USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 18
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almost unruffled bosom. I remember well for a con- siderable period thereafter how it formed a frequent matter of conversation by the residents of the vicinity, and deemed so extraordinary at the time as to note it. Whether any account of it appeared in the newspapers of that day I am unable to state.
The creature that generally walks, runs and swims on its back, and found in the quiet waters at the north- ern end of Horseheaven, is called the fresh water boat- man or the Noctonecta glauca of naturalists. It be- longs to the beetle family, of a pale greenish color, and is sometimes more than half an inch long. It is a common insect there in the meadows but its char- acter is not generally known. It possesses all the re- markable faculties mentioned and is readily discernable by a close observer. Thus does nature appear to abound in extraordinary vagaries, to delight, aston- ish, instruct and amaze its votaries, and even still more those addicted to the marvelous.
A goodly number of years ago as two journeymen shoemakers were returning at a late hour on a rapid walk through the cold to their home in the village from a protracted meeting at the Paper Mill school- house, they came on the enchanted ground, and as they neared the woods on the northern end of the hill, to their great consternation, on a sudden a flock of sheep who were reposing there sprang up before them like so many ghosts; one-half ran one way and the rest in an opposite direction, circling around them, disturbing as they ran the dead leaves that here lay
TRADITIONS AND WONDERS OF HORSEHEAVEN. 305
thick and adding still more to the noise. In vain did our young men stare through the gloom to see what it was. They knew that something with a great noise had positively appeared before and around them, al- most like a mist and had vanished in the distance, but what could it be? They had often heard of the giant spectre and of the noisy and turbulent spirit that was said to haunt here, and this was their first experience. With these impressions they went to bed to ponder on this sudden and unexpected adventure.
A friend of mine in passing this region on a fair summer's night, thought that at this season at least he would be secure from any annoyances whatever, but before he got off the summit a large horned owl assailed him in defence of her young, and in the first encounter brought out some flesh and blood from his face; the second cost him his hat, in which the bird had struck his talons, and flew off triumphantly into the woods. The result was not a headless but a hat- less return and a scarred face to be borne with for several weeks, thankful that it had not cost him his eyes.
I have now mentioned some of the terror-inspiring dangers that have attended human beings here, but there is too a small black and white striped animal that finds secure retreats in the neighboring rocks. It is quite likely that he also has been frightened in his nocturnal wanderings by some one or the other of those extraordinary sights, or why this taint in the air? Witness then ye of little or no faith to the wonders
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and marvelous traditions of Horseheaven! where for so long a period the ground, the rocks, the woods, the water, the trees, the leaves, the animals, the birds, the fishes, nay, sound itself and the very air, appear to be infected with enchantment.
Of late years while journeying from a homestead and awaiting the cars, I have stood on the platform of the station house at Hatboro, and for more than a hundredth time as I looked southward gazed with re- newed delight at the majestic view that is offered from there of Horseheaven. Its woods too at either end and the enchanted region or opening between them on its summit, appeared so distinct as to cause ad- miration. It may be well imagined as I there mused on those associations what a rush of recollections came over me. Though I may soon pass away and be forgotten, let the memories of this hill survive, yes, let them be cherished and my object herein will be ', accomplished.
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The Learned Blacksmith and the Enchanted Gun.
On the western slope of Buckwampun and beside the main road leading from Bucksville to Bethlehem resided a blacksmith who carried on his occupation there for many years with considerable success. Ow- ing to his education, literary tastes and varied attain- ments, besides the possessor of a library of several hundred volumes in several languages, he had be- stowed on him by the rustic people of his neighbor- hood the complimentary title of the "learned black- smith." He was born about the year 1773, near Wittgenstein, in Wirtemberg, Germany. He was sent early to school and almost continuously until his seventeenth year, and thus from the unusual facilities afforded him, besides a strong natural bent for study, acquired for said age and period what was deemed a good education. Several years before the Revolution three of his uncles had emigrated to Pennsylvania and settled in the townships of Springfield and Haycock, where they became the owners of fine farms and left flourishing families, noted for their industry, persever- ance and honesty. The name though numerous in
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Bucks to this day, has never been known to have been identified with any criminal cases in the courts; a record that any family may be well proud of.
Through correspondence with his uncles in Amer- ica, his parents finally consented that he too might emigrate, and thus he made the voyage, unaccompan- ied by relations, across the Atlantic, and arrived in Philadelphia in 1789, or the following year. With " German forethought he had been furnished with a tolerably good outfit, especially of clothing. He im- mediately sought his friends in Bucks county, and fi- nally made his abode with his uncle Henry, a black- smith and farmer, who resided in Springfield, on the road mentioned, about one mile to the northwest of Buckwampun. At the earnest solicitation of his rel- ative he consented to learn the blacksmith trade with him for which arrangements were entered into until he was of age. He applied himself diligently to his ', new calling, and it is needless to add when his four years had expired he was an excellent workman in the various details of the trade, considerable of which is no longer pursued in consequence of improved machinery and its competition with hand labor.
On the expiration of his time his uncle withdrew from the trade and leased to him the shop and fixtures, desiring to devote his attention in the future to farm- ing. The young smith secured an apprentice or two to aid him, and thus in a couple of years more, from the promising outlook afforded, married the daughter of a respectable farmer in Haycock. By the year
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1804 he had saved sufficient money to purchase a tract of twenty acres of land beside Buckwampun .. Here he at once erected a dwelling and smith shop, to which he removed. Prosperity still attending him with increase of business, by 1812 he purchased sev- veral adjoining tracts, comprising sixty-four acres lacking a few perches. It possessed excellent mea- dow, unfailing springs of purest water and thrifty chestnut timber. For greater convenience he erected fountains at his house, shop and barn, planted exten- sive orchards, enlarged his buildings, besides other improvements as circumstances demanded, and the whole in due time was paid for. He was also known as an ingenious mechanic, having made several in- ventions, for which had he applied he could have se- cured no doubt therefor patent rights. His skill be- came such that he was frequently called upon to go considerable distances for the erection or repair of machinery.
But in all this busy life he loved books, and his fondness for reading and study never forsook him. His library consisted chiefly of German and English works, relating to history, science, sacred literature and the standard classics. Five of his children at- tained to age, and he had them instructed in both the aforesaid languages and also in vocal and instrumental music. In consequence of his education, he origin- ated and materially aided in the erection of a commo- dious stone school-house in the vicinity, for which he long served as a trustee. The neighboring post office,
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though established near the beginning of the present century, through the neglect of those having it in charge, was taken away by the government, when, through his efforts it was re-established in 1823, and himself appointed post-master, and has been main -. tained ever since. About 1830, his eldest son, having learned the trade, assumed the charge of the shop, when he devoted himself more to the care of the farm, which for its size ranked among the most productive in the vicinity, as may have been judged by the amount of stock it supported. Owing to his years he disposed of the place in 1838, when he retired to a house and lot in an adjoining township, where he died in 1845 at an advanced age.
We have now given a sufficiently extended notice of the blacksmith as introductory to what is to follow, and deemed essential for the better understanding of the subject. In the year 1818, the occurrence of our story, there resided about a mile distant on a small farm a man whose given name was Martin. The place had been inherited by his wife from her father and entailed on her children. It was situated on the southern slope of one of the neighboring hills, from whence a fine view was afforded of this rolling section of country. He was passionately fond of hunting, and devoted near half his time to this pursuit. Early in the fall he would commence with squirrels, next in order would follow partridges, grouse or pheasant, and through the winter, foxes, raccoons, minks and muskrats, for their furs. The approach of spring
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THE BLACKSMITH AND THE ENCHANTED GUN. 3II
would bring with it immense flocks of wild pigeons, after which would commence shad and herring fish- ing in the Delaware and trout angling in Durham creek.
His home unfortunately was not a paradise to him, being his wife's domain or lordship, wherein she was disposed to exercise manorial rights to their full ex- tent. She desired him to stay at home and give up his hunting and fishing that things might go the bet- ter there. Though an easy mortal, and indifferent to rule, this he had no desire to do. Age had not mel- lowed her temper, hence so much the more increased his desire for being abroad. Fortunately his two eldest children were now over half grown and were beginning to assume the more responsible labors of the farm. To his children he was warmly attached, and they only loved him the more for his good nature. They long knew what scolding was, but he was not disposed to render them disobedient or to seduce them from home even to follow him on his hunting excursions. As lord and master of the farm she had assumed its entire control and management, and he was willing that she should retain it until the children should be sufficiently qualified to become her suc- cessors.
For the past ten years his wife had tried nearly all manner of means to induce him to forsake his favor- · ite pursuit, but had failed. She, however, still con- tinued bent on its accomplishment if possible. These efforts, with other matters, as may be supposed, be-
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came the subject of considerable gossip, even for miles around, particularly through their extensive relation- ship, both being the descendants of the oldest settled families in the neighborhood. From his location. he would extend his excursions to the Haycock, Krups- berg, Schwabenberg and Buckwampun, all good gun- ning resorts, particularly at this period for foxes, rac- coons, wild pigeons, and above all his favorite grouse or pheasants.
One December morning he left his home early and extended his journey to the Hexen Kopf, about seven miles distant and on this side of the Lehigh. Bad luck had attended him all this day; 'though he had often started up game and shot at partridges and grouse, not one did he bring to the ground, and with no bet- ter success the following days. This had never hap- pened before, and well might he wonder as to the cause. His gun was loaded with the usual care, and ', it was impossible to detect anything wrong about it; hence we need not be surprised that this now for the first time set him seriously to thinking. A thorough inspection of the gun and ammunition was made, but nothing out of the usual course could be detected. Pondering on this matter cost him several sleepless nights to arrive at some conclusion. He finally con- ceived the idea that his gun must have got bewitched or a spell put upon it by some evil-designed person or conjurer. In this emergency, unknown to any person, he sought the learned blacksmith of Buckwampun as the one most likely, through his general knowledge
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and mechanical skill, to aid him and have his favorite weapon restored to its former condition and excellence if possible.
A few days before Christmas he took his gun to the shop. The smith, his journeyman and apprentices were all busy, the latter shoeing horses and the former pre- paring the irons for a huge new Conestoga wagon body, destined for a six-horse team. After a brief conversation he called the smith to one side and with great concern told him what had befallen his gun, and requested him if possible to have it made right. The idea of its being bewitched was new to the smith, and his effort to conceal it brought forth a smile. "I am very busy," he said, "as you may see, and shall ex- pect to be so from the work on hand for at least the next eight days. I tell you what I will do; leave your gun with me until the afternoon of New Year's day, and I will in this interval try to give it a thor- ough examination and remedy it by that time if in my power." "I shall cheerfully wait until then," replied Martin, "and if possible will come after it at the time mentioned." "Is it loaded?" inquired the smith. "Yes, it is; but I can shoot it off." "No," replied the latter, "leave it as it is, and I shall carefully put it away where no one will disturb it until I can give it my attention."
Martin, with a troubled countenance, now started for his home on the flinty hill-side, worried at the thought of being deprived so long of its use, a circum- stance that had not happened him before for many
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years. It may now be well enough to describe his gun, it being then considered among the best. It was a rifled single barrel of extraordinary length that could carry if necessary an ounce ball. It was adapted espe- cially for shooting wild pigeons on the wing, grouse or any other game at some distance. It was of course a flint-lock, the percussion not having yet been intro- duced.
As was to be expected, to return without his gun and discard its services for a couple of weeks in early winter, must have caused astonishment to his wife. As is usual with hen-pecked husbands he was reticent, and for reasons best known to herself her curiosity was restrained. However, on this matter not a member of his household, or even a single neighbor or relation, was informed. The secret was confided alone to his long esteemed friend, the blacksmith. To the latter it becomes us now to revert, for under the circum- stances his position was peculiar. He gave the matter a deliberate consideration, and for various reasons deemed it prudent to have it kept confidential and the impression remain from the nature of his occupation that it had been merely left with him for repair.
In his first brief leisure he sought the gun in his chamber closet, and there carefully extracted the load, depositing the powder on a sheet of white paper. This he had determined to first minutely inspect. To his surprise, from several experiments, the powder seemed pure, of proper color, and with no sign of other ingre- dients to impair or affect its explosive power. He
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next placed some on a small iron shovel and applied fire. He now observed that its force was weakened, and that half its contents remained. This he preserved for further investigation within a few days. The re- sult was, strange to say, that it had been pure powder, but the taste confirmed to him what was the matter- a strong solution of alum had been poured over it and afterwards dried, thus necessarily affecting its ig- niting. The smith had for some time known about the gossip existing as to Martin and his wife. Thus not without some reason did he fix on the wife this ingenious method of impairing the virtue of his pow- der and have him believe that through his hunting so much lately in the vicinity of the Hexen Kopf his gun had become bewitched. Had it not been for his long intimacy with the blacksmith he would certainly have first gone in this emergency to Dr. Sailer, the noted conjurer living in that vicinity, who enjoyed a wide renown to ward off and expel such evil influences. The literal translation of Hexen Kopf is Witches Head, by which name it continues to be popularly known unto this day by the inhabitants of all the surrounding country, from the supposed influences of witchcraft prevailing there, and which had required all the efforts of the Doctor to keep within reasonable bounds of sub- jection.
The gun was also examined but not found materi- ally out of order, excepting wear and .tear through long continued use. The smith was now satisfied that Martin's inability to shoot with former effect was only
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owing to his powder being tampered with. If his wife was the party, the question arose what would be best now for him to do under the circumstances. Consid- ering well his position he came to a resolution prior to giving up the gun to make some effort to help keep. him in the future more at home, so as to lead to no additional ill feeling or suspicion towards his spouse or any other person. Satisfied that the man believed his gun bewitched and his incapacity to account for it otherwise, it set his inventive skill at work that this was the cause. In this connection thoughts occurred of an incident in his student life in Germany, which would now materially aid him in carrying out his de- sign, which from his busy life in America might have otherwise been forgotten.
New Year's from the earliest period of settlement in the upper end of Bucks county has been invariably observed as a holiday, chiefly devoted to visiting and ', recreation or amusement. As his shop was located on a well traveled stage and mail route, and much re- sorted to by neighbors and others either for gossip or business, especially at this most leisure period of the year, he concluded to get up an entertainment for the few he would invite that from its novelty would have occasion to be long remembered and be impossible for any one of them to solye. When all had been ar- ranged and planned, he informed those that he desired present to be at his shop on the afternoon of New Year's day at two o'clock, as he expected the occasion to be more than ordinarily interesting, but concerning
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which no questions must be asked. This coming from the learned blacksmith justly excited curiosity, but they knew enough of the man to obey injunctions and for so brief a time await results.
The day arrived clear and beautiful for the time of year, with a keen air from the north. The snow was about four inches deep, but the sleighing and walking were good, owing to a compact crust of ice under- neath, occasioned by a rain the week previous. No work was done in the commodious shop, but the fires were maintained for the comfort of the assemblage, be- ing more than the house could have well accommo- dated, and the presence of women might have inter- fered somewhat with the general good humor that was prevailing on this particular holiday. Just before two o'clock Martin arrived, and he had not been there long before he called the smith aside to inquire about the gun, exhibiting some anxiety in the matter. He was informed that there was no doubt the difficulty could be readily removed if he could be induced to follow a few simple rules-to carry the gun on his shoulder, as would be shown him, and proceed up the road as far as the big chestnut tree, thence return to the shop, walk leisurely and count carefully his steps each way, allowing nothing whatever to divert his attention there- from, and report to him. To insure this he must go alone, and the success of the experiment be not marred or interfered with by others. He readily consented to do this, the smith stating that the object thereof should not be communicated to any one present.
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After this conversation the smith invited him to the house, and brought from upstairs the gun, which he gave him. "You observe," he added, "the flint and the ram-rod I have retained, but will give you on your return. It was necessary for me to take them out for my investigations." Martin placed the gun on his shoulder and started on his walk up the road for the chestnut tree, no doubt wondering while on this errand why his friend should have required so singular a re- quest, and what that would have to do with having his gun restored to its former excellence. Martin's route lay on his homeward way, and those who from the shop windows saw him start of course expected that was now his object. Soon after the smith entered the shop, where was a merry crowd busy in joking and story telling, and a few of whom were wondering, from what had been intimated, what would turn up on this day out of the usual course.
The smith had not been a minute in this assemblage when was heard the report of a gun, the expected an- nouncement to him of an extraordinary beginning. He looked northwards through the window, and ob- served Martin over half way on his journey, intent on its faithful performance. Another report was heard. "Who is shooting?" shouted some of the number, rushing out and looking up the road, but seeing no one except Martin apparently going homewards, with his gun as usual on his shoulder. Another report, and out rushed the remainder followed by the smith. Mar- tin had now reached the tree and was on his return to
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the shop. While they were looking at him another report followed, when half way still another, and when within a few yards a repetition. Some laughed and shouted and others looked on in dread and amazement, not knowing what the result might be from such a be- ginning. Martin was deaf to all that was said, looking neither right nor left, but bent on reaching his starting point, when came another report.
The eager and excited crowd now pressed onward, asking him a dozen questions at once as to his gun and this kind of shooting on New Year's. "How should I know," replied Martin, "unless it is be- witched." "Who loaded your gun?" shouted several. "How should I know more about that than it should shoot seven times within the last fifteen minutes with- out either a flint or a ram-rod?" Here was surely a mystery before their own eyes, causing them to al- most doubt their own senses. "Have you been to the Hexen Kopf?" was the next query. "Oh, yes, I was several times up there gunning within the last four weeks." "It has got bewitched there; you will have to go to Sailer to have it taken off, for who else can check such evil workings?"
The gun was cautiously scrutinized by several, but nothing unusual appeared about it. Apprehensions, however, were entertained, and not without some rea- son, that no matter how quiet it might be just now its shooting propensities, from what they had just wit- nessed, might return at any time. Martin stated that it had certainly behaved very curiously in the past
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four weeks, and that the present capers might arise from a disposition for a New Year's frolic. As might have been expected, a most profound impression was produced on every one present from such extraordi- nary and unheard-of proceedings, and well might it for years thereafter form a matter for serious conversa- tion as to its cause.
Martin and the smith went into the house, where the latter returned the flint and ram-rod. The former stated that he believed he had now faithfully carried out his instructions; that he had made four hundred and nineteen paces from his starting point to the tree and four hundred and twenty-three on his return. "That is very well," said the smith; "I will now fur- ther desire that you take the gun as it now is home and let it stand exactly four weeks with its muzzle downwards, where no one will disturb it. Then pur- chase new powder, and if not found right I will be in fault. As to the shooting that has just transpired, it is nothing more than working out from its system all the evil propensities that have accumulated therein now far some time, and the result will be its complete pu- rification and restoration."
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