Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-07-27
BATTLE IN BERKS.
A AlDNIaHr FIGHT wrru uounx..

Thsrseen Farmers Repuise y Bsna Of Ma
rauders In HerefOrtlv,l,e-rh. x.r-
fans Compelled to kesrear.
A sanguinary battle with q gang of at
least dozen determined thieves is re-
ported from the small village Of Hereford.
vile, In tho eastern section of Berks, The
fight with guns and pistols at the dead
hour OF night lasted several hours and re-
suited in the wOunding Of several of tho
farmers who were engaged in driving off
the intruders. The object Of the thieves
was to rob . rich farmer named MennO ID,
Clemmer, residing few miles from Claw
tonville. Tho thieves first made their ap-
pearance on Monday night and surrounded
the house. They came in largo wagon,
and it is supposed they are strangers who
were encamped in the hills near Perryville.
Several attempts were made to enter tho
house BY battering down the heavy Oaken
doors, but Mr.. Clemmer aroused the neigh
bors by sharp firing at the thieves and
they disappeared. Apparently they weso
unarmed, because they did not return the
fire, and it is now supposed that they had
not anticipated such warm reception.
MIR. Clemmer ON Tuesday was impressed
with the idea that the thieves would make
q second attack, and he succeeded in got
ting number Of neighbOrs in the house
early in the evening. The neighbOrs were
Jacob Meyer, David G. Clemmer, James
b. Funk, Edward Klutz, James Henry,
William Wiegner. Nathan Winner, VIII.
liam Gaulman, William Goisler, N. q.
Clemmer, Christian Clemmer and Jose
phus Gerhard. They were fully armed
with guns, pistols and rifles, and were
quartered on the ground floor and stationed
at tho windows in the upper stories.
About eleven O'Clock u noise was heard On
the outside and two men halted in front OF
the house, apparently wearing black
masks. They were observed rooOInOiter-
ing about the front and few minutes
later three moro strangers appeared.
Closely following them were three moro
and finally four others arrived, making q
dozen in all. Their team must have been
tied sOme distance away rs it was not
seen near the house. The thieves advanced
towards the rear part Of the house, but
before they reached the house tho farmers
inside opened the doors, rushed out and
discharged q vOlley at the thieves Sharp
cries Of agony and pain followed but mono
Of them dropped. The thieves fell back
to the road and returned the fire, wound
ing VIM. Gaulman in the arm with ball
AIOul d IcVOlvcIs 1uC l1fluOiS Wef0 ICO
by Jacob Meyer and they fought with Il
will. VOlley after volley was fired at
distance of twenty yards at the slowly re-
treating marauders and tho firing was brisk
ly returned. Bullets whistled by freely. but
as they were from revOlvers the aim was
unsteady. During the third round James
Henry was struck in the left shoulder, in-
flicting but q slight flesh wound. Tho
night was quite dark aud the farmers
kept we'll together and fired low. After
at least one hours fight one of the thieves
apparently the leader Of the gang, shouted
that if the firing did not cease the would
burn down every stable, barn and house
on the place. Ammunition being exhausted
the farmers fel! back to Clemmer's house.
1t was also feared that the thieves might
have separated and returned to tho house
by i flank movement and robbed the
premises. Il is supposed tho thieves re-
treated in their wagons, although two
suspicious characters were seen in the
neig hDOrhOOd on Wednesday. 1t is also
believed that several Of them were badly
wounded and were taken away in that
condition