The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII, Part 8

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438

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hundred feet of this passage had barely descent enough to carry it off. Having followed it some 20 or 30 yards through a small opening in the rocks, we were obliged to turn back, and soon discovered a small opening to the right, which we penetrated and found a narrow as- cending passage about two feet wide of a regular curve, which brought us into a beautiful room, the floor of which is one solid rock, which, from its shape appears to have fallen from the roof which is 15 or 20 feet high.

Here we took some refreshment, and wrote our names on half a sheet of letter paper and placed it upon the wall, then fired a gun to try the effects of powder-the whole mountain appeared to tremble, and we were al- most deafened with the tremendous report, which was re-echoed, from the top to the bottom of this great cavern. This apartment we designated as Fayette Hall. On the north side of this room and about six feet above the floor, we discovered an opening, which we entered, the roof, sides and floor of which was quite smooth; after going down this passage upwards of 100 feet, we found another large avenue, near 30 feet wide, 50 or 60 feet high, and about 400 yards in length; here we found a considerable collection of white spar, and the stream of water running the whole length of the avenue, after which it passes through a small aperture in the rock. We arrived at the bottom a quarter before seven o'clock, when we again took some refresliment. We now commenced our retreat, which we found very tiresome and difficult. Being anxious to examine the curiosities of nature we had neglected to pay proper attention to our course, and soon discovered that we were off the course; however we found no difficulty in righting ourselves. We each procured a small quanti- ty of spar, as a testimony of our perseverance. Having ascended the flats, we began to search for our hats, which we had left there as we passed down, and soon discovered that one of them had been removed, but to no great distance. This was some hundred yards from the mouth of the cave, though we did not give the mat- ter a second thought, but proceeded on unmolested to the entrance, where we arrived at ten minutes after eight in the evening. We were about 1500 feet per- pendicularly below the entrance. The temperature was agreeable. The air appeared to move downwards with the water. The rocks, for a considerable depth, are of blue sand stone; next they appeared to be of limestone; and still lower they could scarcely be term- ed rocks being of very fine sand clodded together in great masses, and could be broken with the bare hand.

The archies of the avenues are formed by the rocks meeting (thus _ ) in the middle of the roofs, and ex- tending the whole length.

Persons visiting this wonderful curiosity cannot be too careful of their lights, as it would certainly prove an utter impossibility to get out without the assistance of light. We werc informed in the neighborhood by an eye witness to the fact, that two young men, Crain and Merrifield, had went in to a considerable depth, and returning, lost their course and wandered about till their candles were all burnt out. When they were found, two days after, they were resigned to their fate, and one of them not able to speak. We saw the name of "Crain" written on the rocks in a very remote part of the cave, dated 1802.

As we were proceeding homewards, we discovered that one of our hats had been furiously attacked by an unknown enemy, and some half a dozen pieces taken entirely off the rim. We were not able to recognize him from the marks of his teeth.

REVOLUTIONARY ANECDOTE. From the Boston Transcript.

MR. EDITOR, -The following anecdote of the Revo- lution was related to me some years ago, by an old revo· lutionary character of undoubted veracity-and as I have never seen the same any where in print, it may serve at least to entertain a number of your readers, as

REVOLUTIONARY ANECDOTE.

1831.]

well as to illustrate the daring and hazardous spirit which marked the American character in those days.

It is well known, that the almost unparallelled vigi- lance of Washington, caused him to place spies in every part of the country where they could be of any service, even among the enemies' camps; and during the time that the city of Philadelphia was . garrisoned by the British army, an old confidential Frenchman of this cha- racter was placed somewhere in the lower part of the city. The American army at the time, I think, lay at Valley Forge. To this old Frenchman Washington very much desired to send a communication, and his just and honest spirit persuaded him that the enterprize was so dangerous that his conscience could not force him to impose it on any one; for he knew if the person was taken, he would be immediately hung by the Bri- tish General. He therefore inquired of Colonel John- son if he knew a man worthy of trust-of competent skill and knowledge, who would be willing to undertake a very difficult and dangerous enterprise, for a hand- some reward; at the same time, explaining the nature of the undertaking to Col. J .- Col. Johnson replied that he knew a man, who, he thought, might answer his purpose; for as to presence of mind and courage, he was not surpassed by any man in the country-and he was no other than a serjeant in his (Col. J.'s) regi- ment.

"Well," said Washington, "send him to me early in the morning." By the peep of day the man was there -Washington was immediately informed that a ser- jeant of the army wished to speak to lim. The Gen- eral was already up, pacing his room, and ordered the man to be shown in, who entered just as he was taking his seat. Washington desired him also to be seated- upon which without delay, the General said to him- "Well, my brave fellow, I have sent for you for the pur- pose of asking you to undertake a very difficult and hazardous enterprise-and deem it so much so that I cannot impose it upon you; you must undertake it of your own consent, for if you do not succeed, your lite will be the forfeit; but if you do, your fortune will be made."-"May it please your honor," said the serjeant, "what is in the power of man to do, I will dare attempt, for your honor's sake, and the American cause." Wash- ington then informed him of his wish, the risk he had to encounter, and proceeded to suggest to him the kind of disguise he would have to use. The serjeant seem- ed to be glad it was no worse, begged leave to choose his own mode of dress, to which Washington immedi- ately consented.

him a passport to go into the city. The farmer was well acquainted in the town and knew almost where every body lived in those days. He went at a slow pace down Market street, to the corner of Sixth, where the Schuylkill Bank now stands; and where at that time resided an old Refugee. Dismounting from his well loaded horse he hitched him to a post and knocked lustily at the door. Who should appear but the Refugee himself, who was delighted to see such an abundance of good provand. Suspecting, however, some disguise about the matter, he proceeded to ask some questions of his residence and neighborhood, which being an- swered satisfactorily, procured for him an invitation into the house, with his whole stock in trade: the price being fixed to every thing, the panniers were soon emp- tied of their contents, not leaving a single article behind. The worthy host, on paying the farmer his money, re- quested him not to leave it long before he came again, and to be sure to come to his house first. "Yes, friend, I shall certainly do so, for thou hast been very kind to me," returned the old Quaker, and took his leave. Putting his horse up at one of the inns, without much delay, he leisurely walked down to the old Frenchman's, who kept a kind of drinking house for the soldiers, and which on his arrival the old farmer found filled with red coats, drinking and frolicking; after a few moments, the way being opened to the bar, he asked "if the landlord was in?" He was answered "no" but he would be in directly; upon which the old man called for a pot of ale, and set himself down at a small table, near to a door which opened a passage to the back part of the house. He had not been long seated, before a singular looking old gentleman came in, and passed through the crowd without speaking to any one, directly to the inside of the bar-after asking a few questions, the bar keeper told him that there sat an old farmer that wished to speak with him. Without seeming to notice the remarks, he turned to some other business which seemed to be of much more importance. But a proper time having elapsed he took a suitable occasion to walk out at the door by which the old farmer had placed himself, and as he passed out, he beckoned to the farmer to follow him; which in the space of a moment or two was com- plied with. The Frenchman quickened his step, up a back winding stairs, followed by the farmer, into a small room; which hardly looked asif it belonged to the house. Both having entered, the Frenchman shut the door, turned the key and put it in his pocket. He next went to a little chest, or box, which he unlocked, and taking out a pair of horseman's pistols, he laid them on a table, and covered them with his pocket-handker- chief-all this time not saying a single word. But now he requested the farmer to take a seat, and sat himself down very coolly by the table on which lay the pistols. Then raising his small black eyes, which peered out from under a pair of dark heavy eyebrows, he observed to the farmer, "I understand you have some business with me." The farmer answered he did not know that he had. "You say you have no business with me?" rejoin- ed the Frenchman. The other replied "no, I dont know that I have." At this the Frenchman seemed much dis- concerted, and repeated the question the third time, which was answered as before. A dumb silence now fell over both parties-at last the Frenchman, a little more hurried in his manner, rose from his table, went to a closet in a corner of the room, and opened a small drawer, which was privately fixed for the purpose, and took out a bundle of letters which were subscribed by General Washington. Holding the back of one before the eyes of the farmer he asked him if he knew the handwriting; "Yes, that I do, and now I know you are the very man that I wished to see. " "Tis well for you," answered the Frenchman, for if I had been mistaken, clapping his hands on the pistols, "these should have put an end to your existence." The serjeant now being sure of his man, pulled out the letter, addressed in a

The serjeant was again to appear the next morning, before daylight; which he did not fail to do, disguised as an old Quaker farmer, with his long cue cut off. His broad brimmed hat, and long waisted coat, were dusted over with flour, to suit a pair of old, once fair topped boots, and a pair of old rusty breeches, He led by his hand a tolerably sleek horse, over whose back hung a pair of panniers or kind of wallet, the sides of which were well stowed with butter, eggs, chickens, and cheese. When Washington beheld him, he could not help putting on one of his usually grave smiles, at the same time handing him a letter addressed to the old Frenchman, which he took good care to conceal some- where about the trappings of his horse. Thus accoutred, he set out for the British lines, and appeared there just as the day was dawning. The guard halloed, "who goes" and called for the countersign-the poor old far- mer knew no countersign, but that of counterfeiting the alarm of a man who was in expectation of being shot every moment. But he cried out in rather an under tone, "not to shoot him, he was an old farmer, stealing into the city with a little marketing in order to procure some few necessaries for his family, who were all lying very sick-and as for those senseless Americans, they have neither money nor any thing else." The plan took admirably; the sentinel passed him through the line to the officers' quarters, who after a few inquiries, gave | peculiar way to the spy, in the handwriting of Wash-

IMPORTANCE OF THE COAL TRADE.

[JULY

ington, and was immediately opened and read. "I un- derstand it," said he, and you will amuse yourself as well as you can for the space of an hour, and then call here, when I will be ready for you." The serjeant still in disguise, then left him and walked up to Market street, down Market to Fourth street, on the south side, passing what was then well known as the Red Lion tavern, which was almost filled with British soldiers; as he passed to his great surprise and alarm, he was met, not far from this tavern, by one of his old ac- quaintances-a deserter from his own company! who hailed him with "d-m it, Jack, is that you?" The serjeant now thunderstruck seeing he was discov- ered, with admirable presence of mind, took no notice of the call, but walked slowly until he turned a corner of the street, then quickening his pace, he took the most zigzag course he could find down again to the old spy, instantly telling him that he was discovered, and unless he could be somewhere secret- ed, he would lose his life. The old spy, almost as much alarmed as the other, in the twinkling of an eye sprang to a very deep cellar, which was well filled with wood, and opening a large hole in the middle of it, ordered the sergeant quickly to jump in, and not attempt to come out, until he came to his relief. He then piled up the wood as it had been before, and very deliberately walked into the bar-room.

Scarcely had he attended to some little matter, before a small company of British soldiers entered in pursuit of an old Quaker farmer. The Frenchman told them that an old man of that description had been there a short time before, called for a pot of ale, and went away. The soldiers, notwithstanding, proceeded to examine the house-turned over all the beds, and exa- mined all the closets they could find; went even down into the cellar where the serjeant had the satisfaction to hear them pass up without him-uttering the most dreadful imprecations. They then left the house and went some distance, trying to trace the farmer further, but hearing nothing more of him, returned again to the old Frenchman's, and swore he must be in that house somewhere, and fell again to examining it as they had done before, and, if possible, even more thoroughly; but finding no trace of the Quaker farmer, they at length gave up the pursuit. For three long days the serjeant remained in his hiding place, being, however, well sup- plied by the old spy; at the end of which time, the bat- tle of Germantown took place, when all the lines were broken up, the gates of the city thrown open, and crowds of people went out to see the engagement. The old Frenchman hastened to the cellar, told the serjeant now was his time, and to pass out with the general tumult- which he did only losing his horse, (which he never knew what become of,) for a handsome and liberal re- ward.

COAL TRADE.

EXTRACT FROM AN ORATION DELIVERED AT POTTSVILLE, JULY 4, BY JOSEPH LYON,

And published at length in the Miners' Journal.

"Let us for a moment advert to the enduring honor, that enterprise and labour has achieved in the Coal Re- gion, on the Lehigh, Lackawana, Susquehanna, and here on the Schuylkill.

If we applaud him "who produces two blades of grass where only one grew before," what shall be said of the men who have converted worthless and howling wildernesses into scenes of trade and industry, of con- sumption and production, that yield in importance to the foreign commerce of very few of the sea-ports of the Union.

'The navigation on the Schuylkill alone, built and building, exceeds 20,000 tons, and will employ more than 1500 men and boys, and more than 500 horses and mules.

In a season of eight months, we last year shipped from

Schuylkill county, 218,000 tons of coal, filling a fresh water tonnage (counting our ton as a government ton) equal to all that was filled in 12 months, (ending in Sep- tember 1831,) by the aggregate of the foreign com- merce of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia; yet Schuylkill claims but one portion of this new object of enterprise, in which already are labouring, thousands of the hardy sons of Pennsylvania, native and adopted, wherever there is severe work, wherever there are dangerous undertakings, there do we find our adopted sons-this is no new thing with them-the battles of our revolution-the battles of our last war, were all severe and dangerous jobs-and there were they, shedding their blood with ours: They were here with us in the Coal region in the days of its wilderness-and may we now long enjoy together, its advancing prosperity,-in all harmony and happiness.

Is the coal trade to be for the sole benefit of the land owner and the collier? No, nor is there any portion of our home trade, either among the vast or the minute, that does not advance many other trades, and in many instances create new trades altogether -- and all tending to establish our political independence, on foundations that will not be shaken.

This beneficial and wide spread influence, is perhaps as apparent in the Coal Trade as in any other; it draws its vast supplies of horses, mules, cattle and pork from the far west, its fish and incessant supplies of oil from the near and distant fisheries of the east, its intermina- ble wear and tear of clothing from the manufactories of the wool of the north, and of the cotton of the south; it consumes vast quantities of iron, foreign and domestic, and its provender and provisions come from far and near; it paid last year more than $200,000 for toll on the canal, and more than a quarter of a million of dol- lars freight.

There is no department in the aggregate of the mighty home trade of the U. States, that is not inter- twisted with many others, all consuming in unbounded abundance, the products of our own soil and of our own skill and labor; this forms the enduring basis on which rests our independence, practical and political; no fo- reign power can overturn it, no foreign force can reach it."

PRESENTMENT

OF THE GRAND JURY OF THE MAYOR'S COURT. JUNE SESSIONS-1833.

The Grand Inquest of the commonwealth of Penn- sylvania, inquiring for the City of Philadelphia upon their oaths and affirmations, respectively do represent-

1st. The editors, publishers, and venders of two weekly papers, published in this City, under the titles of "The Tickler," and "Quizzical Register," whose indecent, libellous, and scurrilous publications, are calculated seriously to impair the public morals, endan- ger the public peace, promote domestic broils, and in many instances, jeopard the happiness of individu- als and their families. These together present an evil of so serious a character, that the Grand Jury cannot, consistently with the duty they owe to their fellow citi- zens, and with the qualifications they have taken, avoid expressing their unanimous conviction, that the afore- said licentious publications ought immediately to be corrected, being derogatory to the dignity and order of a well-regulated community.

2d. The assemblage of young men and boys at the corners of our streets, particularly on Sabbath evenings, is a subject which we think demands the notice of our police and courts. Besides the direct mischief which results to the morals and habits of our youth, the order and peace of the community is frequently violated-re- spectable citizens are insulted; and females, protected or unprotected, are often violently assaulted, and sub- jected to filthy jests and imprecations, or to witness obscenity in some of the most disgusting forms.

PRESENTMENT OF GRAND JURY

1833. ]

The existence of what may be termed Juvenile Thea- tres, established in obscure places, is also a source of much injury to the youth of both sexes; the price of admission being low, and where unlimited license is afforded for every vicious indulgence. They are often visited by stealth, and the money paid for admission must be known by those who receive it, to have been very often dishonestly acquired, as the visitors are of an age and a class not to have money of their own.

3d. The block of buildings bounded by Vine and Sassafras and Water and Front streets, the Inquest are of opinion presents a nuisance of a very serious nature, and which may prove detrimental to the public health. There are in this block 29 houses or tenements, con- taining 94 families, consisting of 472 individuals. These houses generally cover all the ground belonging to the premises. in many of them are residing six families each, and they have not the convenience of a privy, nor a situation in which one could be placed: they are al- most without ventilation: the tenants are compelled to use vessels of various kinds, which are emptied, either into the streets and gutters, or into the neighboring docks.

The Grand Jury bring this subject into view in the expectation that measures may be adopted to abate this nuisance, and compel all persons who may in future erect dwellings, to reserve as much ground as will enable them to construct suitable conveniences in the open air.

4th. The Grand Jury further present as a serious evil, the granting of licenses for inns and taverns to persons who are notoriously deficient in the necessary room and furniture, and to an extent, in the opinion of Inquest, entirely uncalled for, either for the accommoda- tion of travellers or the transaction of public business, and very frequently to persons who habitually and openly violate the laws-tempting many of our youth to be- come intemperate, and to the great detriment of the public morals.

As no other Grand Jury than that of the Mayor's Court is now permitted by law to visit the Eastern Pen- itentiary, we deemed it a duty to inspect that Institu - tion.

To all our inquiries, the Warden, Mr. Samuel R. Wood, returned prompt and satisfactory answers-a frank and open disposition was manifested to exhibit the prisoners, and every part of the establishment ;- and we can scarcely speak of the plan of the buildings, which are so admirably adapted to the security, com- fort, and reformation of the convicts, as well as of the economy and entire management of this prison, in terms of tuo high praise.

The visit to the House of Refuge has impressed the minds of the Grand Jury with emotions of opposite kinds-of regret, that any causes should exist in so- ciety, especially the want of proper parental example and instruction, for the committal of offenders of so tender years-but as the necessity does exist, of grati- fication, that the liberality of the Commonwealth and their fellow citizens, has reared and sustained an Insti- tution in which religious and moral instruction is so am- ply afforded; where so strict attention is paid to the health and comfort of the inmates; where habits of in- dustry are cultivated and enforced; and where the children are fitted from their various occupations to be- come industrious and useful members of society. The Grand Jury cannot close their remarks on this subject, without observing that the amount of expenditure to sustain this establishment, is amply repaid by the bene- fit conferred on the community ;- and they feel that there is a debt of gratitude due to the respectable gen- tlemen who devote their time and talents to the manage- ment of this their interesting charge.

The promiscuous intercourse of the inmates of the Arch Street Prison is degrading and demoralizing in the extreme-there may be seen white and coloured prisoners intermingled, who are charged with every VOL. XII.

variety of offence-the man who has been unable to meet the expenses of a quashed indictment, and he who stands charged with the crime of murder, are made as- sociates-the extremes of vice, as well as color are here completely blended.

The wretched and disgusting condition which the majority of the prisoners exhibit, awakens a most fear- ful apprehension of a revisit of that awful scourge, which so recently swept so many of its unhappy inmates into one common grave. Some of the prisoners placed here upon trial, and some as witnesses for petty offen- ces, are kept for weeks and months in their filthy and scanty raiment, before they receive their trial. Others, in whom the sense of decency is not extinct, divest themselves of every article of clothing, except just suf- ficient to hide the extreme of nakedness, in order that they may appear atleast decent when brought out of prison for trial.

With the question of guilt or innocence we have no- thing to do; but we think that humanity, as well as com. mon sense, decides, that it is demoralizing in the last degree, thus to unite the suspected with the convicted, the extremes of vice as well as color in the same com- mon herd.

The Grand Inquest for the City intend no reflection either upon the keepers or inspectors-they know that these gentlemen deplore equally with the Inquest the existence of these evils-the defect, the mischief, is in the system, and not in the management. It is proper to remark, that the only separation is that of the sexes. The Debtor's Apartment could be improved by greater attention to its cleanliness.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII, Part 8

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 438

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438