The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-06
AN INDIANA ROMANCE
EVENTS WHICH FORMED THE BASIS
OF EGGLEsToN's FIRST NOVEL.
Scene of the Robbery I'm sHoosier
SchOOlmaster" Little Changed
Old-Time Sensation Recalled.


from i'll health and suffering. was removed
from school near vevay, Ind. and sent for
a change of climate to Decatur county.
Surrounded here by the most rustic en-
~vironments, living in the very midst Of rude
backwoods life, residing in that section Of
Indiana which is by nature the most ro-
mantle of the whole State, and being nat
urally susceptible to the influences of his
surroundings, he soon learned to appreciate
the value of the material which lay broad
cast about him as the basis of a work in
fiction. In the year 1871 the recollections
of these scenes and incidents resulted in
one of his best and most extensively read
novels. The Hoosier S-choolmaster." This
appeared as a serial story in the pages of
Hearth and Home, and the after success
Of the story marked Eggleston as one OF
the leading novelists of the country
1.-THE Hoosier Schoolmaster' has doubt
less been read and appreciated by almost
every Hoosier in the country, and. though
this is true. there are comparatively few
who know anything of the exciting occur
renee which formed the foundation of the
novel. While Edward Eggleston resides in
Decatur county he lived near a small coun-
try town known as Milford. Milford, while
its head rests placidly upon the slopes of
a grassy hill. bathes its feet in the sweet,
gurgling waters of a silvery stream, which
winds hither and thither at the base of
the activity, guntil it is at last lost from
sight between the tall, dark cliffs which
form its banks. In this vicinity occurred
those Incidents which the genius of Egg
gleston has converted into a famous novel.
The houses of the neighborhood are ex-
ceedingly rustic in appearance, and are al
most all of that architecture which the
farmers of 1910 used so extensively. Mr..
Eggleston, in his story, made use of the
buildings as they were, and as they are
even now. He did not paint the rude clap
boards, nor put shingles upon the slab
covered roofs, but, like Irving, represented
them to be what they actually were. Two
Of the houses connected with the incidents
Of the novel still remain as they were in
1Sfs. These, the houses of Caleb Stark
and DR.. Henry Smalley, still stand facing
one another. one upon the north, the other
upon the south side of the road. That of
Stark's, like the other, is of the old-fash-
Toned pattern, and was originally a log
cabin. Two additions were made to this,
one upon the east and one upon the west
end Of the ''chiente," and the whole was
then covered with wide, rough ~sideboards.
Each division of the house contained two
small windows and a door in the front and
the same in the back. A porch originally
adorned the front Of the main portion, but
this has been removed. Two immense
chimneys, constructed of mud and stone.
almost as large as the house itself. stand
upon either end. adding much to the an
tique appearance of the structure.
HISTORY OF H ROBBERY.
immediately across the way stands the
house of DR.. Smalley, alias Small, one of
the principal characters in the story. The
house possesses no peculiarities in point of
build. except that it is a large one-roomed
structure, containing no doors or windows
in any side or end save the back. or north,
side. Here it was that the robbery which
formed the basis of 1.-THE Hoocsier Schoo
master was planned. DIR. Smalley, under
the name of Small in the novel. was the
captain and leader of a band of thieves and
horsebreakers which operated in the vi
cinity in the early part Of the fifties. But
of the members 1 will speak only of those
who were concerned in the robbery men
toned. These, Greenwood Harrison and
Daniel Ricketts,. under the leadership OF
Smalley, planned and executed a ROBBERY
whose victim was Caleb Stark, and which
6SSiCoeoii hdo AAdhC IduiOuS III III mover
The robbery. as can be well imagined, &C.
casioned much commotion in the quie,
neighborhood, and is still remembered by
some in this late day.
Ricketts,, in order to secure Stark's keys
feigned the loss of his own and borrowed
Stark's. He thus obtained a duplicate OF
all Of the old mans keys without Great.
ing any suspicion as to his intentions. o,
course. a key to the house door was un,
necessary. The latch string hung without
and all were free to go or come as they
chose. But the Stark family were more
careful of their personal property, ant
Ricketts, was aware of this fact. Conse
q~uefitly, he thought it necessary to obtair
duplicate keys in order to effect his under
taking.
Thus equipped, he and Harrison MOUNTED
their horses one frosty night in October O,
1853, and headed them toward Caleb Stark.
residence. The roads were soft and CLAW
ish. and the horses hoofs made but littl,
noise. They approached within a hundret
yards Of the house. dismounted and tiet
the animals within the dark shelter of tn,
wood which surrounded the house. Bot
approached the house from the rear. an,
Harrison remained on guard in the orchar,
while Ricketts, entered the house. SittinJ
upon a stump. listening, waiting, thinking
chewing tobacco and whiting, he re
NAMED until Ricketts, had entered and re
turned. But Ricketts, had accomplishe,
nothing by his first entrance. He ha
simply returned with a white pillow, moth
ing more. Holding this before his bod
In order to deaden sounds made by comin
in contact with articles of furniture, h
again entered and again returned, but re
turned empty-handed. But the third tim
broke the charm which had surrounded III
lucky Stark. Ricketts, had accomplishe
his purpose when, for the third time. h
: made his exit. He carried in his hands a
the hard-earned money of poor old Starl
which years Of pinching and privation ha
{ brought him-all his wealth, all of the 81. Il
he had saved.
: AFTER THE ROBBERY.
Both men next regained their horses a
? quietly as possible. mounted and heade
the animals toward st. Louis Crossin,
about fifteen miles distant. Here they me
Stogsell, another member Of the gang, an
the money was turned over to him. I'll
purpose of this deal was to have the none
converted into smaller denominations in O,
: der that it might be the more readily use
In the vicinity without exciting suspicion.
Harrison next returned to Milford wit
I his il-gotten gains and was arrested upo
, suspicion. Being at heart a coward. !
!. turned States evidence. But DIR. Smalle
~