The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-29
SPECTER ON HORSEBACK.

SPECTER ON HORSEBACK. =.
The Fiery Torch that startles westcheste,
Valley.
New York Mercury. ....' H.. ... ..s. 81
The descendants of the ancient Dutch
settlers of Sleepy Hollow are exercised
over the pranks of q modern "Hessian
horseman,' whose mysterious vagarles
are not unworthy the hero of Mr.. Knick-
erbOcker's chronicle This sequestered
valley begins at the intersection OF the
Croton Aqueduct with the Bedford road,
in moth Tarrytown, and extends north
erly about two or three miles. Its very
heart lies between the southern extremity
OF the valley and an ancient mill pond,
from which ice is collected in winter.
The highway between these two points
Is very undulating, but not hilly, and in
length about one and quarter miles.
A few weeks since, between nine and
ten o'clock on a very dark night, the
clatter of hoofs was heard along the val
ley road from the south. The few who
peered through the windows expecting to
see runaway horse, caught glimpse of
what seemed to be
A BLAZING HAND OF FIRE,
Borne by an underlined figure on horse
back, winch went flashing past with the
speed of locomotive and eventually dis
appeared in the direction of Harris ice
pond. After brief interval the clatter
Of hoofs was once more heard, and as the
thunder echoes rolled among the hills the
flaming light burst again into view,
and the apparition swept by into the
darkness with the same speed as before.
Those favored with the best advantages
OF eye-si ght and position say that the COB
lin or horsewas of remarkable speed, and
IN no respect bore resemblance to the hu-
man form. What seemed shoulders it
had, but no head, except that a hideous
tsce rested on its front, or-if the figure
had been that OF man-ln the place
where the chest ought to be, From the
supposed shoulders streamcd low mass
OF shagginess like to the
TERRIBLE NAME OF "A BUFFALO BULL.
Then out ofand above this spectral figure
rose burning torch, which cast lurid
glare on surrounding objects and left be-
hind it an odcr generally thought to
SAVIOR of SUI phur, but by few to smell
something ike kerosene. Nearly week
had passed by before the mounted appa-
rltlon put in an appearance. The subject
began to he even little stale among the
honest burgres of the Hollow, when sud-
denly one evening, about the same hour
as before, he came again on the scene.
This time he advanced from the direction
OF the pond, and on reaching the house
of Mrs. William Karl he wheeled at a
short angle, cleared the front picket fence
at bound. -: ..''
SHOT AROUND THE HOUSE.
And back into the highway again, and
out of sight before the family, who were
sitting ON the porch, could recover their
senses. On this occasion the goblin con-
tinucd to swerve from thestrai ght, metero-
&c course OF his first visit, and swept down
the valley in zigzag direction, through
barn-yards, gardens and pickle patches,
regardless alike Of the dismay occasioned
on all sides among the people and poul-
try. .. .... = No.. - e..
Mr.. George s. Rice is farmer who re-
sides about mile distant from the main
road, on the westerly side of the valley.
His dwelling is embowered in trees, prin-
clpa:ly evergreens, so that the view is
much obstructel on all sides. On this
special evening his family and some
friends were sitting on the front porch.
engaged in conversation, when the .-
HEAD LIGHT OF THE SPECTRAL. HoRsEMAN
Flashed on their astonished vision, as his
steed skipped over side gate and thun-
dered across one end of the piazza, taking
the direction of the barn-yard, where he
put to flight herd of kline, and then CO.
ing over six foot gate was soon out of
sight Mr.. Rice's man Patrick was in tho act
OF milking COW, and in the tumult which
followed he was stretched prone on his
back. Partially recovering his senses,
and grasp1ng his m1lking-pail convul-
sively, he fled into the barn, under the
impression that he ought to run some
where, and was soon afterward found bv
Mr.. Rice reclining on the hay. much
shaken bodily and mentally.
"What did it look ike2'' asked Mr.
Rice. .,: - =,
"The loikes of it, is it7' asked Pat.
4Bedad, l reckoned me time had Gene.
Whln that big lanthern went whizzin,
through the yard thought mateor had
fell in among the cattle, sure. was
milkin' the red-faced cow just then, and
the poor craythur was so bediviled she
sint me sprawlin', and tho full OF the pail
was scatthered all over me. But. be the
powers it did lape the tinces nately," ad-
ded Pat. g.gar ~
And 80 it went for two weeks longer.
On some dark night the pranklsh rider
would perhaps be discovered careering
through Isaac Mead's or some other coin
field, to the great detriment of the roast
ing ears; and after vaulting easily over
q pig sty or hennery and half-dozen ex-
ira high gates, leave, as usual, for parts
unknown. Such provoking, as we'll as
mysterious ghost was hardly ever known,
and so thought the slightly terrified and
exasperated farmers, who at last confer
red as to the best means of bageing their
tormentor, and settling his status. ! But
bis steed usually moved with such cratic
courses that pursuit of Paddy:s lea
was BOYS play in comparison. How