The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-19
BOUND AND GAGGED.
The Adventure of Pittsburgh Minis
ter,s Wife i'm New York.
From the plttsbnrgh pispateI.

Mrs. Gilchrist. the wife of a wealthy
farmer of West Charlton, Saratoga conn
ty, N. Y, and a Pittsburgh relative, the
wife OF prominent minister, arrived in
this city day or two since from the
home of the former, where they exDer
fenced an adventure that has all the ro-
nance of stage coach robbery. The story,
as related by Mrs. GiIchrist. is as follows:
About ten DAYS ago while the famlly, IN
Guiding the Pittsburgh relative, were
seated around the Preside, preparatory to
retiring for the night, they were suddenly
confronted by six stalwa:t masked men.
all armed. The entree of the intruders
was so sudden and unexpected that before
the family realized their perilous position
they were bound and gagged and com
pletely in the control of the marauders,
several of whom leveled revolyers, while
the others ransacked the premises. The
silverware in the dining rooms was first
examined, but it was left behind Mr..
Gilchrist had several thousand dollars
worth of silverware in an upstairs depart
ment, which the robbers failed to find.
They then turned their attention to the
safe which they opened without the least
difficulty, having in some manner learned
the combination. From here they ex-
tracted securities consisting of $500, 900
worth of bonds, mortgages, stocks, etc,
besides several hundred dollars in cash.
One of the robbers, who appeared to be
the chief of the gang, temporarily re
moved the gag from Mrs. Gilchrist and
asked her if she had anything in which to
carry the papers. The terror-stFieken
woman advised them to take a pillow
ease and, after taking her advice, they
fed, leaving the family in their uncom
Portable condition. Toward morning
Mrs. Gilchrist succeeded in loosening her
hands, when she relieved the others, who
were we'll nigh exhausted.
Mr. Gilchrist Immediately mounted a
horse and rode to Saratoga, where he mott
| fed the authorities. ut the same time Ie
questing them to maintain the strictest
secrecy in their search. He then proceed
| ed to New York and inserted an adver
tisement in the papers offering reward
of 50, 900 and mo questions asked if the
securities were returned. Two days after
ward he received a letter informing hin
| that his offer would be accepted, anC
naming a certain hotel in the city as the
place where the transfer Of the property
could be made Mr. Gilchrist appeared
at the hotel at the appointed time, bu
was preceded. according to pre-
vious arrangement, by the
sheriff of Saratoga comfy who
remained in the dark. The robber imme
diately made himself known to tho
| farmer, and the two retired to a room
where the $1,000 was paid over and the
| stolen securities returned. AS the rObbel
was emerging from the hotel he was me-
| by the Sheriff and placed under arrest,
with view of having him turn state
| avidence. The greatest seCresy has been
observed, and the robbery kept from tho
newspapers until now. While Mr.. Gil
christ related her story she produced tht
gag which the robbers had placed over he
mouth. 1t is ii small piece of wood hail
an inch thick and four inches long, a
each end of which is fastened piece o
heavy cord.