The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1857-01-16
nItsttlloup.
THE WHITE HORSE.
a rRutrALR or THE ALLHeuASr NOUN.
rAINs.


In the year Of 1918, the western por.
{ tion Of the great State Of Pennsy lvAnia,
embracing the mountainous region be-
tween Chambersburgh and Petersburgh,
presented little more than an uusubdued
aud uubroken wilderness. through which
ihe great road from Philadelphia 20 tho
head waters Of che Ohio. passed. anG At
that period, il was lonely and danger
Gus pathway to all wsyfsrers between the
eastern cities aud the great western viii
derness Of Ohio and Kentucky,
/ To the best Of my recollection, this
road passed over eve distinct and lofty
ridges Of mountains, with here aud there
a sparse settlemen. Of hardy mountain.
eors aud hunters, aud With occasionally,
between these infant settlements, some
solitary and remmote booths OF the wan.
dering hunters, deserted ruiaous aud for
lorn, except during the hunting season Of
the year OF all the solitudes IN the uni
verse, those seem che most deserted chill
ling and awiully alone, which bears the
marks of human habtation-and having
beer deserted by their former inmates
forever. OF the FIVE ridges over which
che road just mentioned, passed to the
westward, the middle ridge was by far
the highest, and was called by the wsg-
oners, the backbone by way Of pre-emi-
nence, and because the word Allegheny
IN the Indian language means the parent
or father Of mountains. From the cas-
tern brow of this lofty middle ridge,
where resided al the period speak of, an
honest. wealthy Pennsylvania Dutchmsn
whose name was Stotller, who kept pub
Inc inn-in viewing the rugged precipit-
Gus landscape 10 the eastward, the eye
was lost in bed Of interior ridges which
seemed TO extend to the very verge Of
the horizon like the waves OF some vast
ocean, beheld from a headlsnd or tower
ing mountain peak In fact, to make use
Of q poetioal figure, the whole surface Of
the eastern horizon seen from the eastern
brow Of the main Allegheny ridge, SEEM
ed like the pillows Of tumultuous ocean
in storm, suddenly arrested by the fiat
OF Omnipotence, aud fixed forever in their
various positions and aslitudesl The
whole scene was, indeed, sublime, be-
yond any power of language | can com
mSnd.
The house in which Stottlsr resided
was emphatically Dutch house, one sto.
Try high, framed and painted, with porch
along the whole front, and dormer win.
dows in the roof,
During the winter Of 1913, on a
journey between Philadelphia aud Pitts
Onrgh, | stopped at this orderly and we'll
regulated tavern, to reRain all night
There was much company there, in addi-
lion to those who arrived ~ the time
did, but il was Of An ordinary travelling
character, composed chiefly Of Western
merchants, and We we're not in the way
Of each other
Among the guests who surrounded
tho fire after supper, was = gentleman Of
apparently superior Information. aud who
seemed to be much Of literary chsrac-
tor; and the conversation happening to
turn on the dangers encountered by trav-
elers. he voluntarily related TO she COM
pany the following narrative, with the
assurance that il was true, and We all
listened with attention:
About year ago, said he. q genlo-
man we'll armed, from the direction OF
Pittsburgh and its adjacent rich stock
country stopped at thishouse with alsrge
drove Of fatened bullocks for the Balii-
more and Philadelphia markets, who said
it was bis intention to bring back the
proceeds in money, to pay up the con
Iracts-and that he probably would re-
turn; in such a length Of time. His
name and dress, and also the place Of his
residence have now forgotten but he
rode white horse Of superior power
aRd mention the peculiar color Of the
horse. because it was that which after
wards saved his life. Some weeks after
he had been, and about the time Of his
expected return. two Canadian French
men, on foot, we'll dressed and well arm
ed, one carrying a brace Of pistols, and
the other rife, came from the direction
Of Pittsburgh, and stopped At this house
for breakfast. They told Mr.. Stottler
that they had no money; that they we're
travelling TO Philadelphia, aud variety
Of other matters. and that they had lost
their horses. lie Immediately ordered
breakfast for them, and they ate heartily
conVersng At the same time in the
French language, aud in an underione,-l
One Of them Was large stout man, aud
the other was person Of less size, they
both had She air Of gentleuaen.
After they had breakfssted, they star
ted eastward, in the direction Of Phila-
delphia; there was light soft snow on
the ground and the walking WAS some.
what difficult They had not proceeded
more than two miles. when in the dis
tance. from a raising piece Of ground
they discoYeredA q traveller advancing to-
ward them on a white horse. This way
farer ard his white steed, they imagined
we're the objects OF their long and anK-
ious pursuit; aud no sooner was this fan
cied discovery made, thsn they sudden
! y turned their faces 70 the westward aud
appeared 10 be travelling in that direction
The solitary traveller on the white horse
soon overlook and aceosted them ia the
most friendly manner On beiug ques-
toned they told him they we're on their
way 10 Pittsburgh. and were destitute Of
the means Of defrAying their eKpeRces
and desired him 10 assist them onward -
His raplV WAS what ni0ht have baen eN-