El BYMOORE 8L HEMP}! ILL. 333153311383 The ” DEMOCR‘ . 'I‘IC 5 week] .11; $2 ANNER" 4300., p" “""llm—m 31 so "$3512,1eth 0 paper can [,O disc _ n ad, - onun (I%Rglvhofilfi‘dgtors) unul nll Efriérnlesam ”mow moms. &c.. at tho "23““! are paid n ”“05. I [-‘mm Iho Model American Courier Tm: AVENGER ormmon. AN AMERICAN TALE OF THE AL. LEGHENY MOUNTAINS. ‘ Embracing 1' ""6 or well authenticated BY A CITIZEN 0F TENNEBEEE . lnthe year 1812. when‘the western portions of the great State of Pennsvlva nil. embracing the mountainous région between Chatnbenburg & Pittaburg. pre sented little more than an unsubdued and unbroken wilderness. through which the great road'frpm Philadelphia to the head waters 0! the Ohio passed-and at that ‘period it “no lonely and dangerous path way to all wayfarera between the eastern cities. and the great western wilderness of Ohio and Kentucky. To the best of my recollection. this road pastes over five distinct and lofty ridgea of mountains, with here and there a sparse nettlement of hardy mountaineer.» antl hunters. and with occasionally. be tween these infant settlements. some twil _taty and remote booths ol the wandering hunters, deserted, ruinous, and forlorn. except during the hunting seasons of the ‘ _rear. Of all the soiitudes in the universe. 1 those seem the moat deserted. chilling, 811 awfully alone. which bear the marks at human habitation—and of having been de netted by their former inmates forever.— Of the live ridges of mountains, over uhich the road just mentioned. passed to the westward. the middle ridge was by far the highest; anrl was called by the wagonere the Backbone. by way of pre» eminence—and because the word "Aller gheny." in the Indian language. means “the parent or lather of mountains.”— From the eastern brow of this lofty mid die ridge—there resided at the period I speak of, .an honest. wealthy Pennsylva nia Dutchman, whose name was Stotler. «ho kept a public Inn—in viemnglhe rugged antl precipitous landscape to the eastward. the eye was lost in a bed of in lrrior bald and barrenridgee, ohich seem. ed to extend to the very verge of the hor izon. like the waves of some vast ocean. brhetd from a bold headland, orvtower mg mountain pealt. In fact to make use of a poetical figure, the whole surface ot the eastern horizon. seen from the east tern b'ow of the main Allegheny ridge. seemed like the bittoua ot a tumultuous ocean in a storm «uddenly arrested by the fiat of Omnipotence. and fix‘ed forever in their various positions and attitudes! The whole scene waa. indeed, sublime beyond any power of language I can command. The house in which Stotler resided was emphatically a Dutch house, one story high. lratned antl painted; with a porch a long the whole lrotlz/and dormer “totlow. in the rool. And here lam compelled to regret two circumstances—first, that S'ot ler is an unlanciful, unpoetir, and uo-nov el writing cognomen : and, second that he had no beautilul and accomplished daugh ter. with a significant "curl ol the upper lip.” that I might make the heroine ofa surpat-sing love story episode, in the fol. lowing tale of Veritable robbery. murder, and public execution. But I must try to .get along without these agreeable ingredi cuts. on the principle that ”truth is some times stranger than FICTION." During the wmter of lam—’l3. on a journey between Philadelphia and Pitta hurg, l‘alopped at this orderly and Well regulated tavern. to remain all night.— 'l'here was much company there in addi tion to those whoarrived at the time I did. but it was of an orderly travelling char acter, composed chiefly of western mer rchants, and we here not much in the way -ol each other. It is a characteristic’ ol the western peOple. not only to congre «gale together, when in a land of strangers, but to be communicatiVe with each other freely. in the hope of discovering any un cient friendships. or even distant relation ships, that may exist among them—and to hear the news. And besides all this. your real western man. unlike the sullen Eng lish cockoey. who refused tune a drown ing man because he had not been introdu cert tn him.‘is an inquisitive and intelli grble animalpmerely for the sake ol im parting and receiving inlormation on all subjects; in the words of counsellor Cur ran, whoopplied them to the character of the Irish people, the western man is pro verbially bold and fearless. and he there floife‘eoufltles in'o'thera without hesitation. 'Ainong, the guests who surrounded the fire alter flipper. was a gentleman of ap parently superior inlormatton, and who seemed to be much ola literary character; and the conversation happening to turn on thedsngers encountered. by travellers; he voluntarily. related to the company the {ol lowtog narrative. with the assurance that it. {was suhstantiallywtrueand we all lis tened. vvith attention. .- t " . ”F‘Abdul a ._v'énr ago,” said lié, ‘y' {l' gen; filefinafifive“ jiniédffrom Hie-direction of Piflsbu‘rgjnnd «its afljaqéflt rifc'h iatock country. sl’oppgd M'lhigfiouse. \f‘llh a large drama! ,lplte'ncd bulldcks dealihed 'lor 319": mo 1: t atiéc ; 13 11 mm Facts, the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets, who said it was his intention to bring back the proceeds in money. to pay up his eon tracts-mand that he would probably return in such a length of time. naming the peri od. His name and dress. and also the place of his residence.l ltaVe now forgot ten ;but he rode a white horse of very su perior spirit and pOWer—and [mention the peculiar color at his horse. because it was that which afterwards saved his life. Some weeks alter he had been gone, and about the time of his expected return, tim Canadian Frenchmen, on loot. well dressed and well armed, one carryinga brace ul pistols. and the other a rifle. came from the direction of Pittsburg and stop ped at his house for breakfast. They told Stotler -they had no money; that they Were travelling to Philadelphia ; and a va riety ol other matters—and that they had lost their horses. He immediately order ed breakfast lor them. antl they ate hear tily—conversing at the same time in the French language. and in an undertone. One of them was a large. stout man. and the other was a person of less size‘tthey‘ both had much the air 0! gentlemen. " Alter they had breaklasted. thev star ted eastward in the direction of Philadel phia; there was a light, solt snow on the ground. and the walking was somewhat. heavy and difficult. They had not pro ceeded more than two miles. when in the distance. lrom a ristng piece of around, they discovered a traveller. advancing to‘ ward them mounted on a white horae.-- This waylarer and his white ,ateed.,thev imagined. were the objects of their long.- ing porpuit; and. no sooner was thts lan cied discovery made. than they suddenly turned their laces again to the westward. antl appeared to be travelling in that tli rectiou. The Military traveller on the white horse soon overtook and accosted them in the moat lrtendly manner. On being questioned they told him they were on thur way to Pittsburg. and were dea ‘titute ol the means of defraying their ex penses. asd desired him to assist them ort ward. His reply was what might have been expected—lt \vaa precisely what at ways may be expected, by any destitute waylarer. travelling in the lar west. He told them he was a poor man himself, and burthened with the heavy charge of a nu merous and helpless latntly ol children; that his name was Pollock. a laboring lar mer by profession. and that he lived on rented land. not lar lrum the residence of Gen. Arthur St. Clair. in Ligonier val ley; that he had but a very small sum of money with him. but that he would share it with them. in bearing their expenses. to the hut cent." Conversation on this and other themes. brought the two vaga bond Frenchmen. and their generous and ttob!e comrade, Pollock, back to Stotler’.‘ house of entertainment. Here poor I’ul lock ordered refteahmenta lor hls strun ger companions and htnuetl, and paid lur them from a leathern purse but very poor ly and meagerly supplied. and the travel.‘ lers started on their way westward, ini company. “ r, . l " During the two visits these strangers had made at Stotler’s house, their appear ance. conduct and characters. had been narrowly and closely scrutinized by s brother-in-law ol Stotler’s whose name was John Lambert; a blacksmith by trade. & with whom lalterwards took pain-i tobe cnme acquainted! He was a man ofsome what remarkable manners and appearance, clothed in homely garb, a little over com mon stature. mild and gentlemanly in his address. and of a taciturn and observient disposition. His complexion was smooth. dark and swarthy; his teatures regular, strong and lormidaole—and his hair,cur ly and very dark. would have reminded you of “ \Varwick’s black locks." as de picted by Shakspearem His eye, howo-v» er, was the most remarkable and leading lesture of his countenance--it was black, deep. firm. and resolute in its expression -aod evidenced a mind of great moral power. and unconquerable resolution.—- In fine. he appeared to me to bejust such a man, as would, on .an lndian lrontier, where every kind of ambush and savage warelare were to be dreaded. have been an object of alarm, to the enemies of the white settler and his lamtly. This man. obscure and altnost unknown in his condi tion. an ordinary mechanic by trade. and one who had never perused a page ol his tory. or even a novel or romance in his life, was, nevertheless. a manof high mor al and meotalendowments by nature. and one of God’s nobility! There are thou sands ol such men in this Republic; men who would have done honor to thepeer'r age of Charlemagne. or those at any or the other Courts ol Europe. ancient or modv era; and yet our novelists and romance writers. infatuated with the coarse,sav age and barbarous characters ol the leu d'al ages. must resort to them for their fic titious heroes 8: herotnes of modern days! The stern realities ofAmerican‘biograpby and history. allo'rds models of true great: ness, equal, if'oot superior to those of ariv other country; and until our public wri ters can be induced to celebrate the lives and achievements‘ol our own distinguish ed men. the public literary taste olthc rcountry shallbe- depraved andrrlegraded. and we .shall haVe neither national litera ture, biography. nor history. The ”re nown ol all nations depends on the eleva: tion of their literature, and the reeorrled CLEARFIELD, PIL, NOV. 16.1348 achievements 0! their great men, ol what ever rank in aoccial life. And this man, John Lambert. whoseperaoo and charac' ter 1 have just essayed todelineate. might have been the rival of Washington. had he been placed in a similar conditioniii lile. But I muat return to my narrative. i "After the departureof the two armed French loot-pads, with Mr. Pollock in company. Lambert r'emarked to his broth er-in-law that he did not like the appear ance of these ttiio‘ Frenchmen; that he dia truiited their intentions respecting Pol ‘lock; that their countenancea and char lactera seemed to hiin to be mysterious. dark and sinister. and that he had cattle to the determination to lollow thein lor a lew miles. Stotler dissuaded him lrom this resolution. as beinglutile and not well lounded; told him that no harm would result to Pollock from travelling ‘in their company. and desired him to dismiss his suapiciona, as he was himself convinced they were innocent and worthy men.— While Lambert and his brother-in law were debating these points on the hunt porch. Pollock's horse suddenly turned a «fiber of the road, and advanced toward them at lull speed. without his rideil— When the horse came up to the porch. the whole tragedy was lolly explained—lhe horse’s neck and shoulders, aa well as the saddle and Middle-cloth. were covered with blood, and no doubt could extataa loPolluck’a niUidt-rl The servants and young men of the home wereimmediately‘ mounted on horseback. and sent to euiii-l root) the neighbors to alsiat in recovering poor Pollock’s body, and to assist. il pos sible, in capturing ilie oflenders. Neighrl bora in aucha countiy as thin was at that time, included all who resided within teni in twelve mile-a of the place designated. "A little alter the middle of the day. ten or twelve ol the hardy dwellers ol the mountain: had collected themselves on Stotler’o porch. They were all as Lam bert thought, men of no ordinary energies rolcllatflclt‘l’. though ignorant and Illiier ate.‘ But Lninhert was in error—mere roughness and uncouthneas of exterior manners and department. never yet cov ered a soul ol fire. or a mind 0! elevated and genuine courage. and hence your bru tal. coarse and clowniuli boosters. are al moiit invariably poltrnons nnd cowardl, when placed in posts of known and im minent dlnger. True courage is never the companion of brutal feelings, coarse sensibilities, and inanity ol mind & soul. There are two kind: at courage which we eee everywhere exemplified; one is ol Physical. and the other of Mental, or Moral origin. We see them manilestetl in all the departments of history. The former depend: on health. strength and muscular energy alone; and the letter on the preponderance ul mental power over the attnbutes ol mere brute matter. The company which convened on Sfotler’a porch. lor the purpose at capturing the murderers, were mere men ol physical Courage—tome ol Salniigundi’e men "chock lull of u riilh and cabbage.” who would fight or encounter danger no long er than their bellies were lull ; as wrll ap pear in the requel of this narraiive. With Lambert as their chosen leader, who had made ii solemn vow to capture or destroy the iiiurdcrcn‘. the company started on foot nml wellnrmed. in pursutt of the blood-stained fugitives; hordes however active and powerlul, could be ol no use to the pumuara among the rock: & preci~ picea ol the mountuinu. covered as they were with snow. " When the company came to the scene ol the murder. no doubt could exist us to the lac! ; the snow “as so much trampled. and greatly dlscnlored with blood. and disclosed traces of a deadly struggle of ({lé and death ; from all appearances. the struggle must hnve been long and dread lol. and evnnced the obstiuscy with which the pnur victim ol mssunination rnuat have contended hopelessly lnr lile. But what must have been the reflections which rush ed on the mind nl this lonely and desert ed victim ol perfidy. when overcome und sinking under the hands and ravage hearts ol those monster: of iniquity and blood! His'wile, his children. his poverty, the cold cltnritiei of n merciless world; must have filled his mind with horror and dis may; the physical agnnlefl of death. With all their exeruciatingphngs. can be but mo nothing to such mentnl sufferings: it is said, hype-11mm who have been recovered lrom’rlrowning. and apparent death. that at the moment of suflocation. immediate~ ly preceded utter‘unconsciouaness and in sensibility, the whole series 01 events of theii‘ lives. seemed actually present to their minds and memories. 'l‘his‘may be. and probably is the fact, with those who die with all their faculties 11l lull strength; but it can hardly be the case With those whnldie ot tlflllltdl‘y 'rlieeuees. and linger lonu'on the Cttnlines of'eternity. . "it was evident to Lambert and his combnny that the body at the deceased ,Col‘lld’llol be I“ removed lrorn the scene of death. and in n lew minutes search. the cdfps'e ‘was discovered. ’ It tv'ss wedged 'in ltetWeun two large rotten logs, which hail been rolledoot ol the road, nndteover ed with the‘rubbi‘s‘h of lettees. brnshwohd, and rotten pieces of wood. and bore the mark} of ‘a most 'sa‘ngt‘tinary‘ hatchery..- ‘el‘woballs; had passed through the burly. nndindhé'hreast and side werevlound the murk§;,9t,_severjgl_ vital stabs. givenppparfi ently with n large hunter’s knife. One of the hands of the deceneed was lhrillingly and horribly disfigured, it seemed as if in lhe conflict of blood. Pollock hnd grasped the blade of a large kmle. which had been drawn forcibly lhrough his hand, and near ly sev'ered the joints of hi: fingers! His clothing was much rent and torn in the combaf. and hi: countenance bnrp lhe ln dicationa ol great agony in Making: mo ments. _ l "A counsel was now held by the com pany, as to what was next to be done; and alter having sent the dead body back to Stottler’s house, Lambert proposed an in slant and vigorous pursuit ol the murder ers. before their trail (loot-tract”) would be ell'aced from the soft snow. The pro position wan assented to by the whole company and in a short time the trail of the murderers was discovered. bearing a little west ol north: the snow was light and unpacked. and exhibiting their loot prints with clearness and certainty. “When the company started on‘_the trail, it was late in the evening. the sun not more than two hours lrom the horizon. and the whole country over which the trail of the lugitives passed known only to hurt ters. was a wild and trackleas wilderness. tangled with an undergrowth ol laurel and brushwood. The pursuers, however. kept the trarlt, with industry. perseverance and resolution. unttl sunset. and the approach of darkness. The mountains now began to assume a more wild, bleak land dreary aspect; the sound ol winds through the leave-, booghs and branches of the trees. seemed to he lrnught with the loud howl ol lhe MM. and the shrill scream ol' the palllht‘l', and the distant and sullen roar ol the mountain torrents, seemed ominous of solitary and unknown dangers! 'l‘othe ignorant and uncultivated mind. the sub lime and inscrutable mysteries of nature. are always the causes ol superstition and terror. and more particularly so during the hours ol night and darkness. ”Lambert now discovered. as the night began to set in. that the courage and reso lution ol his companions were last ebbing. and that they should soon be brought to a dead stand still. and he called a halt lor lorther consultation. The result of this deliberation was that each individual lound or framed an excuse lor returning home. and Lambert was lelt alone to pursue his dangerous and lonely enterprise. "He was, however; "doubly armed -,” first, with the justice ol his cause. and his consciousness of. rectitude; and, second. with a good rifle. tomahawk. and hunter’s ltntle; and with these he pursued his pre carious journey—not regardless of conse quences, but prepared to meet all events that might occur. With the assistance of starlight, reflected Irom a bright surface ol‘ snow, he was enabled to trace the loot steps of the murderers; and when the moon arose in lull splendor. a little belore mid night. he lound no fartherdifliculty or no. certainty in pursuing his way. “Alter travelling in a northwestern di rection twelveor lourteen nrileu. he came to on old road nearly parallel 'with the one he had lell; this was called the “Old Penn svlvania trace.” between Philadelphia and Red Stone Old Fort. situate on the waters of the Monongahela river; it was the first road ever opened between Eastern Penn sylvania and the head waters ol the Ohio river. and the ancient land-mards. "three chops and a blaze." were still visible by daylight on the old trees. These ancient roads and land-marks. l have been infor med, were adopted by the old surveyors and openers of roads in the \Veal. to pro pltiate Heaven in favor of the first settlers of the great Western wilderness :7 and hence the first chop was for the Father— the second for the Son—and tlte third lor the Holy Ghoul : and the blaze was mere ly designed to attract the eye of the ob server. When Lambert struck the old trace road. he discovered an anctent and ruinous hutfor log cabin, nearly opposite tthim, on the north side at this tlilapida ted and solitary road. The moon had now i nearly gained her meridian. and beamed 1 with lull and unclouded splendor on the snowyrpeaks ofthe distant mountains. and on the cold and solitary landscape justbe lore hitn. 'l‘here stood. in solemn silence and seeming desertion, the‘ltut which con tained. probably. the objects of his long and laborious pursuit; and, to sati~ly the anxiety ol his mind, respecting tho octoal presence of the murderers, wltowoultl be on the alert. and prepared lor defence ol the most desperute characler, he had to make a silent and cautious circuit month the but, at- some little distance ltmn il. and as tar as possible. out at distinct view. Pursuant to this plan, he found the loot tracks of the two villains up to the d 0"? of the house..and that there were no loot prints from the cabin in any direction.— These circumstances put at rest all doubts and uncertainties, and Lambert hvd noth log' now to do but I‘o ACT, in the last ~t‘ene ol this sanguinary drama, to capture the murderers or lose his own life. "Hahatljust seen. through the shutter odfclt'tp-boarda of which the door was made. a feeble light in the only fire place thg house ‘could boast. The house consisted of button? apartments, which were with. out any, partition between mom—anti only dialtn'g’ulahe‘d'from each other by oystegjm Iwg‘dqwn from the West to the east ibom’. ’i‘jho vpyo‘oriold woman. who had resideél‘oi y’omvop'jthin de‘sonetl road, and Jivéd by NEW SERIES—VOL. I, N0..42.-.--WHOLE NOL‘llfu. selling cakes and bear tocasual way-ford". oleptin tho weal loominto whioh’tho‘ona ly door-into the homo oponed from the road; and the east room. ,containing'one bed. as it afterwards appeared. wal occu pied by the two‘ villains of whom Lambert was in pursuit. After steppinggo few po cos back from the door. Lam art “a"; loud cough or two. to awaken the Oldfie mun—and boldly advancing to the stop. and stamping the snow from hil faculti sired admittance in a feigned voice—nod telling her at the some time that he Wald a stranger who had lost his way—tbs! he was nearly frozen to death in wondering I bout—and that he mohed her to t‘tlilh‘ the fire to warm himself. "She immediately obeyed. and soon re plenished and rolighted tho'flt’o, whilst he remained outside the door, under the pre tonce ofdisrobing his feet of the snow ltis real object being to await the light of' the fire. that he might fairly encountsrthe villains. whom.he had just heard talking. in an alarmed and startled toné'blvoicm’in the lower room. When he stepped over’ the door ailll. into the bright light of the' fire. his first salutation was the loud report ofa mttsltet from the lower room, the two balls from which struck the door past, an inch or two from his head! No time was now to be lost. Reserving his fire, he sprung down to the louver room. yet reek ing tvrth the smoke of the burned powder: ‘ and using his tomahawk with dexterity and efTecl. he knocked the vtllaiu senseless who had just fired on him and whom he had believed he had killed. In the inter im, while these events were passing. the smaller villain ofthe two—for Lambert had felled the larger one on the floor with the heavy blow of his tomahawk—bedotept through a small nnglazed window. imme dialely above the side of the bed. and was running all in the bright moonlight. direct ly to the north. Lambert soon discovefid htm. and mounting on the bed, as the lel low was running directly from the window,‘ in a straight line. clothing in hand, brought him down on his face, With two balls from his own rifle, planted. precisely between the shoulders of the horrid miscreant l— 'l‘hen. seizrng with a giant grasp the stur dier villain, whom he had felled to the floor. and who seemed to be reviving for further combat. Lambert placed his knee on the lellow’s breast. and asked the old woman for a rope. 'l'his she furnished by cutting a bedcord from one of the bedstesds. With this Lambert bound the fellow. and dragged him to the fire place in the upper ‘ room. Then. absenting himself for a lew ‘ moments only. he brought in the dead 'man‘ on his shoulder, and placed the corpse side by side with the living murderer! , "When the day dawned. the work of death being finished, Lambert prepared to return borne, having accomplished in a few hours and with his single arm, what would have immortalized any hero of the ages of chivalry. When deserted by his faint heartetl companions among the mountains, this man of tron resolution and lofty moral energies. never faltered or betrayed the least hesitation of purpose. His were tru ly the rtrtuoua and noble fixedness of un subduable resolution, in the cause of'jus tree and humanity—the lion's heart and the eagle‘s eye-l The orator in the forum. the statesman in his diplomacy. the law grver in his legislation. and the hero in his battle fields—hare each the stimulus of public admiration, urging him on to the achievement of renown ;-—but what was a man of obscure and ,lowly fortunes. like John Lambert-—wbo knows that when he dies his name and memorylwdl parish. to incite him to virtuous and noble deeds 'l—‘y— I answer, the strengthening consciousness ofsuperior rectitnde, the divine impulses ol a pure and noble mind. and the exalted and imperislrable sentiment of immortali ty." Reader. John Lambert was a christian a true believer in the divine mission and identity of Jesus Christ! This, at once. solves the whole problem of his heroicrir tue. in the cause of justice and humanity. just detailed to you. . " Lambert now accepted the loan ofa horse from his aged and venerabl‘ friend. the poor old woman of the mountains. He next placed his living captive on the ani mal. after having pinioned his-,,arms be hind l.im. and secured his feetlhelow the, horse. And then. lastening the dead body of the miscreant he had killed. [across the shouldersnof the horse. and firmly lashed it to its companion in iniquity—he gravely led the horse with its burtheo of murder and carnage. to the house of his brother in law. Here he found many'persons’las sembled from all sections of the adjacent country. among them the chop fallen de serters at his heroic and succes‘sftilbdfln ture—w ho met, in the contemptuous entiti tenancea of the assembly. the; dis‘deinlv’ reward of timidity and‘cow'ardice.’., .. . "The captive murderer-j . wssv'soor ‘3'“ tojail, under a strong guard; alt/"l exile course of time expiat'ed ”bleed?“ “"5" 13 lhe gallows. W . 1m "This Was the las’tl‘robWY, and muldbr ever perpetrated on Ihiliwfld. and “me”. mad. 'lnplcad of the (“’h plundqyllhgmpr' deters liad,expecual'“°m ‘h" ““110???“ me white homigf'xhey found but'thpée or four.doll}srs in. “'8 “0°39?“ nf|pporP¢ll§ck whim. mayn’ad mistaken for _xhpyerilpple rich d‘mrar-T-whp arrived. 9!; thhqplaqq 3 Image uner thesraaedh wi‘hvhifilfiifiP' I ". 4 g, I r MEM
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