Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-23
A TRIP UP THE HUDSON.

Editor Repu blican.
DEAR SrR:-Having
few moments to devote 10 idlenoss
| thought ] would change the pro.
gramme and devote them to useful
ness, by communicating few words
to your valuable paper, only hoping
that l may interest its-readers for
awhile. No doubt but what a great
many of your readers have been eye
witnesses to the same l am about to
speak of, but for those that have nev-
er taken trip up the Hudson, where
"Painted flowers, trees upshooting hye,
Dales for shade, hills for breathing space,
River view and lake with smiling face,
Trembling groves and crystal running bye,p
abound, respectfully submit the fol-
lowing:
To begin, the Hudson has been
called the Shate-m the Mohegan,
tho Mauritius, tho Manhattan, the
Noordt Montaigne, the North River
and the River of Mountains. Its
present name was given il by the En-
glsh, and not by the Dutch as gener-
ally stated. Henry Hudson was an
Englishman, although he sailed from
a Dutch port, with Dutch crew and
Dutch vessel. The river was first
discovered in 1909. 1t is three hun
dred miles in length and varies from
one. half mile to three miles in width
The town of Amsterdam, New York }
at the mouth Of the river, was found
cd soon after, which is now the en-
pire city of America. Some great
sage of that period dreamed that the
good st. Nicholas, or some other good
man Of like nature, came riding over
the tree tops and descended upon
Manhattan Island, and "sat him down
and smoked" and the smoke ascend.
ed into the heavens and formed q
great cloud over the island. The sage,
seeing this, climbed to the top of ono
of the highest trees and looked around
him. Ho observed that the smoke
spread over a vast field, and, MS he
watched it move attentively, it as
sumed variety Of marvellous forms,
whore, in dim obscurity, he beheld
palaces, and domes, and lofty spires,
all of which lasted for q moment,
when tho curtain fell on the great
panorama. That dream is now q
pleasant reality, for domes and pal
aces and lofty spires cover the entire
island and large extent of country
around it. 1t is not necessary TO say
moro of New York, for likely most of
your readers have seen it in its pres
ent greatness. Those that have not
have perused better descriptions of it
than my pcn can portray.
Taking one Of the great Hudson
River streams, at tho foot of 34th
Street, we begin our voyage up the
river, "where every breeze breatbea
health, aand every sound is but tho
echo of tranquility" The first place
that attracts our attention, from the
great bustling city at our right, is tho
spot where tho duel took place be-
tween Hamilton and Burr. This place
is also noted for being the spot on
which the "Noble Red Nan" first in
dulged in "Local Option" and they
did not touch it lightly, either, and
they became 80 enamored after the
"fancy stirring bowl" that for many
moons thereafter they searched the
Hudson and its tributaries for the
fountain from which the "firo water"
issued. Every little brook and lake
was visited, every trickling rivulet
was tasted, but the clear cold water
only laughed merrily in their dusky
faces, and sweetly kissed their parched
lips as they stopped to drink of It's
purity. 1t was one OF these searches,
SO says tradition, that first brought to
light "The Springs" which are now
countenancod all over A merica. Well,
to return, we are now at point whorc
wo can see Washington Heights; and
further ON tho birthplace Of Mary
Phillipsie, of whom Washington bo-
camo enamored. The old manor is
yet standing. Further on, pt o place
called Tarrytown, reposcs all that's
left of Washington Irving. Here, al
30, is tho ground on which Major An
Dire was captured A monument,
bearing the following inscription, 10
erected on tho place:
"oS THIS sror
The 23d day Of September, 1880, the Spy
MAJOR JOHN ANDRE,
Adjutant General Of the British Army, was cap
tured by
JONI pluLpYo, Dvvip WILLIAMS AND isaac
VAN WARr.
History has told the rest
About three miles west from this
a
place is whcro Andre was "launcbed
| into etcrnity." Five miles further up
the rivcr is Sing Sing, where are i'm
prisonod nearly 1900 claw Trans
greasors," tho majority of which have
been sent up from Now York. The
steamer plonghs ahead, and brings us
10 stony Point whore, at o'clock
ono morning, Wayne pcnnod the briel
dispatch to Washington "Thc Amer.
ican Flag waves hero" Pcekskill