Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-10-03
Communication.

| Mr.. Editor Il noticed in your columns
of the 25th of this month, how some writer,
who seems to know a thing or two, but
who don't know everything, writes about
| this place. | am disposed to think that he
has lived in Mifflintown for the last 40 years,
more or less. He would like to know if
McAlisterville was ever laid out, or wheth-
er it just happened to spring up by the
sides of an Indian path. Now, l suppose,
he, like myself, was raised in the woods. in
between two mountains, where there was
sweet refreshing air TO breathe and pure
spring water to drink, and where the boys
grew up full OF agility and quick in percep-
tion, yet modest and unassuming. But now
to the subject. There was State road
from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh by way of
the Juniata river. There was public sum
mer road from Miffiintown to Selinsgrovc.
There was public summer road from
Thompsontown, running northward over
hills, aud intsrsectcd this road running east
and west. At the end OF this big hill, call
cd Quigley's hill, here on land Of Hugh Nc
Alster, ST., was the intersection, right in
the woods OF very heavy white oak trees I.
Right at that spot. 4 few men thought, that
from its location, would be 4 suitable place
for a few mechanics and a store, aud place
for hotel 20 accommodate travellers. 4; So
Hugh McAhster, Sr., was induced to sell
lots, and finding demand, commenced
selling lots. This was in ISIe. The near
est store and hotel was then at Thompson
town, 6 miles away, and at Mitfiintown,
which was 0 miles distant by the Cedar
Springs-all travellers went that way. /
remember well when there was no house
where this town now stands, nothing but
woods. As for Richticld, have no knowl-
edge of fort III that vicinity, but | have
knowledge of the first settlers becoming
Lancaster counties, from the Indians
they remlined absent one year or more
/ will relate an incident that occurred up
this valley, a few miles. In those early
DAYS, when the land was new and s,umpy, /,
people raised more rye than wheat; they
rcaped il with sickles. In Middle Greek
valley, across Shade mountain, people did
likewise, bnt the rye ripened on this side of
the noun tain about one week earlier than
on the north side. The inhabitants got to
know this and they had made foot path.
across the mountain from valley TO valley.
Two good men from Middle Greek valley
had been on this side Of the mountain to
put in a week at reaping rye, which, as
stated above, ripened earlier than the crop
in their valley. Saturday evening closed
their work here; the sun was down; there
was young moon, do not remember the
family names of the men, bnt to distinguish
the one from the other, will call one Jim
and the other Sam. Says Jim TO Sam, "let
the mountain tonight, there may be In
dians on our path" Says Jim. 81 am not
afraid of all the Indians on that mountain
and am determined TO sleep in my own
cabin this night,'' and of he went, alone.
He found the path and reached the top OF
the mountain and had begnn 20 90 down
the other side, when an Indian sprang upon
him from behind tree. A struggle took
place, but two other indians came up and
nc became prisoner. One Indian was put
in front and two behind him on the path,
and thea they double-quicked it down the
path. As they were thus going down the
mountain side Jim concluded that he would
be taken to an Indian town and there be
compelled to run the gantlet. 1t was no
pleasant thought, and he concluded that
the best way was 10 have the run out at
that time while they were at it. So he
kept lookout for chance. In turn in
the path he sprang to side, and turned
with the moon shining on his lack. The
Indians gave chase. He widened the dis
lance between them, and when his breath
gave out, he jumped over large fallen log
and lay down close by it. Soon an In
dian ran around by the root, and another
red skin ran around by the top, and the
third jumped on the log and hollosed, cay
ing, s'come back, We will treat you WE'LL"
.Thc Indian spoke in English. Then they
all three started and ran further in the di-
rection that they believed that Jim had run.
Jim said his heart beat like a pheasan t's
wing, he thought the Indian on the log
would hear it. As soon as the Indians were
out of hearing, Jim arose and reached his
home in safety, rejoicing that he had out
witted. and out run his enemies. Fifty,
sixty, seventy years ago, often heard men
tell about Jim's adventure, and it is a source
of regret that have forgotten his family
name. The date of the occurrence as near
as | can recollect was the year l770.
TkcITus.