The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-04-09

OF Doors n A. 1oV1-1H4 FALL OF the SONS Oh
Lo1DIx xn1.
In the heart of forest Of stunted
trees in Burlington County, New Jersey,
eighteen smoke-blackened chimneys,
standing as head-stones over the ashes
Of as many once happy homes, tell the
sad story of the utter desolation of a
hundred years ago. Batsto stood at
the head Of Little Egg Harbor, or Null
Inns River. 1t clustered about roman
tic crystal lake that takes an oval shape
in the fringing foliage, and mirrors a
sky of blue in a frame of green. The
Indians bathed in its cool, deep water,
and called it Batsto-a bathing place.
The Quakers settled around it, and one
of their number built an iron furnace
on the brink Of its outlet. His name
was Ball, and an iron plate which was
fastened in the stone wall recorded the
building of the second iron furnace in
the new county in l776: The other be-
ing in the present Warren county. The
forest region about Batsto was dotted
with piles of wood, covered with sand,
and many men found employment burn
ing charcoal for the furnace Under
the Quakers the work of improvement
went vigorously on. Rude log cabins
were built along the lake and tenanted
by Industrious pioneers. The revolu
ton broke out and the Quaker foundry
men were called on to supply the army
with ordnance. The peaceful sect re-
fused to aid in the bloodshed, and turn
ed the applicants away. But at length
their patriotism overcoming their pref
udices they made rude moulds and night
and day kept their fires burning, and in
the ashy soil about Batsto to-day are
buried many of the cannon balls which
they cast. The traditions Of the can.
non made by Quaker Ball give to them
a destructiveness scarcely surpassed
by any modern weapon. They never
shot where they were aimed, but the
balls crashing into the tanks Of the
British when intended for their front,
ploughed murderous furrow wherever
they struck. An old nine FOUNDER is
preserved in Batsto still, another that
remained from the old foundry burst as
it was being fired on the Fourth Of July,
many years ago, and killed four young
men. The old foundry sent out the iron
fence around the State House in Phila-
delphia and many other Revolutionary
castings.
AYEUDAL LORD IN NEW JERSEY.
, Working for Quaker Ball, was al
young Welshman, William Richards.
At the Quakers death he succeeded
him, and added to the little village
wealth. He paid the passage Of emf
grants and made them his retaincrs.
On the knoll above the lake stands the
stone mansion he built. 4Ox50 feet,
with two-story wings. A large oak
trimmed dining hall forms one wing.
the dwelling bears the stamp of an i'm
itation of an English manor, and ira
dition gives to the owner aspirations
equal to those Of q feudal lord. Under
William Richards the foundry prosper
ed. A town was laid out, and the
streets were lined with tallow and but
trees. A two-story brick store
was near the house. An Office, ware
house, two large stone stables, and
many dwellings, were erected. The
oundry furnace was burned out in the
active use, and in 1889 it was rebuilt,
Ind again in 1910. In 1919 William
Richards died. He left six sons, Jesse,
Benjamin, George, William,
md Augustus. Jesse, at thirty years
Il age, took his fathers business and
Ms brothers moved away. Benjamin
'ecame mayor Of Philadelphia but the
'thsrs were lost sight Of Young Rich
,rds had inherited his fathers love of
'ower. and he ruled Batsto as princi-
'ality. From the old mansion, which
vas then known as It is to-day as the
liz House, he could look down over
he town and watch the inhabitants at
heir work or in their sport. He ex-
ended his power. and bought up SO. 600
cres of land, including what il now
.tlsatc county, and embracing what (