Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-08-15
For the SPECTATOR.
PORT REPUBLIC DESPERADOES.
BY "NILO.n

that was dug from 1tS surface was melt
ed into pigs at furnace erected near
the mine and hauled to Port Republic,
a distance of about six miles, and then
boated down the Shenandoah river
which heads at that place. Flour and
hides and iron were the chief products
of the country surrounding Port Re
public and was taken to Harpers Ferry
in boats, thus making it quite bust
ness centre, as there were no railroads
there at that time. Considerable
amounts of money were of course in
circulation at the mines as Il large nun
Der of hands were employed, all
great opportunity presented ltse!f Tor
robbers, and band of outlaws of
most desperate character infested the
mountains some little distance from the
furnace.
At times the robbers would dash
down upon the miners and neig iburs
of the Valley and commit the most
shocking depredations. They never
shrank from shedding blood, if they en-
countered too strong opposition, and
were noted far and near as band OF
terrible outlaws.
Several times great robberies were
committed and the settlers had banded
themselves together and searched the
mountain, but strange to say the rob
beers ere not found as the miners could
not find their hiding place. And other
depredations were continued as if they
had not been pursued.
For several miles there is a continu
GUS range of hollows, cliffs and crevices
which appear SO very dangerous that
it was very unsafe for anyone to ap
proach near them, and as several per
sons who wenS in pursuit OF the rob
beers never came back again. others
were warned not to visit these Il Ian ger
Gus places which must be the hiding
places of the outlaws. 1t was neces
sary for everyone to keep well armed to
protect themselves, and every stranger
was we'll watched
In the Valley along the river there
lived wealthy farmer by the name of
Warren. Mr.. Warren had IL lovely
daughter, Omelia, who was admired by
all who knew her, but loved by and
loved only Arthur Worthington, a
young man of about twenty three. Miss
Omelia Warren was just twenty, and a
beautiful blonde with sparkling blue
ewes, ROSY cheeks and forehead that
showed intelligence. Arthur Worth
ington was poor boy, honest and no
BILE, and had held his position in the
country store for several years. He
had won the affections Of the beauti
1ul MISS dLt lOuStQ lOT bIe
time when he could claim her. Mr.
Warren had great respect for him, and
in fact he was well thought of by all.
He determined to make something of
himself and in time he would ask the
father for the girl whose heart he had
already won.
Miss Warren was a very graceful
horse back rider and awaited herself of
every opportunity to take a ride in the
afternoon. But on this particular oc
casion her return was delayed SO long
that her disappearance naturally
aroused great uneasiness in the family.
and Mr.. Warren, who loved his daugh
ter very dearly, started out in search
of her. Darkness soon overspread the
earth. and the father grew more eX
cited over her non appearance. He
began iDQuiring for her from everyone
he passed on the road until he reached
Port Republic. The different accounts
given him led him to believe she had
been captured by the band of outlaws
and carried up to the mountain. The
account was, that she had been seen
riding along with some stranger going
toward the mountain, and us the lady
was well known the miners thought
lightly of the matter.
Mr.. Warren halted in front of the
SbOGt WIItTc Arthur WAS anu.
addressing him. he said
Arthur | ain in much trouble, and
ask that you will help me-"
What is the matter, Mr.. Warren;
you do not seem SO calm as usual?
will do anything | can for you.
"Omelia is gone ~
leone 7" echoed Arthur, his face tax
ing on a livid whiteness with strange
apprehension. What do you mean p
''She went out riding this afternoon
as usual, and she has not returned
The last seen of her, she was riding
with some stranger going toward the
mountain. | fear it was one of those
desperadoes and God only knows her
fate.''
Il will be ready in a few minutes, "
returned Arthur, and made haste to
close the store.
Arthur, get on the horse behind
me- said Mr.. Warren; and they were
soon off toward the mountain. Pres
entity Mr.. Warren said; arthur, | know
you love Omelia, and that she loves
you. | have always thought we'll of
you, and if you wish to marry her, you
can do so upon her rescue. No time
must be lost in rescuing her. We will
see if we can get some of these miners
to band together and start out at once,
do llloTt Is III ltllIIlS WudU IuISuG U6
done"
1t did not take long to make up sew
eral bands of well armed miners who
would risk their lives to capture the
notorious gang of outlaws, and Nj. |
Warren promised to pay them for
their trouble. They all knew the di
rection they went, but had never been
very far up in those dark places The !
robbers hiding place was unknown.
but every man believed they would |
find it. The plan was for one band to
to keep up the road and one to go off |
in another direction They proceeded |
cautiously up the rugged mountain,
and though the route was very rough |
and dangerous one, the thought of the |
agOnizing danger to which Miss War
rem was exposed gave each one new
courage every time they thought of |
her situa ton.
Presently they came to small hOl |
low off from the road which led to
what seemed to them a pit, it was so
very dark, but they sped on, and after
winding around this, a small light was
seen in the distance. What should be
done then? Each one was thinking
that they had gotten close to the den
now, and took on double courage to
fight for their lives, which they knew
GllOy WOulu Hdf0 W w DdGtllLS WIFI
these desperate and lawless men.
Shortly they came to a standstill.
A command ito halt was given them.
and the voice was one that trembled |
not. The miners took in the situation
in a moment, and advanced so cautious
ly and SO quickly that they sprang up.
on the man on duty and captured him
Then one of the miners said, The
moment you call your gang you die on
the spot" and quickly he was bound |
and gagged.
They p, oceeded in the direction of |
the small light which could be seen at
intervals through the trees. Careful.
ly accommodating, they were not long
in planning some way to capture them
They discovered that the light came
from cave-like place in the side of
the mountain, and near could be dis
tinctly heard the occasional tramping
of horses feeding near the entrance.
There were half dozen men in the