared that the thieves might have
separated and returned 10 the house
by flank movement and robbed
the premises. IL Is supposed the
thieves retreateG in their wagon, al
though two suspicious characters
were seen IN the neishborhood TO-
day. 1t is also believed that several
of them were badly wounded and
were taken away Ia that condition.