The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-03-05
SNOWDON DUNHILL.
Good Stories of This Bold Robber
of Yorkshire, Eng.
The Housemald Who stopped Mt His
House Over Night for safcty-Tho VII
lnEe Taiior's Experience with
Mysterious burglars.

Mysterious burglars.
Nearly aoentury ago the Inhabitants
Of the East Riding Of Yorkshire were In
constant dread Of the attacks OF Snow
don Dunhill, the highwayman and burg
lar, and his lawless associates. Dunhill
lived in matched cottage on the road
side, near to Holme-on-Spalding Moor,
and had confederatSs In nearly all the
market towns and principal villages In
the riding. He and many Of his asso-
.ciates lived entirely on the proceeds OF
their dopredations. Farmers dared not
10 return home from the markets except
In companies, and we'll armed for pro-
lection. Dunhill, his wife, his daugh-
ters and their husbands we're all trans
ported for their robberies.
1t was the Esd OF November. AS the
clock struck twelve at noon the twelve
months servitude OF both male and fe-
male agricultural servants terminated.
Mary Humbleton, who had been house
maid at Ravenford Grange, had already
packed up her exist" and send II of TO
'the old house at home" by Reuben
Slowcome, the carrier, whose heavy
wagon performed a distance Of fully
two and half miles per hour. Coaches
were then unknown in the neighbor-
hood, and the carrier came only once q
week. Having paid hasty visits TO her
friends I'm the village, she bade good
bye" TO her master and mistress, and
started Cff on her homeward journey, a
distance OF sixteen miles. Her years
wages, eight bright guineas in gold, she
had carefully wrapped up in piece OF
brown paper. Purses were then un-
known, except to the aristocracy.
Scarcely half Of her journey was ac-
complished when the blood-red sun be-
gan TO dip beneath the Western horizon
and speedily sank. A deep orange glow
oycrspread the Western sky, which
gradually changed TO the gray twilight,
succeeded by the approaching gloom Of
moonless November night. She had
heard OF the many robberies and burg
laries committed by the daring Snow
don Dunhill and his fearless gang who in
tested the neighborhood. She felt in her
pocket. The precious guineas were safe.
Tho deepening gloom convinced hor
that midnight darkness would overtake
hor while still several miles from home.
Almost paralyzed with fear she slack
ened her pace, every sound in the dis
tance conjuring up the horrifying pict-
.ure OF highwayman rushing from be-
hind some hawthorn bush and demand
ing her money. She dared not go
farther, and resolved TO ask for nights
lodging at tho first house she came TO.
A fow hundred yards more brought her
to'a low, matched cottage on the road
side. She knocked at the door. 1t was
opened by woman who invited her In.
The cheerful aspect OF the interior OF
tho cottage, like magic spell, dissi-
pated all her fears. Highway robbers
might attack their victims, as no doubt
they would-she was now safe. A
bright, blazing FIRE Lit up the well-fur-
nished apartment Two large dogs lay
masking on the hearth. A middle-aged
tman sat smoking his pipe in the ingle
pf the old wide-open fireplace. The
daughters, four young girls, were busy
with the household work.
Mary told them her whole story;
where she had been II ying; that she had
Gust got her wages, eight guineas; that
ehe was walking home; that she was be-
pighted, and afraid Of being robbed by
highwaymen, and that she had resolved
mot to further risk the losing OF her
money. They listened attentively to
her story, and the man assured her that
she was welcome and would be perfectly
haie under his roof, for which she
thanked him.
The evening was spent in discussing
ithe gossip OF the neighborhood; Mary,
probably through the horrible dread
(which had seized her on the road, fro
puently referring 10 the many robberies
Ipommittcd by the highwaymen, partic-
Iularly naming Snowdon Dunhill, who
was q terror TO the whole Of the East
Riding. Mary's remarks on this subject
caused smile 10 light up the counten'
lanoe Of her host, while the women
hooked on in silence.
A substantial supper was provided
showing that the host was in much bot
Der circumstances than the generality
lof tho agricultural laborers Of the
Ineighborhood; after which they all re
kired TO rest, Mary feeling grateful fol
hhe kindness OF her host and hostess In
protecting her from the dangers Of the
boad. tN
Morning dawned. When Mary CANT
Ihewn-stairs she beheld . breaktast-tablt
Ivith . spread equal 70 that o. many o.
lfhe farm-houses. She was told 10 make
"a hearty breakfast as she bad still
many miles 10 walk. Having done %
!ljhe asked: "Whst have I 70 pay7' Hel
lbost. with . pleasant smile, replied
lSNothing, my lass. Thou can tell thy
friends thai thon was .naid Of beins
robbed, so thou slept all night at Snow