The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-08-06
Interesting "reminiscences of the Rocks
of Deer Creek.

Mr. William GLADDEN., formerly of this coun-
ty, but now of Bridgeport, Indiana, in letter
TO his nephew and namesake, William Glad
den, of Chrome Hill, gives some interesting
"reminiscences of the Rocks of Deer Greek and
the surrounding neighborhood, which we
have been permitted to copy. Mr.. GLADDEN.,
who is now sc years of age, writes Il firm,
plain hand, and describes occurrences in q
graphic manner. lie first aludcs to
PREsToN's MILL.
The first owner of the mill was Mr.. Under
hill next Mr.. Sankey, who sold it to John
| Harry. The latter still owned it when | left
| Hartford in October, 1919
| AN ADVENTURE on THE ICE.
One cold day Stephen Rigdon was hauling
saw logs to the mill, and whenalongside ofthc
mill pond told his colored man, Dave, who was
| driving, to drive over on the ice. Dave OBJ
iected, saying why, master, it will break"
| Mr.. Rgdon, who was pretty much acCustom-
| ed to having his own way, exclaimed, No
danger; drive on"
Dave replied, "Pm afraid, master, it will
| certainly break in."
| The old Squire, probably like Putnam,
| ashamed ofhaving a coward in his family, took
| the whip from Dave, ana declared he would
drive over himself The whip cracked and the
team started. When near the middle of the
stream the wagon, the team and the bold
Squire all went down to the bottom. Dave,
who was careful to keep.at a safe distance,
sprang TO his masters assistance and got him
out.
The team, consisting of a yoke of oxen and
three horses were in drowning condition.
and although help soon arrived from the mill,
only three of the animals were saved alive.
GOING TO MILL IN oLDEN TIMES.
| was often sent to that old mill on horse
back, when quite small boy, my weight then
being less than fifty pounds. / had to cross
Rock Ridge and Deer Creek the road at that
time being in some places steep and rough
Often my grist would slide off and would be
obliged to go to the nearest house for help
One day, | went to the mill when the water was
high and still rising. When my grst was
ground the miller tied up the sacks short, to
keep them out of the water. He then proceed
ed to adjust the load. He first put on the bran,
then the flour, next fathers ovcrcoat, doubled
up over the sacks, to keep them dry, and lastly
the miller pitched me up on top all. There
sat, perched up far above the horses back
The horse and ] managed to get along very
well until we reached the middle of the creek
The swift current and deep water had driven
us too far down, and in trying to turn the horse
up stream, the water beat against the ends of
the sacks. In n moment and the sacks all
slid off. | seized the horses name, and was
soon righted on his back. The miller ran to
the rescue, and after much running and swim
ming the sacks were recovered. The coat was
found two weeks afterwards, under the side of
a rock
AN UNLUCKY SHOT
Arch. Gully made serious mistake when he
IL f1n11
along the edge ola swamp, and Frederick was
walking down the branch, near the middle of
it. A number of phcasants flew up and
Frederick stopped Arch, installing his drab-
colored pants for pheasant, discharged his
old shot gun and sent thirty large shot into
Frcdcrick's feet and legs. lassistcd DR.. James
Montgomery to extract all the shot that could
be felt on the opposite side (some twenty in
number) The remainder, which the bones
had stopped were left Abram GLADDEN.,
Frederick's brother, ifliving would remember
the circumstance.
THE WAY TIE ROAD WAS MADE.
John Clendenning hired Henry Puff to make
a road through the gap of the Rocks, eighty
feet long, just passablc for wagon, for 800.
Puff, being good stone mason, went to work
with powder, bursting the rocks to pieces
One charge failed to ignite which in its re-
moval took fire and sent his hammer and
chiscl so far that one of them could never he
found. His hand and one eye were consider
ably hurt. lido not know whether he finished
his job or not.
\ PERILOUS RIDE.
| was present when the man rode his horse
out to the point ofthc Rocks, as related in Rev.
Mr.. Wysongs book on the Rocks of Deer
Creek Several men tried to stop him, but he
dashed on, regardless of their efforts to catch
the bride and turn him back. Seeing the
danger of being pitched over themselves, they
desisted from their efforts and the reckless fcl
low had clear coast. When he reached the
outermost point his horse turned suddenly to
the left, raising both fore feet at once, some
eighteen inches from the rock, and returned in
safety
THE SWINGING ROCK.
have often been on the Kings and Queens
Seats and many q time have had hold of the
large rock, which was so nicely balanced on
another rock that three or four of us little boys
could move it las much as all the men who
could get hold of it. There were some small
projections or points ON the rock which would
let it go so far and no farther. Inever knew
who removed it from its base, but understood
it was done by first knocking off those points
After that was accomplished it was easily
rolled off into the abyss below.