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1
1
HISTORY
of
Perry County, Pennsylvania
Including Descriptions of Indian and Pioneer Life from the Time of Earliest Settlement
Sketches of Its Noted Men and Women and Many Professional Men
By H. H. HAIN
HARRISBURG, PA. 1922
HAIN-MOORE COMPANY, PUBLISHERS HARRISBURG, PA.
Copyright 1922 By HAIN-MOORE COMPANY
JUL 31 22 1
CCIA681155
"I love thy rocks and rills,
T O all those Perry Countians who first saw the beautiful rays of the morning sun as it came up o'er the Blue Ridge Mountains, who cherish. fond memories of the land of their birth, and to those other citizens of the Republic who have chosen to make their abiding place within the borders of the Best Little County in the Com- monwealth, this book is respectfully dedicated.
Thy woods and templed hills."
MAP OF PERRY COUNTY
LIVERPOOL
1
VERPOOL
.
RA
MILLE ROTOWN
R
Mt Patrick O
Connally
Mills
BUFFALO
5
HOWE
U
Millford,
--
NEWPORT
T
LONIATA Marketsville
WATTS NEW BUFFAL
ichesburgo
MILLER
AVI
LE
R
-
R
0
E NYOUR
1
New Bloomfield-
1
VAL TR R.
DUNCANNON
S.
MADISO
Loysville
BLAIN
L'ANDISBURG
R
1
₾
Y
..
TOB
Or
S
Sherman s
CA
R
LI
MARYSHELLE
R
E
JACKSON' Germantown
T
P
Shaded Section shows the part of the Tuscarora Forest located within Perry County.
WHEATF
Elhott sburg
0
Z
D
-
1
GREENWOOD!
O
FOREWORD
T HE lands lying north of the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, which were a part of Cumberland County until 1820, when Perry County was organized, form historically one of Pennsylvania's most interesting sections for various reasons. Here, when the world was in formation, geologists tell us, oc- curred upheavals and an admixture of the elements so unusual that Perry County, as to-day constituted, has more varieties of soil than any other county in the State.
For many years these lands stood at the very verge of the un- broken forests, a veritable out-post of civilization, where the war- whoop of the red men yet echoed through the hills while the pioneer plied axe and saw, as he hewed from the wooded lands a home for himself and his people. Amid such surroundings there was no place for the weakling or timid and thus there came to these lands a race of men and women, fearless and unafraid, who builded their homes, carved from the wilderness their farms, peopled the towns, surged over the borders and became useful citizens of other counties and states. They or their descendants have filled positions of honor and trust, which included the Presi- dency, the Vice-Presidency of two governments, governorships, chief justices' places on the supreme courts of three different states, and United States senatorships. From no other county have come more illustrious men or those whose ancestry have abided there, considering the small extent of territory and the necessarily attendant small population of a rural county.
This is more than a history of Perry County, as it records much of Indian habitation and devastation and pioneer life long before its lands became a county, which has come down to us through the mists of another day, being principally based on official records and historical accounts of the period, with here and there a tinge of tradition, when well founded, which has de- scended down the years through generations of responsible people.
Among the first settlers were men and women of mental vigor and talent, and these characteristics became inherent in unborn generations, with the attendant result that Perry County has not only been the birthplace of many men illustrious in the affairs of state, but also of an array of men and women educated in the learned professions, who have held, or hold, responsible positions in their respective communities, all over Pennsylvania and in a large majority of the states of the Union. While the book is in no sense a biographical work, yet it is deemed fit and proper to record the more noted. Unfortunately the list is not complete, as
7
8
FOREWORD
the whereabouts of some at this time is unknown to the author, as many letters seeking information remaining unanswered, and also for the reason that it is difficult to obtain the records of those of the first half-century or more of the county's existence. It will serve as a basis for future records.
Of all these things; of the county's beautiful scenery, with its physical distinction and magnificent mountains, verdant valleys, rambling and sometimes raging rivers; of its traditions and its treasures-its homes and its people, the book will go into detail.
It is unfortunate that the work was not undertaken a score of years ago; but the author, who was just young enough to be in- cluded in the last conscription of men for the United States army, in 1918, during the great World War, at an earlier day never even dreamed of personally assuming a work of this importance. Had it been undertaken then, the help of many who have since passed away could have been enlisted, thus securing data which has now been lost for all time.
In undertaking the task of writing and compiling a history of the county of his nativity, the author has not done so under the impression that he is more able to do so than others, as there are many more competent. It was principally undertaken by him as no other had even presumed to do so. A period of almost fifty years had elapsed since the publication of Wright's History of Perry County, the only separate history of the county published since its organization, and which was written in answer to a call from the Governor for the compilation of a history of every county of the Commonwealth prior to the Centennial of 1876.
The book's contents are largely the result of development. While some of the material used dates back to a boyhood scrap- book, and more to the advantages afforded by connection as a correspondent from boyhood and later as editor of one of the county newspapers, and a continual collection of historical data since, yet by far the major portion was gathered, written and compiled during the past three years. As the prospectus an- nouncing its coming publication was being written, June 28, 1919, the bells and whistles at the State Capital were pealing forth the glad tidings that the terms of peace had been signed at Versailles, and two days later war-time prohibition became effective through- out the Nation.
From the very beginning of writing and compiling this volume the author has taken the public into his confidence, through notices in the public press, and at every phase of its compilation, and with some success. Conjointly with letters seeking informa- tion the business end was conducted and its publication assured. As the book goes to press the proposed edition has been almost wholly subscribed for. Inexperienced in the writing of a book
9
FOREWORD
the triple method of traveling the territory, with the greater part of which he was already familiar, searching legal records and doing research work in libraries was adopted in the very begin- ning and continued throughout, and found to be advantageous. His place of residence and occupation made available the wonder- ful library of the State of Pennsylvania, the library of the City of New York, occupying a block; the Carnegie Library at Pitts- burgh, a veritable acreage of books, and others of less impor- tance, an advantage not available a half century ago, when the former history was written. The work has been a pleasant one, done in connection with filling a regular position, and if the reader enjoys the perusal of the volume half as much as the author enjoyed its writing and compilation he is well repaid for his efforts, undertaken largely as a labor of love. His one aim has been to give to posterity all of the many good things per- taining to his native county and its people, in so far as possible, in the form of a single volume. Had its completion been hurried much valuable data would have been lacking.
The history of a county differs from that of a state or nation, its government being largely a part of a greater territory, and necessarily includes matters of state and national importance, as they have a bearing upon local conditions. That tendency is a marked one in so far as Perry County is concerned, for in both the pioneer period and the sectional war time these lands were at the very borderland. In this book there will be found many things which naturally are of the state and nation, but they are here embodied, as their bearing on local matters is of import. To William C. Sproul, Governor of Pennsylvania; Thomas L. Mont- gomery, then State Librarian, and H. H. Shenk, Custodian of Public Records, the author is indebted for public sanction of the undertaking and for putting at his disposal every facility and ad- vantage for securing information. Should he name the published works of others which he has searched for information it would require pages, as he has gone over many hundreds of them.
In his many trips within and without the county, the latter mostly spent in interviewing former Perry countians, every- where he met with the kindest consideration .and regard and to name a list of all who gave information is also impossible, but they have his most profound thanks for help in the preservation of these historical records. Here and there throughout the book he gives mention to a few who have been of marked assistance. Especial credit is due to Miss Margaret H. Barnett, of New Bloomfield, who carefully read practically all of the manuscript and made necessary corrections and valuable suggestions; to Prof. H. H. Shenk, custodian of Public Records of the State of Pennsylvania, and former Professor of History in Lebanon Val-
IO
FOREWORD
ley College, for performing a similar duty; to Dr. George P. Donehoo, secretary of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and a noted authority on Indian lore, and now State Librarian, for reviewing the Indian chapters, and to the many who read and criticised chapters with which they were especially familiar.
To those who loaned volumes from their libraries we are in- debted, and especially so for the valuable scrap books of Miss Minnie Deardorff, Rev. John D. Calhoun, the late Senator Charles H. Smiley and others. Ex-Senator James W. McKee and At- torney George R. Barnett deserve special mention for aiding in research work on many occasions.
The county editors have been uniformly kind and helpful in every way, including the gratuitous use of their columns for furthering the work and for seeking information, and the privi- lege of searching their files. To Messrs. H. E. Sheibley and W. WV. Branyan we are also indebted for the use of a number of the interesting electrotypes which help illustrate the book.
Upon the practical completion of the book notice was given through the public press, inviting any interested persons to read, criticise and correct any misstatements which they might find. The privilege of so doing was open for a period of sixty days.
During the many days spent in the capitol building and state library at Harrisburg the writer was treated with the utmost courtesy and consideration, both by the employees and their chiefs. They are skilled in their respective duties and considerate of the general public, whose business calls them to Capitol Hill.
While the work was in progress death took from us a num- ber of men and women who had offered help in securing material and facts, some of which appears here and there throughout the book. Among these were Prof. L. E. McGinnes, Prof. Daniel Fleisher, Frank Pennell, Mrs. Annie Swartz Hench, wife of Harry F. Hench, and Mrs. Clara Lahr Moore, wife of Dr. E. E. Moore, two cultured and learned women.
As the work took form the impression was made that no mat- ter what proportion it assumed upon completion there would still be a lack of finality, as ever and anon there appeared new (or rather old) data, legend, tradition, and sketches of men- and still more men-who had gone forth from Perry County and its territory and lived lives of honor and distinction. There will be errors, of course, but the statements herein made have all been secured or transferred from historical or other books, public records, newspaper files, scrap-books, etc., except where noted. Where statements have differed the one supported by facts has been used.
H. H. HAIN.
Harrisburg, Pa., January 10, 1922.
CONTENTS
PAGE
I. LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 15
II. EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 37
III. INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 57
IV. TREATY OF PEACE, BUT A DEVASTATING IN- DIAN WARFARE 8.1
V. SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE 104
VI. DUNCAN'S AND HALDEMAN'S ISLANDS 118
VII. COMING OF THE TRADER
137
VIII. COMING OF THE PIONEERS .
1.48
IX. PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
161
X. PERRY COUNTY TERRITORY IN THE WAR OF 1812
XI. THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND"
177 182 201
XII. PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHIED
XIII. THE FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT 221
XIV. TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS
231
XV. OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS AND INDUSTRIES .
XVI. THE EARLIEST CIIURCIHES
XVII. THE COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT
335
XIX. POSTRIDER AND STAGECOACHI 36.2
XX. RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 374
XXI. RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 401
XXII. BUILDING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD
421
XXIII. PROJECTED AND OTHER RAILROADS
431
XXIV. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL MOVEMENT IN PERRY COUNTY 438
XXV. THE LIQUOR QUESTION
443
XXVI. THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS
XXVII. THE BENCH AND BAR 148
459
XXVIII. THE PUBLIC PRESS
473
XXIX. BANKS AND CORPORATIONS
188
XXX. COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS-A COMPARISON
497
XXXI. PERRY COUNTY IN THE SECTIONAL WAR
543
XXXII. THE SPANISHI-AMERICAN WAR 580
XXXIII. THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 582
XXXIV. PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN
604
XXXV. AGRICULTURE IN PERRY COUNTY 862
XXXVI. THE TUSCARORA FOREST
870
XXXVII. PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS .. 882
XXXVIII. PERRY COUNTY'S BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND) VILLAGES 9II
II
CHAPTER
2.47 280 369
XVIII. ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
ILLUSTRATIONS
The Author
PAGE Frontispiece
Map of Perry County
6
Gibson's Rock 16
Susquehanna Water Gap, at Duncannon 39
The Lincoln Profile Rock 60
82
The Indian Profile at Girty's Notch
Scene at Haldeman's Island
I3I
Sherman's Creek, near Gibson's Rock
I40
A Pioneer Bride and Groom 154
The Old State House at Philadelphia 167
William Penn, the Founder of the Province
183
Landisburg, the First County Seat
202
Robert Mitchell, One of the First Commissioners
214
The Courthouse at New Bloomfield
221
New Bloomfield, Looking North
224
The Old Rice Gristmill near Landisburg
"Westover," the Gibson Mill
John Wister, Noted Iron Manufacturer
Rev. Chas. Beatty, Pioneer Missionary 282 287
200
Jacob Buck, a Zealous Churchman
300
Daniel A. Kline, County Supt. of Schools
310
Schoolhouses at Mt. Pleasant
322
Lewis B. Kerr, Early County Supt. of Schools
327
Silas Wright, Educator and Historian
332
The Loysville Academy 336
Football at Carson Long Institute
342
William Grier, Associate Judge and Educator 3-45
William Carson Long 346
Donald C. Willard 347
The Tressler Soldiers' Orphans' Home
35I
Rev. Philip Willard
353
Charles A. Widle, Supt. Tressler Orphans' Home 355
The Juniata River at Iroquois 374
The Flood of 1889 at Newport 39I
The Pennsylvania Canal at Mt. Patrick 402
Pennsylvania Canal and Aqueduct at Newport 4II
The Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge at Marysville 424
Pennsylvania Railroad Tracks Along the Juniata
429
12
255 258 278
Rev. Jacob Gruber, a Circuit Rider
Pioneer Communion Service
Junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers 105
13
ILLUSTRATIONS
Rev. Matthew B. Patterson
445
Judge Benjamin F. Junkin 460
Judges Charles A. and James M. Barnett 466
Judges Win. N. Seibert and James W. Shull 468
Horace E. Sheibley, Editor 477
James A. Magee and Win. C. Lebo, Editors 479
Frank A. Fry and Sons, Editors
480
C. B. Smith and R. M. Barton, Editors 1.82
Jolın A. Baker, Leading Abolitionist and Editor 483
John A. Magee, Democratic Editor and Congressman 484
John H. Sheibley, Noted Republican Editor 485
The Duncannon National Bank
49I
The First National Bank of New Bloomfield 492 Lieut. Edward Moore, Paul Fleisher and James Zimmerman Warren G. Harding, President of the United States . . ... 588 609 Thomas R. Marshall, Vice-President of the United States Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy 612 614 James G. Blaine, Noted American Statesman 626 Chester I. Long, United States Senator 633 William Bigler, Governor of Pennsylvania 637 645
John Bigler, Governor of California
Gen. Stephen Miller, Governor of Minnesota
650
Gen. James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania
John Bannister Gibson, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania
Daniel Gantt, Chief Justice of Nebraska
Henry Calvin Thatcher, First Chief Justice of Nebraska .
John A. Thatcher, Pioneer Merchant and Banker
689
Mahlon D. Thatcher, Noted Financier and Banker
Col. A. K. McClure, Noted Editor
Luther M. Bernheisel, Noted Builder
Elihu C. Irvin, Noted Insurance President
Marie Doro, Famous Dramatic Star
Carlton Lewis Bretz, Noted Railroad Man
Elizabeth Reifsnyder, M.D.
717 718
Mina Kerr, College Dean
David L. Tressler, College President
720
Chas. W. Super, University President 723
Jesse Miller, Notable Early Congressman 727
Benj. K. Focht, Member of Congress 730
Harris J. Bixler, Member of Congress 731
J. R. Flickinger, Principal Central State Norinal School 737
L. E. McGinnes, Supt. of Steelton Schools, 742
Wm. Nelson Ehrhart, Supt. Mahanoy City Schools 746
Theodore K. Long, Founder Carson Long Institute
748
655 667 677 68 I
The Thatcher Building at Pueblo, Colorado 691
693 70I 705 707 700 714
14
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGĘ
Sheridan E. Fry, Municipal Judge at Chicago
752 Rev. and Mrs. John R. Peale, Martyred Missionaries 754
D. F. Garland, D.D., Noted Welfare Director 763
Anna Froehlich, Noted Teacher 767 H. W. Flickinger, Expert Penman 769
Lelia Dromgold Emig, Genealogist
S. Nevin Hench ( Inventor) and Walker A. Dromgold
771 773
Col. George E. Kemp, Postmaster of Philadelphia 777 Wm. F. Calhoun, Speaker Illinois Assembly 780 Rev. John Dill Calhoun 784 Rev. James W. Meminger, D.D. 785 Rev. Barnett H. Hart 787 Emmett U. Anmiller, Ex-County Supt. of Schools 791 S. S. Bloom, Member General Assembly of Ohio 795 806
Rev. Roy Dunkelberger, Missionary
Daniel Fleisher. Supt. Lancaster County Schools 808 812
Milton B. Gibson, Noted Manufacturer
John L. McCaskey, Inventor
826
Samnel F. Stambangh, Large Real Estate Dealer
Albert H. Stites, State Senator South Dakota .
846 878
Centre Square and Soldiers' Monument at Bloomfield
916
Blain Borough and Conococheague Mountain 928
Jane (Smiley) McCaskey
942
Duncannon Borough and Juniata Creek Road
950
Sherman's Creek near its Mouth at Duncannon
952
Clark M. Bower, Member of Assembly 960
Looking South from Liverpool
983 Marysville from Cove Mountain IOOI
Millerstown, Oldest Town in the County IO11
Millerstown's World War Monument IO15
Newport, Perry County's Largest Town 1024
Ickesburg and Landscape 1052
CHAPTER I.
LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC.
P ERRY COUNTY, Pennsylvania, is located in the southern central portion of the state, just north of the Kittatinny (Blue) Mountain, its southern boundary being within forty miles of the Mason-Dixon Line, that historic line which not only separated the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland, but which be- came, politically, the boundary line between the North and the South, on the slavery question. In fact, in much of the legislation appertaining to slavery, this line was the barrier against which two contending forces battled, practically from the time of the forma- tion of the United States until the best blood of the nation was spilled in the four years of war between the States, 1861-65.
Perry County is bounded on the north by Juniata County; on the east by the Susquehanna River, across which lies Dauphin County ; on the south by Cumberland County; and on the west by Franklin and Juniata Counties. It contains 564 square miles, according to Smull's Handbook, the official publication of the commonwealth. Groff, in the History of the Juniata and Susque- hanna Valleys, gives the square miles as 480; Claypole, the geolo- gist, gives the number at 539, and Wright, in his History of Perry County, makes the number 550, which show considerable variance.
While the size of Perry County is relatively small, yet it is not the smallest county in Pennsylvania, by any means. Twenty- seven others are smaller in area, but many of them have a vastly greater population. It is larger than either Cumberland or Dauphin. Perry County is credited with 564 square miles. The other coun- ties whose area is not so great are as follows : Montour, 130 square miles; Philadelphia, 133; Delaware, 185; Union, 305; Snyder, 3II ; Lehigh, 344; Lawrence, 360; Lebanon, 360; Northampton, 372; Juniata, 392; Cameron, 392; Wyoming, 397: Mifflin, 398; Fulton, 402; Carbon, 406; Forest, 423; Beaver, 429; Lacka- wanna, 451 ; Sullivan, 458; Columbia, 479: Luzerne, 484; Mont- gomery, 484; Dauphin, 521; Cumberland, 528; Adams, 528; Blair, 534, and Pike, 544.
In population, eleven other counties of the state have less. Ac- cording to the census of 1920, Perry County's population was 22,875. The counties having less are Cameron, Pike, Forest, Sul- livan, Fulton, Montour, Wyoming, Juniata, Union, Snyder, and Potter.
15
16
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The United States Census Bureau, in a bulletin, 1921, classes Perry County as one of eight "truly rural" counties in Pennsyl- vania-along with Forest, Ful- ton, Juniata, Pike, Snyder, Sulli- van, and Wyoming-for the rea- son that the 1920 census showed no communities of 2,500 or over in population. Were the built-up sections at Newport in one dis- trict, instead of being divided into Newport and Oliver Township, that town would show a greater population than that figure. While classed as a rural county, Perry County is within fifteen minutes of the State Capital, within three hours of Philadelphia or the Capi- tal of the nation at Washington, and within five hours of New York City. A ride of a little over four hours and you are at the surf of the great Atlantic Ocean. The great bend in the river below Newport marks the half-way point over the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, between New York and Pittsburgh.
According to a bulletin of the State Forestry Department 210 square miles are wooded land, comprising 134,400 acres, out of a total of 304,640.
The seventy-seventh degree of longitude west of Greenwich passes through the county, cut- Photo by Illick. GIBSON'S ROCK ting the townships of Rye, Watts, Located on Sherman's Creek. By it lay the "Allegheny Path," the First Great Indian Trail to the West. Buffalo, and Liverpool, passing the village of Montgomery's Ferry, and going through Liver- pool Borough. On its way through the state it goes through Hanover and passes a short distance east of Williamsport, thus showing our relative positions with towns in the northern and southern sections. The seventy-seventh degree also passes through the National Capital. All the Southern states, save small sections of Virginia and North Carolina, lie west of it, an unusual fact to many. The entire county lies between the seventy-sixth and
17
LOCATION, PHYSICAL, FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC.
seventy-eighth degrees, and almost all of it between the seventy- seventh and seventy-eighth. It lies between the fortieth and forty- first degrees of latitude. A line drawn from Pittsburgh to Read- ing, Pennsylvania, would pass through New Bloomfield, and one from Johnstown to Reading, through Marysville.
Considered in size, Perry County is one of the smaller counties of the state, and yet it is almost half of the size of the state of Rhode Island, and almost one-fourth as large as the state of Dela- ware. Its average length is thirty-eight miles, and its average breadth, fourteen miles. Its elevation varies very much. At the mouth of the Juniata it is 357.4 feet above sea level, and at the Gibson mill in Spring Township, it is 471 feet. The old road over Bower Mountain, in Jackson Township, according to Claypole, the geologist, is 950 feet above the valley, 1,350 feet above Landis- burg, and 2,000 feet above the level of the sea.
Its location is in the Atlantic slope of the great Appalachian Mountain system, of which Groff* says: "The construction of the underground world is so beautifully simple as a whole, and so curiously complicated in details, that it will ever stand the typical district of the Appalachian Mountain belt of the Atlantic sea- board." The shape of the county resembles roughly a triangle, or rather, a pennant. Its acreage is 360,960, according to the Depart- ment of Agriculture of the State.
Along the eastern boundary, where winds the broad Susque- hanna, from a point about five miles above Liverpool to below Marysville, where the river breaks through the Blue or Kittatinny Mountain, the distance is twenty-nine miles, or twenty-one by air
*George G. Groff, M.D., former Professor of Natural History, Bucknell University.
Gibson's Rock. Gibson's Rock is located along the north side of Sher- inan's Creek, three miles west of Shermansdale. It is a striking geological formation, of which the county has many, and yet this is a surpassing one in size and interest. Located at the dividing line of Spring and Carroll Townships this mighty crag towers from the bed of Sherman's Creek almost perpendicularly. West of it the old Indian trail, known as the Allegheny Path, crossed the creek to the northern side. Here the 11101111- tain evidently once breasted the creek and held back waters which covered several townships, according to geologists. Picturesquely situated, this point has long been a mecca for campers, outings, and picnics. Above it, within sound of the human voice, stood the famous Gibson mansion, and still stands the "Westover" or Gibson mill. In that house was born Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson, Governor William Bigler, and John Bern- heisel, representative in Congress from the then Territory of Utah. Gov- ernor William Bigler had a brother, John Bigler, who was governor of California at the same time that his brother was governor of Pennsyl- vania, but John Bigler was born at Landisburg, where his parents resided, prior to coming to the Westover inill in 1809. During the early years of the county's existence a bill passed the Pennsylvania Legislature making Sherman's Creek navigable, and many huge boulders were blown from the creek's bottom, some within the shadow of the great cliff, the drill marks being yet distinguishable. 2
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