The Irish standard., 1890-04-12
sNOWDON DUNHILL.
Good Stories of This Bold Robber
Of Yorkshire, Eng.

Good Stories of This Bold Robber
Of Yorkshire, Eng.
The Housemaid who stopped at His
House Over Night for Safety-The vii KS
lage Tailor's Experience with
Mysterious Burglars.
Nearly a century 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 demonstrating Moor,
and had confedesates in nearly all the
market towns and principal villages In
the riding. He and many Of his assoc
ciates lived entirely on the proceeds Of
their depredations. Farmers dared not
to return home from the markets except
in companies, and we'll armed for pro-
lection. Dunhill, his wife, his daugh-
ters and their husbands were all trans
ported for their robberies.
1t was the 23d 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 it off to
ssthe old house at home" by Reuben
Slowcome, the carrier, whose heavy
wagon performed distance Of fully
two and half miles per hour. Coaches
IN rh
hood. and the carrier came only once
week. Having paid hasty visits to her
friends in the village, she babe ''good-
bye" to her master and mistress, and
started # on her homeward journey,
distance of sixteen miles. Her years
wages, eight bright guineas in gold, she
had carefully wrapped up in a piece OF
brown paper. Purses were then I'M
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
overspread the Western sky, which
gradually changed to the gray twilight,
succeed ed 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.
The deepening gloom convinced her
that midnight darkness would overtake
her while still several miles from home.
Almost paralyzed with fear she slack
ened her pace, every sound in the dis
lance coniuring up the horrifying pict-
IRE 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 the first house she came to.
A few hundred yards more brought her
to low, matched cottage on the road
side. She knocked at the door. It was
opened by a woman who invited her in.
The cheerful aspect of the interior OF
the 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
basking on the hearth. A middle-aged
man sat smoking his pipe in the ingle
OF 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 ring; that she had
Just got her wages, eight guineas; that
she was walking home; thatshe was be-
nighted, and afraid of being robbed by
highwaymen, and that she had resolved
not 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
safe under his roof, for which she
thanked him.
The evening was spent in discussing
the gossip of the neigh borhood; Mary,
probably through the horrible dread
which had seized her on the road, fire.
| uently referring to the many robberies
committed By the highwaymen, partic-
ularly naming Snowdon Dunhill, who
was a terror to the whole Of the East
Riding. Mary's remarks on this subject
caused smile to light up the counten-
ance of her host, while. the women
looked on in silence. ssl
! A substantial supper was provided,
showing that the host was in much bet
ter circumstances than the generality
Of the agricultural laborers Of the
| neighborhood; after which they all re-
tired to rest, Mary feeling grateful for
the kindness Of her host and hostess in
protecting her from the dangers Of the
road. En-. jss55 5s ss
Morning dawned. When, Mary came
down stairs she beheld a break fast- table
with a spread equal to that OF many Of
the farm houses. She was told to make
a hearty breakfast, as she had still
1 many miles to walk. Having done so,
she asked: What have y to pay Her
host, with a pleasant smile, replied:
ssNo th1ng, my lass. Thou can tel thy
friends that thou was 81 lid of being
1robbed, so thou slept al night at Snow
don Dunhill 3. Such was the fact. AN