Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-09-04
TRACKED BY HOUNDS.
sLAYsRs or HeNks TO De HUNTED
DOWN BY DOGS.

Are Supposed to BE In Hiding In Bear
swamp. n. J. There Are Three OF
Them. All Neeroes-Thsy Are All Well
Armed aud Desperate.
the fastness Of Bear swamp, an inpenetra
BILE tract 20 miles square near Indian
Mills. three hunted negroes are In hiding,
while an armed posse Of over 80 officers
and citizens Is searching for them, and the
woods are being secured In every direction.
Death stares them In the face, for II
will be the reward OF surrender or capture,
while II they succeed in eludlng their pur
euers starvation or suicide are their only
alternatives Trained bloodhounds we're
put on their trail this morning. They are
only partly clothed. being without coats,
hats or vests, and they have had no food
save unripe cranberries since Sunday.
Ever since the brutal murder Of Johann
Henke Of Burlington last Saturday week
the officers and citizens have been-most
active in their efforts 20 capture the ne
groes The murdered man lived alone In
his little shop, and the murderers visited
him near midnight, stunned him by q
blow on the head with a coupling pin and
then strangled him to death with a piece
Of railroad belloord. After robhing his
clothes and taking all else Of value they
left.
Thomas Cromwell is the only one OF the
negroes whose identity Is positively
known. He was seen to enter the shop,
remain In hour and depart with a CHEEKY
Good night, Johann" to the dead man
In the chair Then he disappeared and
was not heard from until last Sunday,
when word reached Mount Holly that he
had been seen and recognized at Indian
Mills, 10 miles south. Three negroes were
met on the road near the swamp, and when
one OF them was asked II hls name was
Cromwell all turned, jumped the fence
and took to the woods.
A Posse Organised.
Constable Miller at once organized
searching party and secured for It the
services OF several men who are thorough
ly familiar with the paths in the thick
woodland. Fast horses were procured,
and the ride to the spot where the men
had been seen was made In quick time.
The first party came upon three negroes
lying on the grass by the roadside. They
jumped to their feet as the team approach
ed and appeared frightened Constable
Miller got out and began questioning
them, and, their answers being evasive,
he reached out his hand to take Crom-
wells arm, saying:
"You must come 10 the hotel with me"
Whereupon the trio made quick leap
backward through the thioket, and before
the astonished official realized the situa-
tion they were out of his grasp.
Then ne drew his revolver and sent
three balls at Cromwell. 1t Is believed
that the last one took effect, for the man
fell, and, on arising a second later, grab
bed his leg as In pain, but he managed to
make off in the direction his companions
had taken.
Constable Miller returned to Small's
hotel, at Indian Mills, and told of the es-
cape. More men, heavily armed, were
procured and the spot revisited. The ne
groes, In their haste had left two ooats
the pockets Of which contained six dressed
chickens, sweet potatoes, rioe, green corn
and bag Of salt. They also left three
slouoh hats and pair of trousers.
Reward of $500 offered.
Monday morning there was a reward
Of 5000 offered In the name Of the ooun-
ty for Cromwell, dead or alive, and search
ing parties were sent out In every dIreo-
tion. Dawn was just breaking yesterday
when the watchers were treated to sur
prise party.
A schoolhoUse stands at a distance from
Small's hotel and just on the edge of the
dense woods. Two Of the searching party,
taking an early start, were passing the
house when In the dim light they saw two
or more indistinot figures silently glide
from the doorsteps into the heavy under
brush. A few moments later they heard
oraokling:of twigs beyond the ledge, and
tho rest Of the party was at once notified.
But the trail was oold when they return
ed, and the men could not be followed.
Aside from locating the negroes by theiI
baying, the special demand for the blood
hounds comes from the knowledge that
the men are armed, being provided with
two revolvers, stolen from the murdered
German. They will fight for their lives II
cornered. It is hoped that the dogs will
draw theirlammunition, and by this means
their capture be made without bloodshed