Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-06-10
For tile Catocttn Clarion.
Fifty Years AGO.
"Reminiscences Dmd incidents Of Mechanicstosrn
fifty yedrs ngo-'cith sprinhhng gfa Woy
Hunt and its incidents.
EIcHENBAUM, June let, 1871.

IVY o's"yo--'cHh SpTtnhah3V W0J
Hunt and its incidents.
EICHENBAUM, June let, 1871.
From and inclusive of the stone
school house and the United Brethren
Church on the hill, running nearly up
to the mountain, was one dense and
unbroken igest, and as far down as
where the Railroad crosses the pike
mostly chestnut and oak, some Of 81
gantic size so was slso all (the now
cleared land) between the Railroad
Depot and Apples Church. The trees
were tall and dense, inlcrspersed with
many smalllakes and ponds--now dry
Persons were frequently lost in day
light, and many after night fall wan
dered about in it nearly all night
The spot where now stands Geo. II.
Johnson's store, running down to
Jones (not Falls) factory, thence up
and down the stream for many miles.
In 1916 J. Weller built a fitting forge
in which for a number Of years edge
tools and pump augurs were mahufac-
tured. About the same time J Con-
radt built large brick woollcn facto-
ry which was extensively carried on
for a number Of years: but in 1872
on its site was q. nail factory carried
on by i. Trosell-hails then were
made by hama-such rs cut nail was
nearly unknown, Higher up on the
stream WAS the mill now standing
still farther up was the saw mill of
Capt. Cot1rad Willhide. Then all was
blank except rocks and forest until
YOU reached lIarman'g. From the
bend of the pike to Landcrs' mill and
up towards Rouzcrs $ tannery all was
one dense forest, except few small
patches OF cleared land
The earth was covered and so full
of rocks thai no human being would
have supposed that ii would be cleared
in q hundred YEARS yet it ha, been
done, and its productions are manifest
! to all Young people nowadays
think old people were fools fifty years
ago, and did not live well. | will
open their i,telle"t / will Trove 10
the contrary, and speak from happy
expericnce--"o lived as tsol if not
better. Butter then vas ~ and II
cents, eggs and s, choice beef i and
>, chickens, no sale, (cat them) apples,
peaches, pears cEerries-no sale, cat
them. Then it was, come boy into
my orchard and get what you want ~
Now if you pick up IN apple, sue you
for it, pay fine and maybe imprison
YOU also. That's the difference be
tween fifty years ago and now. Every
other farmer had brew, (still house,,
and all the refuse apples, peaches, &c.
We're made into Llq'Ud Fire, and the
best was sold from IS to 25 cents per
gallon; now the same brings - 50
per gallon and moro drunkards, II
Pouse also had still house 50 had
Yonson but Pousc's land was one
stone pile. lie wes asked why he did
not remote them; he replied very
grufiy, Il didn't put them there SO
he stirred among them until he died,
and left his silver in hogshead Of
wheat" "und so wcider.'
Nov = ljttlg sptinkline Of a wolf
hunt nearly fifty years ago. There
dwelt in the mountains Capt. Harman,
and he had bosom friend who we
will call Christian neither hunted
wolves or bears unless they were to-
gcther So on q certain time they
concluded on a hunt ana proceeded
on and over the mountain beyond
Billy Hewitt's hougs; four miles or
more beyond Catoctin Furnace. On
a very high cliff cf rocks they discov-
cred the lair cf the male wolf where
he had lain the night previous; their
dogs also gave occular evidence of the
close proximity to the den, as they run
back, hair erect and tail down. A
dog is cowardly in the presence of a
superior enemy. So the Captain said
"Chrstlan go down (say $50 feet) and
make reconnaissance he did So
and the sequel will show the result
Down and down he went among the
crags and assures of the rocks, came tc
a large opening into which he crept
sliding along on his abdomen end
slipping his faithful rife by his side
After he gotsn about 100 feet; he was
confronted With one of the largest fe-
male wolves ever caught or killed in
these mountains. Death stared him
in the face in the most hideous form
he could neither advance or recedc, or
use his rifle Luckily in front some
feet Shere was an opening like chin
ney, to which the infuriated beast
rushed and up she scrambled. But
j Christian commenced to shout to the
Captain, "Ilere comes a wolf as large
as yearllng calf and it was. But
the Captain being one Of unerrine
shot, poised his rifle, and as she
emerged shot her dead, and she fell
back into the hole. They then took
her out and got eight yor1ng oncs be
side-called this Il good dag 8 work
and returned to your village.
At o subsequent period, Say sorty
years ago, the father q CAPT. Har