The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-23
A GAME OF STARVATION.
Fayette County Pennsylvania,
yigiIants Pursuingthe
M'CLELLANDToWN ROBBERS
Who are Entreuched in tho Noun.
tains-.-The outlaws Armed with
winchesters.,-Men HurryIng
to the Seat of War

USIoNTowN, Pa, March 22,-At in-
teryals from 7 o'clock to midnight last
night men on horseback, mostly alone,
occasionally in pairs, were seen to leave
Unioutown coming at random from all
directions, but all galloplng away toward
the mountains, Few whosaw them sus-
pected that this was aparty Of yigllants
that was secretly organized, and which
has been the only organized expedition
yet made to capture the NcClellandtown
robbers. There were ten from Union
town and FIVE from the vicinity Of the
latest ontrages Of the band, among them
two ofthe victims from MCClellandtown,
and all men OF grit and determination.
They were to have been joined by 25 or
80 picked men along the road and
from the vicinity OF the outlaws
camp near Markleysburg, where the
willing to aid In removing the bad
gang from among them. They appoints
ed Q meeting place near the point OF as
sault and were to assemble quietly alter
midnight, and no attack was to have
been made until daybreak this morning.
The gang has been under surveillance,
and they were known TO still be en-
sconced In the hill house yesterday, and
the movements OF the posse were made
as quietly as possible 10 avoid letting
the band know OF the intended assault.
The party were all well armed with re:
yolyers and in the portion from here
there were twelve repeating Winchester
rifles. The mountainous all keep pthem-
selves well supplied with firearms, and
the whole party made body OF consid-
cradle strength. Should an assault fail
TO surprise the inmates and capture
them, the party proposed to surround
the house and starve the gang out,
shooting any one who made his appear
ance with arms. No word has reached
here yet as To their movements, the
camp being thirty miles in the noun
tains from here, and 1t Is supposed that
they are engaged In game OF starvation.
LATER REPORT.
This afternoon word reached here
that they had tried to force an entrance
into the log house in which the robbers
are at bay, during which shots were OK
changed on both sides, without injuring
anyone. The robbers refuse to surren-
der and are prepared to sell their lives
as dearly as possible, and to die II they
cannot escape under cover Of dark
ness. Nine men and three women
constitute the party in the house,
among whom Lewis, Sullivan and Ram.
sey were recognized. The attacking
party have the house well surrounded
and are watched from a safe distance by
about 100 wondering mountaineers, who
have no arms. All the armed men In
the neighborhood have Joined the posse.
The outlaws have an abundance Of am-
munition, four Winchester rifles
and sixteen reyolyers and are not
afraid to use them. The attacking
party were proffered cannon, which Is
In the vicinity, with which to batter
down the house, but hesitated as yet to
useit until they ascertained II they can
do so legally. The principal reason for
the messengers trip was for information
on the point. The intelligence that tho
band was corralled spread like wildfre
here and soon Sheriff Miller had started
for the scene OF difficulty with large
posse raised here who expected to reach
Markleysburg about dark. The vicinity
OF the robbers denis ablaze with excite
ment. Men are hurrying there from all
parts OF the mountain, and with good
leader, they expect to finally land the
band in Jail.