The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-07-17
The Huoklsberry Brigaaes.


The Moosic Highlands, which form a
spur Of the Alleehanies, and cover vast
tract Of country between Pittston and
Hawley, Pa, are just now black with
huekleberries, and attract numerous chuck
lebery brigades," made up Of women and
children, who wander barefooted along
the mountain sides during the day, and
return TO Scranton, Carbondale or Pitts.
ton, as the case may be, in the evening.
camping pals and buckets oyerfowipg
with the fruit. The berry pick ers, who 20
by hundreds to the mountains, manage 10
secure ride on the gravity road Of the
Pennsylvania Coal Company, clinging to
the sides Of the laden coal ears that are
strung together by the dozen, and in this
way women and children are whirled away
over the steep planes, across the dizzy
chasms, and through the deep cuts that
distinguish this rugged landscape, until
they frequently find themselves as much
as 20 miles from home, trusting to chance
for return ride. A "huckleberry train
is one Of the picturesque sights Of the
gravity road. The women aud girls, with
sunburned faces, cling to the side-rails of
the coal ears with one hand and hold their
heaped pals of berries upon their heads
with the other frequently their calling is
fraught with peril, but they become Injured
to its hardships aud learn to love its gyp.
sy-like character. They leave for the
mountains at the mornings first light, aud
go in crowds of from 20 To 80.
The greatest terror Of young beginners
in the business are the rattlesnakes, which
abound among the berry bushes. After q
time, however, they learn to fight and van
quish the reptile after they have learned
all his weak points, aud it is no uncommon
thing to hear veteran berry picker boast
of the number Of rattlesnakes which she
killed during the season. The violent
storms that visit the mountains at this
time OF the year are considered source
OF great danger by the pickers. About
four years ago several women were killed
by lightning while taking temporary ref.
uge in a mountain shed. Their pals we're
filled with berries aud they were ready to
return when fierce rain-storm came up.
The lightning struck the hut aud killed
several who had taken refuge there. Sew.
eral women who were fastening toward
the structure saw the bolt by which their
companions lost their lives, and fed ia
terror to the town. Wagons were sent
out for the bodies and the occurrence ere.
ated . great sensation 10 Scranton. Tho
fate Of the victims is still the theme for
much superstitious speculation among tho
berry piekers. Some time ago, Superin-
tendent John b. Smith, Of the Pennsylya.
mia Coal Company, issued an order pro-
hibiting the berry-women from riding over
the gravity road, and there was great trib-
ulation in consequence The order has
been relaxed, however, and the "huckle.
berry train" is still an institution of the
romantic route.
The quality OF berries this season is un.
usually large aud fine. II was feared
some time ago that the forest fires had
swept away the berry bushes, but the re-
gion where they most flourish was scarcely
touched by the flames, and the recent
rains have contributed largely to the de-
velopement of the crop, which promises to
yield abundantly. Berries are now sold
in all the towns along the foot of the
mountain range for nine cents a quart,
but the prolific yield viii soon bring down
prices and they will sell for Eve cents be-
fore long. Some enterprising women,
whose husbands have been killed by ac.
cidents in and about the mines, manage
to support large aud feeble families by the
sale of their berries during the huckleherry
season. on.--PAi1alelpLia Ledger.