 |
| Sarah HARPER LYON (1833-1919) |
March 30, 1874, Bertram's Corner, Lewis Co. Ky.
Dear Sallie,
After a long lapse of time your last is received. I told Amelia to answer as the letter was directed to her, but as she always takes it in thinking, I concluded to take the matter in hand and write myself. I thought you never would write, but if you are doing all the work, I do not see how you get time for anything.
Are you cooking in the house or in the kitchen? I do wish I could send you a girl, but they are as scarce here as there. I hope by this time you have got one. I think I shall have to come down after a while and help with your sewing. What are you in most need of? Shirts for the boys? or under clothing for yourself, or dresses for Bell? When you write tell me the most pressing needs and I will try to get you something ready to send or bring.
When I last wrote I told you Miel had been very sick, she is still only tolerable, and as she has the prospect of a return of this pain at anytime, she is in a state of uneasiness and anxiety. I never hear a noise in the night but I quake with fear. If anything startles my fears it is the midnight call, in such an hour as ye know not, and the darkness and silence will add terrors even to trifles. Gay has been very poorly for three weeks, he appears a little stronger today than for some time. Peter is still at school at Vanceburg. Aleck is nearly laid up with a cold and nervous headache, coughs more than usual, and is rather feeble.
We have got trace of the goods and have arrested some of those concerned in the business. Ten horses were stolen from Tollesboro about ten miles from here, and a constable, Hiram Warder accompanied by Nat. Toll went in pursuit forthwith and were only about 6 hours behind. It so happened that one of the horses had on a peculiar shoe, easily distinguished from all other tracks and they got on the trail which they kept day and night without difficulty. They found the place where they stopped, and the first thing they saw was the horses. A girl was standing in the yard, who vanished the instant she saw them and in a few minutes two men came out and made for the hills. They rode up to the door asked for their dinner and asked to buy cattle. After a good while finding the men did not return, they told their errand plainly, took possession of the horses, the saddle packets, and overcoats, which were hanging out in the yard to dry (it had been raining), and came home. Of course I can't go into the particulars of their trip. It was hazardous, and exciting, but accomplished in safety. There in the saddle packets was found a pair of shoes stolen from us.
We had sent such samples of the goods as one happened to have to reliable parties and a careful description of the boots and shoes, and this was the very first clue, away in Wayne Co, Virginia.
Late one night Const. Warder made his appearance with the shoes which belonged to us, and so next morning he & Aleck started—Warder armed with carbine and revolver. Mr. Varian's store in Orangeburg had been robbed of several hundred dollars worth of goods & clothing and the overcoats belonged to him. Aleck & Warder got four others, well armed with pistols and at Vanceburg and started to some place in Black Oak Bottom above Vanceburg called Spy Run, made a descent on several houses, found women with dresses on made out of our gingham, found men with the boots on, and different things. They followed up the line of development, went over the river, arrested Sylvester Manning, a vile looking miscreant, and probably one of the ringleaders, and had a preliminary examination at Vanceburg, and pending other parties implicated made another descent on one Tad Harens, supposed to be respectable and found a quantity of our goods, 50 lbs. coffee, ready made dresses... [remainder of the letter is missing]
