USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 17
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 17
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hill, the foremost bearing an egg on its bill and its companion following immediately behind. When they got about two hundred yards beyond me I saw the egg drop, when the hindmost crow, who flew a little lower, made a sudden swoop, but not quick enough before it was lost in the grass of the meadow ; making now several low circles by way of search he in- stantly flew back to the vicinity of the large barn they had started from, and soon returned bearing another egg. The crow that had dropped his burthen never deviated but kept directly on to his nest. This can be explained by having the entire bill thrust therein in order to carry it, must in consequence have re- tained a portion of the contents, and through this proceeded on for the young. It is very probable the other, in the first instance, had only gone along to act as sentinel or assist in the discovery, but on observing the loss with a knowledge of more and a sense of security, was thus induced to set him back to supply the deficiency. Such a display of sagacity seems more than animal and approaches the superhuman.
A friend of mine now living about a mile west of Willow Grove, between the years 1845 and 1851 resided on the large farm situated immediately on the northeast side of Horseheaven, having a back field with an undulating surface adjoining the woods in with corn, which had no sooner sprouted than it began to suffer seriously from the attacks of the crows. As a remedy he would start out at different times with his gun to shoot them in the act, but no sooner would
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he make his appearance than their sentries from the highest trees would give the alarm. He now set his mind to work to contrive some plan that might so deceive as to cause them to leave it. A large empty barrel was procured and placed in the middle of said field on its bottom, with a stick projecting therefrom several feet. This, as he expected, before long the crows would get accustomed to and not heed. Sev- eral days after he proceeded to the barrel with his cloak on and a young man concealed therein so as to appear as but one person, carrying the gun on his shoulder as he had before. He now crept inside the barrel with his gun, when his companion with the cloak and the stick on his shoulder proceeded home- wards. The latter had not left fifteen minutes before some twenty crows approached and commenced at- tacking the corn. Watching his chance, when suffi- ciently near, he let drive both barrels and wounded ', two or three severely. Never did crows fly more panic-stricken to the woods. This is a clear proof of their being nice observers and possessing a knowledge of numbers.
On a rather dull, gloomy day in the beginning of June, as I was standing near my father's orchard, I observed a crow fly direct from the hill to near the centre of the same, when, through a discovery, he made a sudden turn among the trees. A pair of king- birds, who had a nest near by, now suddenly, and I might say unexpectedly, assailed him, followed by two robins in distress. He now as suddenly returned to
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the woods, evidently without accomplishing his ob- ject. Fortunately, my business detained me to notice in about ten minutes no less than eight crows come direct from out the same part of the woods, and while the king-birds and the robins were engaged in attacking several of them on the wing, the rest entered the tree and snatched up the young robins in the nest and flew off with them to Horseheaven. I have no doubt the leader of this foray was the one previously here, who had gone back for assistance.
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INTRODUCTION.
Since the publication of the legends of Sampson's Hill, Huckleberry Hill, The Bird of Happy Omen, Buckwampun and Dark Hollow, a request has been made by several who have passed well into the prime of life and have taken an interest in their perusal, that before the series be concluded I should venture still further into the realms of the supernatural and marvel-
1 ous. To gratify those friends I have written the fol- lowing. If it appears to be what it professes, and de- serves any credit for the invention it has required, I would request my readers to attribute it all to being · based on facts that have actually transpired there, whereof I only claim being the relator. This is now my apology for so strange an effusion, and should it interest and deserve encomiums, I would desire them bestowed on the aforesaid for their encouragement to the undertaking. Should I be censured, therefore, it will certainly not be for having gone over a well- traveled road, but for taking an unfrequented route,
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on which it was my misfortune to find neither glory nor renown, and consequently such as critics do not seek, unless to do better.
The Traditions and Wonders of Horseheaven.
Though I have treated of the historical and scien- tific associations of this hill, with the rare attractions it possesses for the naturalist; and also given a number on its ancient and renowned inhabitants, the crows, I am still disposed for another effort. I therefore re- joice that the glorious memories of Horseheaven are not yet by any means exhausted. Those noted tradi- tionists, the Kriers and their kindred, still flourish around here, being too securely anchored in their own harbors, or if you will, fixed to their abodes, to think of emigration. For generations they have here shot at mark and raffled for poultry on New Year's, through the winter felled the tall chestnut timber for posts and rails, in spring sowed and planted their crops, in summer climbed the tallest trees for crow nests, in fall hunted grouse, partridges and squirrels, and what is as interesting around their own firesides related marvelous stories concerning this remarkable region.
While Irving has given us with matchless grace the renowned story of Rip Van Winkle in the Catskill
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and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I am inclined to believe that for variety of incident traditions of this hill surpass either. To fully verify this perhaps would require a much longer number than I am now disposed to write ; my present design is to be brief, though I should risk a failure in what I assert, which I am sure will not be for a paucity of original materials that I obtained here among some of those old families, be- fore public schools and the sciences had encroached into this domain so long assigned as an abode for the preternatural, and as we shall learn, not without some very good reasons. With these remarks I will now approach the subject.
Perhaps the foremost was the giant spectre that took his walks across the bleak surface of the hill from one woods to the other, chiefly in the nights of autumn and winter, but at nearly all hours. Occasion- ally from ten to fifteen feet in height, of a dark brown ', color and accompanied by a fearful rustling din. Sometimes going at a moderate walk but frequently at an increasing speed, as if belated and determined to accomplish his mission or round within a given time. Though seen going abroad under the cover of night, no efforts were made at concealment by keeping within the bounds of the thickets and woods-no, not in the least; but in the clear, open fields were those nocturnal rambles made. I dare say that now for considerably over a century has this been witnessed here under the aforesaid circumstances, and I will predict as long as this opening exists and those two
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woods remain as at present the spectre will not for- sake these his old accustomed haunts.
From what I have now stated, need we be surprised at the marvelous traditions extant over forty years ago, respecting the giant spectre and his singular freaks on this bleak hill-top, as occasionally seen within the various hours of night. A perfect calm with ordinary darkness appeared to suit him best to be abroad with his unfailing accompaniment of detest; able noise. It mattered not whether it was but one, two, three or more persons together, for the spectre had no dread of numbers, and they could all behold him. Sometimes it proceeded onwards fifty or one hundred yards in advance; on other occasions follow- ing, or now and then making a sudden turn to the right or left, and finally disappearing in the darkness without it being known to offer harm to any one.
I will vouch that scores of times on this hill-top has been heard the sudden and terrified exclamation : "There he comes! What noise!" or " There he goes !" all the while his giant form appearing distinctly in view as he was proceeding onwards until lost in obscurity. With authors I know it is not customary when they treat of the marvelous to have any personal knowledge or experience to relate, but to conjure up such matters chiefly out of their own and other people's imagina- tion. Could I not do better than this I will here state that I would toss my ink-stand out the window and crush the pen I use under my foot as unqualified for the subject.
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Know ye, then, that in the course of many years residence in the adjoining village I had divers errands to do over this hill as my shortest way, particularly during the period for gathering the annual ice crop, for which purpose the assistance of those sturdy veter- ans the Kriers and their associates would be secured, and to their great honor always without disappoint- ment. Twice, while on this business, did I here in the silence of night unexpectedly, and to my astonish- ment too, encounter on his well known haunts the giant spectre with his horrid din, and thus learn that he was not the mere creation of whim, fancy or super- stition; that he was something that could not only be seen and heard, but had actually form, substance and motion. Do ye now think that there is no foundation for marvelousness, and that I too must be superstitious to have faith in this? But, my readers, I am the nar- . rator, and I shall take my time and way or else I had never begun, while all shall come out right in the end.
Irving tells us how Rip Van Winkle took a quieting draft that kept him asleep for twenty years, and when he awoke and returned to his native village found things wonderfully changed; but in this splendid cre- ation he explains this as only possible through an old tradition handed down from the early settlers. In his Legend of Sleepy Hollow he tells us of the headless horseman carrying his head on the pommel of his sad- dle, and how in his midnight pursuit after Ichabod at a certain turn of the road he raised himself in his stir- rups and let fly of a sudden this as a missile, which
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encountered the cranium of the unfortunate peda- gogue, and disclosing at the scene of conflict next morning the remains of a shattered pumpkin. The galloping headless Hessian in pursuit of his head he bases on a tradition of the war, wherein it had been carried away by a cannon ball. We see here a great difficulty overcome in the plot by a mere assertion. In this subject I am disposed for more fact and less fiction, and shall depend on the actual wonders of Horseheaven to bear me out in confirmation. 1
Nearly a century ago, a son of Erin had made his home for at least several months in a farm house. on the southern side of the hill. On one occasion he extended his journey to a full quarter of a mile's dis- tance from where he was domiciled, and unknown to himself he got into the haunts of the giant spectre. 'He had not crossed the broad Atlantic without some object, and now while up here made an astounding discovery, not as heretofore alluded amid the powers or spirits of darkness, but in the broad light of day, and could therefore safely believe what he had wit- nessed. This was nothing less than his suddenly en- countering here for the first time an outlandish strange, four-footed beast, that opportunities permitted at a safe distance to distinctly observe in all its parts. The finale was worthy the enchanted ground, for it was · nothing less than the swallowing of its head, clear and clean, without a particle to be seen. There are sev- eral natives living in that vicinity at this day that will corroborate its truth. Like of the spectre, even I'too
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of this know something. I demand it as an impartial and faithful chronicler, that the headless horseman shall now yield up some of his former glory for the fame and honor of Horseheaven, unless he can yet be brought to surpass this feat and made known by our Irishman's discovery.
In addition to the giant spectre, a belief has been entertained that the sides and summit were also haunted by a noisy and turbulent spirit, particularly through the nights of winter. In the absence of books and newspapers, in more than one social circle, before a blazing hickory fire did this too form a fre- quent subject of conversation. Though they may have entertained various opinions as to his appearance and the nature and effect of his sounds, they one and all agreed as to his existence and general haunts. What else, reasoned they, could it be but a super- natural being, that at one place would start up sud- denly before you in a clap of thunder that would vi- brate throughout the remotest part of the woods; and should you scream in terror, give a call for assistance or even utter a prayer, it would most provokingly taunt you again and again with your very own words.
These good people further reasoned from their own convictions, why did not those things happen around their dwellings or elsewhere, if this domain was not specially assigned for the resort and abode of super- natural agencies ? A journeyman blacksmith of the neighboring village, who went wooing fully the third of a century ago on the opposite side of the
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hill, through his frequent excursions had considerable to relate concerning his experiences. To his obser- vations I am indebted for the discovery why all kinds of grain and grass lodge here so readily before maturity. This, he says, is not occasioned by storms, as some pretend, but from the frequent tremblings of the ground under the effects of ghostly thunder. The more popular idea, however, prevailed, that it was trodden down by the giant spectre in his nightly strolls.
A farmer residing on the southern slope of the hill, being short of fuel on a dull, drizzly day in the autumn of 1844, procured several wagon loads from his woods beside the enchanted ground and deposited on his wood pile for immediate use. In the night it was unusually dark, and he meant to retire early ; as he entered his bedroom his attention at the window was arrested by a considerable light and a cry of fire. Hurrying down, in spite of the wet and dampness his wood appeared all in a blaze, to the danger of the ad; jacent buildings. His neighbors, however, had come to the rescue and they all diligently labored at his pump near by to extinguish it. After scores of buck- etsful had been discharged thereon the fact became apparent that its light was not diminished. "Where did you get your wood from ?" shouted a rather rough assistant. "From the top of the hill to-day," replied the farmer. "I thought so, or from the lowermost regions, for the fires there or here appear equally un- quenchable !" So they stood there in astonishment
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awaiting the result, in the meantime having a talk over the wonders of the enchanted ground.
On the southern and eastern slope of the hill from two small branches rises Tearwood run, which after a course of only half a mile empties into a dam that has for about three-fourths of a century in the past propelled a factory that had originally belonged to Titus Yerkes and later for some time to his son, Richard. At the aforesaid placid sheet of water on a very warm summer's day afternoon, surprising to re- late, its chief inhabitants, the fishes, who had hitherto led here such quiet lives, became so violently agitated that they made a journey towards the skies, and on becoming fatigued, made a descent into the fields of a neighboring hill for repose. However improbable, for this I have also the authority of my traditionists, though seemingly more extravagant than our nursery tales.
But wonders do not cease. At the foot of the northern slope of the hill a professor of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania while taking a summer's sojourn in the vicinity in 1849, discovered a creature inhabit- ing there that walks, runs and swims on its back, and for a change takes an occasional flight through the air ; a matter that had hitherto been unknown to him and led him at first to doubt his own senses. Satis- fied as to the fact, he called my attention to so extra- ordinary a living object, and now I am a witness to testify to his veracity. If any one can find a parallel
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or resemblance in all animated nature to this creature he will deservedly earn a diploma.
I feel disposed to draw towards a close this chapter of marvels in which Horseheaven is so rich, and with a knowledge, too, that all is by no means mentioned. As its historian, I have a pride in the subject, and I think no reader hereof will charge me herein of having used second-handed materials. I have, too, a promise to fulfil, that those strange wonders just related should come out right in the end ! If there is a person on reading the aforesaid would think this an easy task and did really accomplish it, I would, on the honor of a gentleman, award him a silver medal as, in my esti- mation, deservedly earned. However, to be as good as my word, I shall now attempt to unravel the cause for those mysteries.
First, of the giant spectre, of whom I had heard so much in the long past, and mentioned as having en- countered twice. Wherever there are extensive forests, it must necessarily happen that in losing their foliage in autumn a great accumulation of leaves must take place through the winds at certain places, partic- ularly along fence-rows, bushes and thickets, where they more generally effect a temporary lodgment. Through the winter, when there is a light snow on the ground, and a traveler in the quietness of night passes under such circumstances over a bleak hill-top by cultivated fields and woodlands, though not a breeze may be around him, yet a few yards off over the frozen crust a whirlwind may imperceptibly pass
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and in an instant seize on a bed of those dried leaves, and thus, mysterious like, start up before or after him like a huge brown giant and skim away over the snow, which only tends to render it the more observa- ble, with a rustling noise almost like a continuous discharge of musketry. One of those I saw passed diagonally from one woods to the other, across the entire two fields, a distance of about a quarter of a mile, and appeared to be about fifteen feet high. The other made a curve around me as if purposely to avoid my person, and may have considerably exceeded half the size. The rate of speed appeared to be from a moderate walk to a run, the rustling greatest at the top, the whole being similar to a water-spout on the ocean, though in this case composed entirely of leaves. In connection with this matter I may state, that in the dusk of evening a loud rapping was heard at the front door of a mansion in the village ; the lady of the house ', on opening it nearly swooned away in terror on be- holding before her at a distance of about four yards a giant some nine feet high. Her shrieks brought out her husband, who, on a closer examination, found it to be an Italian image vendor with his wares on his head and with the frame thereof had thumped at the door with a view of securing a night's lodging, being unable with his burden to stand erect within the por- tico. The lady had mistaken him for the giant spec- tre on an extended ramble from his bleak hill-top.
The Irishman spoken of, who had but recently land- ed at Philadelphia, and had come out here by the old
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York road, sought a situation at the first house in Willow Grove, and from motives of compassion the farmer engaged him through the summer. As it was near the beginning of May, his first work was picking stones in a field for grass on the top of the hill. He had not been at work long before he neared a worm fence, along which grew briers. Hearing a rustling among the dead leaves and grass therein, his attention was drawn to it, when a tortoise emerged and directed its course towards him. He, however, stood still, cau- tiously watching its movements as it continued to ap- proach, when within about four yards he unthinkingly raised his hands, which sudden movement caused it to stop and instantly draw in its head. This capped the climax, for it set him running down the hill, and he did not stop till he came to his employer engaged at plow- ing near the house, of whom he desired to know in the greatest excitement about "the strange four-footed baste yont that had swallowed its head!"
Near the brow of the hill, on the east side, is a re- markable ledge of rocks about forty-five feet high, from where a fine view is obtained looking in a northern direction. Tradition says that in the early time. of the settlement a wolf was shot here that had used it as a place of refuge. At the foot of these rocks are several low caverns, which have been entered fifteen or twenty feet. They are still in the midst of the forest, and be- fore the tall trees in their front were cut down, a re- markable echo would be produced by standing on the top of the ledge and making any sound. I have counted
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as many as ten or twelve repetitions. The echo is still here, though not so distinct as formerly. However, I am inclined to believe that when the present trees at- tain a sufficient size it will recover its former effect.
The eastern slope of the hill, including the vicinity of the rocks, is still covered with forest, as has already been stated, consisting chiefly of chestnut and oak. These trees thrive here quite vigorously, and are cut down about every twenty-five years, the sprouts being left to grow for a succeeding crop. By this method it follows that there are always dense thickets of young growing timber. These afford excellent harbors and breeding places for the ruffed grouse or pheasant, by which latter name it is more generally known, being our largest game bird. When surprised in their haunts they will start up a few yards before you and fly gen- erally in a rather low but direct line with an exceed- ingly loud whirring sound. They appear to fly heav- , ily, and the noise made by their sudden and unex- pected uprisings has frightened many a one who has traveled in the silence of night in those solitary and gloomy places where they abound. At times they are also addicted to "drumming," a most peculiar noise occasioned by the males while standing and striking their wings against their sides on the prostrate trunk of a tree, which can be heard with a low, tremulous roar throughout the woods at nearly a mile's distance, and with still more extraordinary effect here aided by the echo. This explains the doings of the noisy and turbulent spirit, with the report of ghostly thunder and
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tremulous, reverberating sounds. The remarkable echo was the cause of the taunting and repetition, and which the uninformed could not comprehend.
The light mentioned in the wood-pile that could not be extinguished by water, proved, on examination, to proceed from a large tulip-poplar stump emitting phos- phuretted hydrogen while undergoing decomposition, brought about by the heat and humidity of the weather. To try its luminous qualities, for experiment a piece about three inches square was detached, which, when held a few inches from the page, the smallest type by its aid could be read when all else around was in total darkness. The light depended entirely on the mois- ture; when that left the wood it disappeared. The wood of the chestnut oak, it is said, under favorable circumstances, will do the same. Suitable opportuni- ties to witness this display of light do not often occur, which tends to render it the more marvelous to the uninitiated.
During a violent storm that unusual phenomenon a water-spout occurred at Yerkes' dam in July, 1840, which drew up in its watery column a number of fishes, and then discharged itself on an adjacent hill more than half a mile distant. After it had subsided the people of the vicinity were astonished to find there specimens of the finny tribe, among them several catfish fully six inches in length. But a few years after the occurrence I stood by the side of this water and thought of the terrible commotion to which it had been subjected, to have so vast a column to issue from out its hitherto
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