Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-10
MOUNTAIN BRIGANDS.
JohnstoWn Horse Dealers Robbed on
a Lonely Country Road.
A PURSUIT DOWN A DEEP DEFILE.
One Man Mysteriously Lost, Together With
Wagon and Team.
PITTSBURG POLICE INVESTIGATING

The existence of brigandage in the ALLIE
gneny Mountains has been called TO the at
teution of the Pittsburg police. One of the
victims, who is now lying in the Homeo-
pathic Hospital as result of his expert
ence, is J. W. Magellan, well-to-do live
stock dealer of Johnstown, and who is we'll
and favorably known to horsemen all
through Western Pennsylvania. The story
he tells is peculiar one.
On Monday last, Mr.. Magellan and a
friend, John A. Gore, started from Johns
town through the mountains to Broadford.
They drove team in buckwagon and led
liable, the three horses being worth any,
where from $500 to 81 900.
The men drove along without any trouble
until they were within ten miles of Broad
ford. Then they suddenly noticed that the
horse they had been leading was no longer
with them. Looking back along the road
Magellan and Gore saw the horse, with a
man holding the bride.
INTO A MOUNTAIN DEFILE.
The buck wagon was turned around and
Magellan and Gore started back to secure
the animal. At that moment the stranger
sprang on the horses back and dashed into
a narrow, winding path. into the heart Of
the mountains, When the buck wagon
reached the place where the horse and rider
disappeared, Magellan alighted and started
in pursuit. He had gone but q few yards
when he slipped and sprained his ankle,
and was forced to abandon the chase.
Magellan and Gore held a council Of war.
The former was getting lamer every moment,
and it was only question of time when he
would have to lay up. Finally it was de-
termined that Magellan should limp back
to a railroad station about a mile away,
while Gore should continue on to Pittsburg
with the blackboard and team. Then the
men parted, abandoning the stolen horse,
and expecting to meet again in Pittsburg
on Wednesday. Gore whipped up the team
and disappeared in gathering gloom, while
Magellan dragged himself to the railroad
station and took train for P1ttsburg.
ANXIOUS ABOUT HIS FRIEND.
Magehan's foot and ankle began to swell
frightfully for lack of medical attention
while he was on the train, and when he
reached Braddock he got off and sought a
physician. After his injuries had been
dressed he came on to Pittsburg and went
word for Gore at the st. Charles Hotel.
Wednesday came and went and there was
no sign of Gore or the blackboard and team.
On Thursday Magellan became anxious and
telegraphed for tidings of Gore along the
route over which he must drive to reach
Pittsburg, but no word came of him. On
Friday Magician did more telegraping, in
guiring for Gore at every point where the
latter might have gone, but still could find
no trace OF him. After waiting until yes
terday Magellan determined to put the case
in the hands of the police.
Gore was warm personal friend OF Mag
chan, and there is no suspicion of dupilcity
on the part of the former. The only ex-
PLANTATION of his sudden and mysterious dis
appearance is that he was overpowered and
perhaps killed by a member of the same
crowd to which the horse thief belonged. and
that the horse and wagon are now hidden
in some remote recess in the Allegheny
Mountains