The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-07
BLACK RUBE," THE ROBBER
CHIEF.

oeiHg tail, gaunt ana very dark
visaged fellow, the people where he
+ was only known as desperate and
robber, gave him the sobriquet of
Black Rube, name that really be-
Icame bugbear. He was a shreWd,
Caring fellow, and ever seemed to
know just where the finest horses
were, and how they were secured !;
also when private families or country
stores had any money about them {;
and when such was the case, the pro-
pfietors might be sure that Black
Raha would give them call, unless,
ssgssfsy 9TH, watch was set to receive
Iaas and if there was he was sure to
find it out and .forbear TO put in an
appearance, at least until after such
protection ceased.
How he kept posted about such
matters was something of coriun-
drum to everybody not actually en-
gagged in the business with him still
most people thought they knew just
how he got his information ; if called
upon to do so, could lay their hands
on the very man and no mistake.
But, Notwithstanding many schemes
had been devised to detect the various
suspected culprits, no one had eyer
been found guilty.
Every effort to capture Rube had
hitherto proved abortive he either
outran his pursuers, or threw them
off his track and thus escaped them.
Twice he had turned upon his pur.
suers, surprised and dispersed them.
These teats of artful daring excited
no little ambition and determination
among the people, especially in the
breasts of young bloods, many of
whom longed to be the boasted cap
tor of this shrewd and bold robber.
He was usually attended, it seems,
by a greater or less number of fol-
lowers, according as the prospective
harvest was great or small. At the
time of which we write there had
been quite number of horses stolen,
besides one or two stores robbed of a
considerable sum of money. AS usual
on the disclosure of such events, great
excitement and confusion prevailed !;
and before this had cooled down to a
rational basis, and a party fitly
equipped been sent in pursuit, the
bold Rube, with his ill gotten gains,
was many miles away, running. as
he ever did, for the pathless noun.
tain region, where it was next to i'm
possible to capture him, because of
the difficulty of tracking him fast
enough to overtake him.
AS this sagacious robber chief had
been so unsuccessfully pursued here
tofore, the leading men of the coun-
try. forming themselves into what
they termed committee of safety
made selection of eight of the most
resolute and trustworthy young men,
offering them considerable reward
in money to keep up the pursuit till
they captured or killed Black Rube.
and a gold watch to him who actu-
ally did the deed. The party so seIec-
ted was to be intrusted to the leader.
ship of one Capt. Brudee, a man who
had won great credit as a scout in the
Union army during the war. 1t is
hardly necessary to add that every
one so selected readily accepted the
offer and Immediately reported ready
tor service. AS 1 had served much
under Capt. Brudee, and was well
known to him. was also prevailed
on to join the enterprise.
Every step was taken to insure sue
cess the party was well mounted,
armed and otherwise equipped for a
long and effectual pursuit; in fact.
our watchword was "Black Rube
must come" But, as the Yankee
said when he tackled the skunk.
though he was "much the biggest,
the advantage was with the skunk
by O dooced long Odds" so in this
case, victory, or rather the prize, was
won by those, and in a way least ex-
pected.
To facilitate the tracking of the
thieves and travelling through path
less country, an Indian and China
man, both considered trustworthy
and expert woodsmen, were attached
to our party. The Indian, however,
was only a half-breed and little
known other than he was a great
stroller and hunter. AS their names
were unfamiliar to US. and outland-
ish anyway, and as the first named
was rather dark, and the other very
yellow. we humorously styled them
our black and tan pointers. and Sc
called the one "Black" and the other
"Tan."
These men were dressed in Indian
costume and armed with old and