The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-23
FLEEING FROM BARE HILL.
Is THERE 4 6LUIBBRIN0 LITTLE VOL-
CANO IN HESTERN EEW YORK9

CANANDAIuUA, N. Y, March 20-On tho
old road between Syracuse and Rochester.
which is now cut of from through travellers
by tho air line on the Now York Central
Railroad. lies beautiful and extensive
natural park. 1t IL full OF wonders. minerals,
lakes wild gcns. winding streams, hills. pleas-
ant valleys. and lovely landscapes. Tho throo
principal lakes nrc Cuyugn. Seneca. and Cannn-
daigun. During severe winters Oayuga freezes.
Seneca remains open. n miniature blue sea.
while Cnnandalgua affords good sleighing up
IN the point that the dark shadows from Bare
Hill. twelve miles up the lako on tho east SIDE
are cast across it's surface.
Recently the Ontario County Journal, printed
in CanandniRua. Mt the foot OF the lake. con-
tained this paragraph:
Is votrASo'-somc strange hut well. authenticate
ruors reach recent rcrurhations IN Hare I op.
positc Seneca Point aud we infer. from gll we have
al the base Of that historic and wcilknown hill.
Knowing that Cananlaigua was the abiding
place OF many wealthy and staid persons. a cor
respondent for THE SUN. apprehensivo that
they might be in danger Of an untlmely shak
ing up, proceeded to investigate the source OF
tho " wcll-authcnticatcd rumors."
The first place visited was the Journal office
nndthe first question to the editor: " Can you in
form me whore tho Northumberland ru-
mors' Of volcanic disturbances in Bare Hill
came from?"
don't remember. exactly; hut ! believe
from farmers living in the vicinity"
Isn't the volcano story II dodge to draw
tourists to the lake next SUMMER"
Il think not The farmers OF Baro Hill are
well-to-do. quiet residents. who care little for
summer visitors"
Hero young farmer. who was holding the
proofsheet Of a bill announcing a sale Of farm
stock by auction. spoke up:
There's no humbug about IT, MY mother
felt the shock and became much alarmed She
said it inrrcd the windows and shook the house
like the great powder mill explosion near
Rochester some years ago"
Did 1t shake up anybody clsc?"
"Oh. yes Mr.. Gage'a folks and Mr.. Taylor's.
They live on the upper side OF the hill. Ihcard
that tn ~ ran out OF their houses"
Arc tho farmers moving away from the
hnl2"
Not that know or
why this auction sale ?"
Young farmer unushingl: "Wo want to thin
out our stock. These rumblings and shakes
were heard and felt years ago. Old farmers say
they turn up about every twenty years"
Who is tho best person to see abott the his
tory Of the hill?"
Lawyer Thomas VI. Howell. He has written
n great deal about tho place. He caught the
largest trout in the lake when he was ~ years
old. That was sixty years ago In old times he
nshed and hunted with tbs Indians"
Lawyer Howell received me cordially. He
was alone IN his well-appointed onicc looking
over bundle ot time stained papers. Pushing
his white hair back with "a graceful movement
~ he recliued comfortably in his big armchair
Yes, | know little about Bare Hill"
l. the correct name Bare Hill or Boar Hill ?"
Bare Hill-and thereby hangs great snake
II should like to hear H."
The story has been printed MS one Of tho
legends o. the lrlquois. and told in different
ways but will rotate 1t as given TO me by an
Indian chief many years ago. was n young
arrow to tho head in the very centre OF mark.
Where did you learn to shoot he inquired.
Canandaigua means the Chosen Spot said the
chief. Red Jacket and his braves shoot there.
hnaHa tS t c9r reh III me lFIuos
daigun Lake. the Indians were nearly all de-
Srr9,yrsd 9hTre, ana from these started the Six
long bow tsmilel:
THE SNAKE STORY.
Many years before tho Six Nations -four
ished. the scattered tribes were summoned to
assemble at the Chosen Spot on "a certain day.
liy su9d39wn tinIeay were encamped in groups
covered with trees. making II q favorite resort
Next morning there WIS 10 be grand pow
WOW. At sunrise the Indians saw "A colossal
snake rearing his head from the lake. The eyes
were large rs pumpkins. and shono like balls Of
IRE ON seeing the warriors the snake began
10 glide from the water tho head and body
moving around the loot Of the hill. By the time
the snakes tail came out OF the water he had en-
tirely ssurrounded the hill, head and tail meet
ing The monster then began tightening his
sides. The Indians. becoming penned in,
attacked the snake with spears arrows and
stones The body OF the snake was so thick
smooth, and slppery tina, none Of the doomed
embraee Thcir missies bouSdaI b ,,r ntss
from tho serpents skin. As the circle mar
rowed 1t left tremendous play for the snakes
enormous head and cuVernous JAWS. Darling
his head between trees and through bushes the
reptile swallowed the terror-strickcn sayagos in
rapid succession until only one young warrior
and fair Indian maiden remained alive. They
STOOD IN little hollow on tho crest ct the hill
Looking TO heaven for succor they saw the
Great Spirit lowering over them with a bow
and arrow in his hands. Tossing them to tho
young brave. he, said; That arrow i tho only
tipped with perpetual fire. when the snake
tnrusts his head over the crest above YOU shoot
him in the eye The brave drew the arrow TO
its head Just us the serpent glarcd over the
crest. Taking quick aim. the young warrior
buried the arrow 10 the socket in the eye Of the
SNAKE. Then nrose commotion IN the air and
on the hill, The young warrior and maiden
er9qpcheed in the hollow, while tho mouster
and shrub from the lace and sides OF tho hill
while rolling down 10 the lake. Before reach
ing the water he disgorged the heads Of the
snvages he had swallowed. and they rolled
down into the lake.
Il know this part OF the story is true" con-
tnued Mr. Howell. with another smile" for /
have picked up petriled stones ut the edge Of
the lake shaped precisely like Indian skulls.
On breaking open the black heads clear CRYSTALS
were found inside, proving that tho old war
riors had large brains From the young brave
and maiden sprang the warriors Of the Six Ma
tons"
What oyon think of tho rumors of volcanic
action in Bare HillY"
We'll replied Mr.. Howell, years ago,
heard something to that effect. There may be
local disturbances | know there are gas wells
on both sides of the lake. / have heard the gas
como up with moaning rumbling sound.
Sometimes fishermen ignite il with torches. mud
IL burns for u long time We camp ont every
soasnn in y cabin ON Black Point nearly oppo-
site Bare Hll. As President of the l}Iurk Point
rrs. the oldest association of the kind in the
State. issue tho annual cnlls for the camp"
landing mo timr-wprn scrap book. he re-
marked " hero are the calls for many yeurs."
With his permission / copied one at random;
BlAcK roSrrEs ARoUsEl
Bend saust Bare llu your breasts.
hurst down like torrents from It's crest
With strong ana spfinging footsteps lass
The trembling hog aui al., morasN
The bluffs are high, the lake is deep,
Yet shrink not from the desperate Leap
Would it be difficult to climb Bare Hill at
this season Of the year p
You may find the roads in bad order from
SnOWdriita but guess you can reach it,
Procuring "a Tough liulo team Of Hnmble-