The Worthington advance., 1879-10-30

So may We soar from toll and strife.
When death doth kiss our paid lips,
May We cen like the butterflies,
Find wings on which to soar from Earth,
Until, like them We reach the Skies.
sPECTER ON HORSEBACK.
The Fi.ry Torch that stazt,es wsstehsstsr
Valley.
The descendants of the ancient Dutch
settlers Of Sleepy Hollow are exercised
over the prsnks of 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 TarrytowD, 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
- very undulating, but not hilly, and in
length about one and quarter miles.
A few weeks since, between nine and
ten O'Clock on q 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, which went flashing past with the
speed of locomotive and eventually dis
appeared in the direction Of Hart's 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-sigbt and position say that the COB
lin or horsewas of remarkable speed, and
in no respect bore resemblance to the hui
man form. What seemed shoulders it
had, but no head, except that hideous
IL ce rested on its front, Off tho figure
had been that of a MANN 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 of and above this spectral figure
rose burning torch, which cast lurid
glare on surrounding objects and left be-
hind it an odor generally thought to
SAVIOR of sulphur, but by u few to smell
something like kerosene. Nearly week
had passed by before the mounted appa-
ritlon put in an appearance. The subject
began to be even little stale among the
honest burgres of the Hollow, when sud-
denly one evening, about the same hour
AZ before, he came again on the scene.
This time he advanced from the direction
of tho ice 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 thestraight, metero-
ic course of his first visit, and swept down
the valley in zig-zag direction, through
bsrn-yards, gardens and pickle patches,
regardless alike of the dismay occasi0ned
on all sides among the people and poul-
ty.
Mr.. George 8. Rice is farmer who re-
sides about a mile distant from the main
road, on the westerly side of the valley
His dwelling is embowered in trees, prin.
cipa:ly evergreens, 80 that the view is
much obstructe3 on all sides. On this
special evening his family and some
friends were sitting on the front porch,
engaged in conversation, when the
HEADLIGHT OF THE SPECTRAL HoRsENAN
Flashed On their astonished vision, as his
steed skipped over side gate and thun.
dered across one end of the piazza, takinp
the direction of the barn-yard, where he
put to flight herd of kline, and then 90.
ing over six foot gate was..soon out OF
sight MI. Rice's man Patrick was in tho act
drinking acow, and in the tumult which
followed he was stretched prone on his
back. Partially recovering his senses
and grasping his mllking-p pail convul.
sively, he fled into the barn, under the
impression that he ought to run some
where, and was soon afterward found by
Mr.. Rice reclining on the hay, much
shaken bodily and mentally.
"What did il look like2' asked Mr.
Rice.
"The loikes of it. is it9" asked Pat
"Bedad, reckoned me time had come
Whin that big lanthern went whizzin'
through the yard I thought mateor had
fell in among tho cattle, sure. l wa
milkin' the red-faced COW Just then, and
the poor craythur was 80 bediviled she
fint me spraw Win, and the full of the paiJ
was scattered all over me. But, be the
Powers it did lape the finces nately," ad
ded Pat.
And 30 it went for two weeks LONGER
On some dark night the pranklsh ride,
would perhaps be discovered careeriaq
thn,ugh Isaac Mead!s or some ether coln
hsld, to the great detriment of the roast
ing ean; and after vaulting easily over q
= pig sty or hennery and halt dozen ex.
tra high gates, leave, as usual, for parts
unknown. Such provoking, a. we'll Al
mysterious ghost was hardly ever known,
and 10 thought the slightly terrified and
exasperated farmers, who at laat confer.
red ~ to the best means of bagging their
tormentor, and settling his status. But
his steed usually moved with such erratic
courses that q pursuit of Paddy's flea
was bo7's play in comparison. How
ever, an agreement having been reached,
the boldest spirlts of the valley met ev
cry night IN the Ichsbod Crane school
house, where they lurked in the darkness.
wellarmed with hay forks, which thew
judged to be the most effective weapon
for the event in hand. The plan was to
watch for the torch, and ~ it drew nea,
the party were to rush out, sieze the
hofse's bride or form . Gordon around
him, and thus find out what
THIS TERRIBLE SPHINX WAS LIKE. -.
After few nights watching the headlesa
,horseman was described bearing down
upon the school-house with slackened
speed, - if to fall moro easily into the
trap ct for him. The determined band
instantly darted out, formed line across
The road and firmly clasped hands. They
had scarcely taken poaition when thse