Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-01-23
MURDER WILL OUT.

On the banks OF the st. Joseph river,
midway between the towns of M
and B. Is heap of ruins, consist
ing of pile of decayed logs overgrown
with moss, the remains of a large fire.
place, part of a cellar wall undermined
by the river.
On this lonely spot once stood the
''Black Bear Tavern" about which is
told fearful tale of crime, which met
with an equally fearful punishment.
When Michigan was yet Territory.
and the ''state road" as it was even
then called, was only a path through
the woods and prairles, there came
three dark-browed men and two hard
featured women into the little settle
ment OF NJ, where they staid until
the men had built the log-house where
they intended to keep a wayside inn or
tavern. One OF the men purchased a
half-grown bear of an old trapper, and
from this animal, which was kept in
the yard chained to a post, the house
was called the "Black Bear Tavern. -
Still, with all this, the Gowlers were
not happy. They never seemed to de-
sire to make friends, or to become ac-
| quainted with their neighboIs, and
such shrinking from their own kind
being looked on with suspicion in a
new country, Ii is not to be wondered
at that they were In Ill repute among
their neighbors.
A year had passed away, when trav-
elers began to disappear in mysterious
manner. The first one missing was a
peddler of dress-goods, who had trav-
eled through the country several years,
and as he was known to have consider
able money, his loss created consider.
able excitement. The country was
searched far and near, but nothing was
| ever found. All that was known OF his
disappearance was that he had started
from the settlement, saying he should
put up all night at the Black Bear. The
Gowler family declared that he had
not been near the Black Bear, and as
no one had seen HIM there, no suspicion
could be attached to them, and the
affair was finally forgotten.
In three months time, however, two
strangers left the settlement, bound fol
the Black Bear. They were known tc
have money with them, having incau
tioUsly exhibited 1t to a crowd, among
whom was Ben Gowler, and they. too
never reached their destination. Aftel
this several other persons. both stran
gers and some that were well known
mysteriously disappeared, and suspicion
began to point towards the Gowlers.
At last the citizens OF the settlement
gathered in a body and went to tn,
Black Bear to investigate matters
where they were received by cid Mrs
Gowler and her interesting family, AMI
shown all over the house, but nothin.
suspicious could lie discovered and tn
crowd retired but half satisfied. WheI
spring came there was a revival o
trade, and it brought rush of settler
to Michigan.
The Black Bear Tavern was filled 3
overnowing, and now the mysterlou
disappearance began again, and In
creased TO such an alarming extent tina
people began TO wonder when the mat
ter would end.
at last a vigilance committee wa
formed. but all to 10 purpose. Som
Of its members were soon among tn
missing. and still no clew was gained t
the murderers, for whose apprehensio
a large reward was offered
1t was Just at this time, on cold
rainy day in May, a quiet and yer
plainly dressed gentleman rode up t
the door OF an inn in the settlement
and inquired the distance to the Blac
Bear.
We'll, Its bout ten miles, more c
, less-rather more, 1 reckon said th
|, landlord. Better light, stranger, al
have some dinner
The stranger, after moments hes
tation, alighted from his horse, AND
having seen the animal well cared fol
followed his host into the house, wheI
an excellent meal was spread IN Ii
! kitchen
Ion.
= on the strange disappearance OF tra'
l elers on the road, and the strange
3 who professed to know nothing abor
= the matter, was fairly deluged wit
E information. At last, dinner beln
e over, the gentleman, who gave b
! name as Andrew Perkins, paid his bill
e and called for his horse.
( The landlord, who had taken a gre;
liking as he said, for Mr.. Perkin
$ came out to see him of, accompanis
j | by quite a crowd of loungers, lookiI
:, at the strangers horse, very fine an
' NAL, and among the crowd was one
3 the Gowlers.
e L VOW, stranger, hate to hev ye g
hope you'll pull through all right
said his host
;. Thank you, my friend was his T
= ply; L hope SO, too, for I've little t
: much money about me to care to
overhauled between here and Chicag
Good-by.'
He role gayly of, taking the TO;
e toward the Black Bear Tavern; b
q once out of sight OF NJ, his mann
changed from that OF a careless ira
II eler to that OF one who looked for da
D ger in every direction.
He rode on for some miles. VIII
n swiftly along the edge or the voc
lie bordering the path, glided somethil
It that looked like a shadow, but viii
was in reality O human being. a mt