The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-02
A SLEEPY PENNsrLvANIA VILLAGE
NEW GENEVA, Fayette County, Pa, Dec. %.

%
tive kind. The people who live hero now are
tho descendants OF those who lived hero at the
beginning. An adventurous lad or restless
aborer occasionally departs. but nobody ever
comes i'm to stay.
Tho houses are built on the river margin. Mt
the base OF a great hill and are divided into
two rows by the country road on which they
stand. They all have immense flreplaccs. tor
fuel is abundant here and the whole place Is
dlngy with the stains OF century OF bituminous
coal smoke. Tho hills around arc filled with
treasures beyond tho expression Of figures.
Here is coking coal equal to the Connellsvillo.
with iron ore and limestone lying beside it in
unlimited quantities. Tho State Gcologist will
stnte in his next report that on this spot iron
can be manufactured cheaper than anywhere
else in the United States. Yet II Is all untouched
The village sleeps on peacefully over mines
richer than tho Comstock lode, and will
continue 80 until the long slumber IL
broken by some enterprise set on foot
from abroad Tho Justice will cit with
his feet on the stove for n week waiting for
the storekecpcr to sue on a flvc-dollar book ac-
count The landlord mt the broken sign will sit
in his bar and count the bottles on the mantol.
and the doctor will ride drowsiy out Of the alloy
on his fat cob and take his dangerous. but APP
parently comfortable. nap. rs his predecessors
ulu iTOu tlHt lH1IucUlOFluls WHO HIS nOFSt
picks his difficult way along paths that over
hang mountain precipices and are lii by the
fantest glimmer u star or moon. But some
day there will come achangc. when some bold
spirit will cast his eye over this peaceful scene
and change It all in n twnkling. driving his
shaft hero erecting his furnace there. putting
work into these idle hands and many more that
will como in after him. Intho mean timc the chief
industry OF the place al this time OF year IL hog
killing. The ilre is built In tho house yard be-
side the road. the iron kettle is hung over it,
the tat hog stands in the corner. the neighbors
are gathered along the fence guessing his
weight and otherwise assisting ut the great
event. while IN nccomm odating marksman is
preparing to shoot him with ng-barrelled
rife. loaded with bullet and patch.
Yet this drowsy village has a history. 1t was
once avc-very much alive. II was founded
by Albert Gallatin and named by him in honor
OF his native place in Switzerland. lie estab-
lshcd here the first glass works west Of the
mountains He had subsequently gun factory
on the hillside and things were brisk enough.
He came here in 1886, and moved away after
his return from the French court. After him
came an enterprising Frenchman. Mr. Moliere.
who bought Mr.. Gaatin's estate. wen; into boat
building and various other enterprises. and
lived in fcudal style at the Gallatn mansion Of
until he failed amt died. Then the village died
also. and the briers overran the fair fields OF
the Gallatin farm. while family OF old servants
lived in one corner OF the mansion. aud the bats
and wasps occupied the rest Thus II was until
1857. when the Hon. John l.. Dawson bought
Friendship Hill. and by judcious management
made II before his death one Of the most beau
tiful and productive estates in this part OF Penn
sylvania. But he did nothing at the village. and
there matters went on in the old way.
Just above New Geneva. overlooking the little
town. and bold bend In the river stands an old
stone house. 1t is now part OF Friendship
Hill. and is Just within the entrance to the
place. Beyond it is deep wood. through which
the road winds to the Gallatin mansion. But ii
never. believe belonged to Mr. Gallatin. In
his day II was the property OF registering
bachelor Irishman named Tommy Clare. and
was the scene Of wild reycls. such as Lever
would have delighted 10 paint. but which. in
| those times. no decent rustic community would
tolerate. Clares nno bottom lands were
covered with IA luxuriant peach orchard. and
peach brandy and honey was the tap at his
feasts. 1t was in tho days Of slavery. before
| Tom. the Tinker. and the Whiskey Insurrec-
ton. that old Tommy Clare had barDecues. aud
| horse races. and dances. and all sorts OF furi.
Gus frolics. under his sinister patronage in
and about this old house. But the
| time came when Tommys purse gave
| out. and his liver swelled under this
| course OF life; and his bones now rest in n rude
and neglected enclosure near his house. sur
| rounded 10y those Of his negro servants. The
! brlcrs grow dcnscly over the graves the mortar
| has crumblcd from the wall. and the looscned
stones have rolled down 10 mingle with those
which mark tho graves. and MI the cavities
made by tho sinking earth. 1t is said that
/ a n. .F..FH..
was loaded with dark secret. Tradition re-
lates that. when Tommy's excheoucr had run
low. n peddler sought accommodation at his
house one stormy night. and was never seen
again. lIe was murdered by n giant negro
slave 10y Clares command. and his body buried
| in the sand bank across the road But on the
! floor OF the room whore he was killed. n blood
SPOT has resisted soap and sand ever since. and
the struggle OF the doomed pcdder and the
black giant is repeated nightly by their troubled
spirits.
II was during some conversation about these
| old traditions-and MS traditions only | have
given them-that Mr.. Osborne Hare a respect
able carpenter Of this noighborhood. whom
have known for many years. and for whose
high character can personally vouch. told mo
the most remarkable ghost story have ever
heard.
INV mblhlhE NAbuN HlA'fu yours ago MT. llNFe
left his house. after sunrise. TO 20 to his work
in tho direction OF New Geneva He walked
rapidly, and. Just before tho road en-
tered II pioco OF wood known rs the
Fallen Timbers. no saw in advance Of
him tall man walking slowly. Sup
posing It TO be one Dugan Of his acquaintance.
he quickened his pace hut before oycrtaking
him he discovered his mistake. and then began
| to examine the man narrowly; for n stranger
in those parts was uncommon. Ho WIS very
tall and thin. He had no cont. and his
shirt sleeves were rolled w to the shoulder.
His arms were as thin as pipe stems and ms
white as snow. His shirt and trouters were OF
tho same color. a sombre drab By the time
MIR. Hare had made these observations he per-
ceived another man coming in tho oppo-
site direction This was Jim Doughcrty.
stone mason, going to his work across
Cheat Dougherty like Hare was a
man OF good character. iron nerves.
and proyerbial courage. Hare observed
him say good morning to the stranger. then
shrink to one sIde of the road. and hasten by.
When no came up TO Hare his faco was pallid.
Hare" said he. do YOU know that man p