The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-03-29

1ne twenty vignantes had dwindieu
down to ten when the start was made
the next morning, but those ten were all
men of tried courage and endurance,
and If they once struck the trail no one
doubted that they would stick to it until
they had accomplished their purpose.
For four days the ten men rode south
without getting on the track Of the rob
bers. Some of them knew the country
WELL and they were assured the fugi-
tlves would be obliged to stop at certain
points where water could be found.
Their surmises proved correct, because
on the morning of the fifth day the re-
mains Of a camp fire was discovered
near a spring of water, and the hoof
marks of the horses showed that the
party who had camped there was COM
posed of four men.
On the evening Of the seventh day,
just as the vigilantes rode over the crest
of rolling hill, they came suddenly
upon the men they were in search of.
1t was evident that the robbers had
given up all idea of being pursued. They
had built n fire, and around 1t the forms
of three men were lying, while at lit.
tie distance fourth was preparing a
supper.
The two parties saw each other at the
same moment There was no necessity
for any talk. Each knew the others OBJ
ject, and the robbers were as determined
to resist capture as the vigilantes were to
carry out the purpose which had brought
them so far
A voice from the crest Of the hill called
for a surrender, but the only answer was
derisive laugh, and without moving
from his recumbent attitude, Long Jim
Farnsworth sent a bullet into the midst
of the party, which emptied one saddle
and warned the vigilantes of their danger.
Immediately they spread out and poured
a volley into the four men, who were by
that time standing with their repeating
rifles waiting for charge.
After five minutes of continued shoot
ing the air became heavy and impenetra-
BILE with smoke, and by mutual consent
the firing ceased to allow the air to clear
itself. When it became clear enough to
see again, only two of the train robbers
were on their feet, and each of them
seemed TO be suffering from some griev-
Gus wound. They still had their faces
to the enemy, however, and when called
on to surrender they only laughed and
told the vigilantes to come on.
The work the robbers had accomplish
ed was visible, because four riderless
horses were dashing about and on the
ground lay four motionless figures.
A few moments and the fight was re.
newed, and this time there was no stop
ping. Again and again the rifles cracked
until they were empty, and the music of
the revolver replaced the rifle. Suddenly
the noise ceased. Numbers had gotten
the victory for the vigilantes, but their
loss had been immense Only three
men reached the campfire, around which
the four bodies lay almost touching each
other.
AS the victors turned the bodies of the
robbers over groan escaped from Long
Jim Farnsworth, and 1t was seen that
some life remained in him yet. Slowly
his glazing eyes opened, and slowly
raising his left arm he beckoned one OF
the vigilantes to his side.
With trembling lips he whispered that
the treasure had been cached, and he
would locate the spot If the vigilante
would bend over him. Without hesita-
ton, his request was complied with, and
then with unlocked for energy, the dy-
ing desperate suddenly drew his right
arm from under him and plunged a long
knife into the heart of his enemy. With
a half smothered laugh his limbs stiff
fened out and he died.
Twelve graves mark the spot where
the fight occurred, but not one cent Of
the money taken from the train was re.
covered, although it was diligently
sought for by the only two survivors Of
the ten men who went to capture Farms.
worth and his gang.-Atlanta Constitu
ton,