The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-12
WAS HUNTED DOWN
Vengeance Sought and Obtained BY the
Brother of a Murdered
Man.
One Of the Tales That 70 Years Ago
Kept People From Crossing the
Alleghenies.

<AtA1O1 W.
homes In northern Chester county, Pa,
for the state of Ohio, to buy cattle. 1hey
were drovers and had been quite sue
cessful in their ventures. being shrewd
and thrifty in business. Although small
men they were noted for strength and
courage. Abner being regarded as the
best wrestler in the state.
Their operations at this time were on
q much larger scale than usual, n by
the last of March, 1925. they had $500
head of cattle on the road.
This was a famous year for specula-
ton, and it's history should astonlsh
those who believe that our grandfatners
We're our superiors in prudence and con-
servatism. The country swarmed with
bubble companies and the price OF lana
and commodities doubled, cotton advanc-
ing to 80 cents per pound. SO When the
Grimes reached Pittsburg they FOUND
parties willing to pay an advance OF IS
per head on all the cattle they had' ana
they at once sold out.
At this time the south was looked upon
as the Eldorado, and there was a large
emigration from this section to the rich
lands of northern Mississippi and Ala
bama, so the brothers, having some $14,-
900 in their possession, resolved to AXE a
trip south and see the new country.
They first bought drafts on the Bank OF
Kentucky, reserving only $500 in specie
for expenses, this they divided n
then started overland for Louisville.
A friend in Pittsburg mad warned them
49, l1~1 r,oc l-nnuyn and
talked about, and they were ppos TO
have with them a large amount OF mon
ey. At this time the roads were infested
with banditti who took life without COM
junction, and men travelling were on the
alert. regarding all strangers in the light
Of possible foemen, but the brothers,
habituated to perils and naturally fear
less, were not much concerned. ).
The road followed the south bank of
the Ohio, and every few miles a heavy
wagon and long train of mules were met
and often a gossip ensued between the
drivers and travellers, each giving the
news of his location. One tall pfOnzeu
Kentuckian, with a six-hOrse load OF pei
tries, hailed the Grimes with the usual
query: !,
'Howdy, stranger; how's the road
above?' -.
lizard as flint and dusty. There amt
been no rain for a fortnight"
wall, I'm glad of it. | say, you goin'
to stop at Misses Davis'?'
Eyes; how far is it?"
''Only II miles. Ye seem decent fell
lows. I'll give we a p'inter. Ye know that
three years ago Davis was hung by
the Regulators for being a river pirate
and boss thief, but his two boys escaped,
went south along the Wilderness trail
murderin' and Robin. They're bad uns
sure. Wall, I'm a yaller dog if l didn't
see Saul Davis dodgin' along the road
near Cannons last week. He was rid1n'
a sorrel mare and had his head TIED up,
but i see his mean Injun eyes. me oio
woman and her two gals is all right, bu'
the brothers would kill a man for a
drink. SO keep yer eyes skinned and hob
BILE yer bosses at night. So glang, Ju-
piter," and cracking his whip like a rifle
shot the teamster drove of.
Abner was much quicker and shrewder
than his elder brother, and as they rode
away he remarked, w had better look
out for a man with a sorrel mare and
bad eyes" James laughed n said.
THAT will include half the people we
meet"
The Davis hostelry was originally a log
cabin. but additions had been made from
time TO time until it was a mass of two
and a half story buildings covered with
a vast hipped roof from which pro-
truded several stacks of stone chimneys
md on the opposite side of the road were
the stables, ample for one hundred head
of horses. Numerous fine walnut trees
stood around and to these horses were
generally tethered. The place was ram
nus for it's good cheer and the ample bar
room was filled with men-cattIe ano
horse dealers-emigrants on their way
south and fiat boat men from the ONO
but a mile away, with here and there 6
stalk hunter lin buckskin and fur cap
his long rifle tucked under the arm. II
was a rough looking crowd, but respect
.. 49, o~;ol Tho x1yorCf in q ii nrOh
ability being the men dressed In roun6
hats and broad cloth suits, these beins
gamblers on their way to a horse race II
the neighborhood.
After a good dinner the brothers resolv.
ed to STAY until the next morning, ant
Abner. leaving James half asleep, slipped
outside for a stroll. The weather was de
Nghtful, and a grove Of magnoias mace
the air fagrant. Half a dozen ROAD!
crossed at Davis and he passed alons
one that led through a dense thlcket
Presently he heard the tread Of a hors'
and slipping behind a big elm saw com
ing through the bush a man mounted OF
a hne sorrel PAGER. The rider was com
fortably dressed, but his face was thil
and weather beaten, while his intenSel.
black eyes peered from side to side. as
seeking some one. He turned aside, go
off his animal, examined his pistols am
walked stealthily down the track to
wards the house.
AOnCT NIliIlGS dl OIlCC ~
Transfers caution and resolved to hav
a look at the horse. 1t was a tall sorre
a mare, and looked as If it had been rid
den hard. AS was the custom, only tn
front feet were shod, and picking thes
up Grimes found them both bar shoes, t
prevent contracting hoof. Here tn
mare whinneyed, and concealing himsel
he saw the man hastily returning. anc
mounting his horse. was off like a shot.
Grimes had no doub that he had see
Saul Davis, but kept 1t to himself. an
after supper he went to the stable, sa,
the horses fed, and without being notice
secured their front legs with small hot
bles. that would make it hard to get tn
animals out of the stalls.
Gambling was the common vice c
the times. and there was nothing tina
Alb. Grimes liked better than a game c
seven up or poker. and he accepted tn
challenge of one Of the loungers to pla!
Luck was about ever When the partie
bles. Getting a lantern Abner went OF
his brother James. He found that n
was not in bed, and one of the compan
said that he had seen him near the sts
bles. Getting a lantern Abner went OF
The horses were not disturbed. the hos
Ter, a negro, had not seen the missin
man. and after looking around, he can
back to the house. Here he met the COZ
stable of the district, a resolute litt,
man named Mcmillan. He c%onferre
with him, and told the story of the ma
on the sorrel mare. The constable b.
came excited at once.
Great Scott, if I'd known hit fl,
hours ago.. I could have caught the skun
and made 81. 1000. He has been proclaim
ed by the governor"
Mcmillan at once secured a posse, ar
the negro was seized. He stood OF
against a whipping, but when his mi