Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-05-26
IN COLUMBIA,
NOTES ABOUND TRE TOWN.

In COLUMBIA.
NOTES ABOUND TRE TOWN.
Thoughts Suggested by Night Stroll
Voices Heard and sights Soon.
IL
It has been said that there arc "voices of
the night" and it is equally true that
there are sights also, even in Columbia.
We recently made midnight tour Of the
town, just to learn whether any sights
were to bs seen. We discovered that there
were, of an interesting, if not startling
character.
On Locust street but little was seen.
Tho night watchmen and the distant
flickering of several railroad mems lamps
lit is strange but these lamps can be seen
burning even on moonlight nights we're
the only sights. In Mt. Bethel cemetery
the bright moonlight was thrown back
from the white stones which mark the last
resting place of the dead, and dark shad
ows from the trees, which stood like so
many sentinels doing guard duty, were
thrown in fantastic stretches along the
ground. Now We are not particularly fond
of cemeteries and graveyards at night, but
on an alley which shoots off from Bethel
street and extends down to the Lancaster
turnpike fronts a graveyard, and this,
We had learned, was the camp
ing ground of gang Of tramps.
whom we desired to inspect. So the grave
yard was visited. We poked our head
through an opening left by an absent part
of the fence and glanced around. Not a
living soul could be seen, but dreary
sight presented itself. The aged tomb
stones stood leaning at all angles, and
seemed inclined to seek the mother earth,
like those whose graves they marked.
The paths were overgrown with weeds,
and everything evinced decay and neglect.
At this interesting moment q sound was
heard which caused tho gOosetiesh to
creep rapidly along our spinal column, and
made our hat sit loosely on the ends of
the risen hair. A sigh of relief escaped
us, however, when solitary Thomas cat
was discovered to DO the cause OF the
alarm. He had been calling on his
"Mariar" Tow Hill next ! And what
numerous small alleys and lanes here
abound places Of evil smell, many of
them. The jarring voices and oaths which
issued from house in one of these lanes
testified plainly that all Columbia was not
asleep What ugly, bitter Oaths they
were, and how many souls consigned to
perdition-by words
Suddenly rounding the corner of an
alley we stumbled over something's
human body. A red streak on the up
turned face looks like blood, is blood, and
visions of murder rise before our horri
fed Imagination. We muster up courage
to feel the pulse, and learn that it has still
a strong beat. STOPPING to get closer
view of the wound, strong smell of
whisky comes from tho supposed victim,
and the wound only proves to be small
cut, produced by hard kuuckle, doubt
less. After considerable shaking, the be-
sotted wretch is awakened and told to 60
home, but the only thanks received for
kind advice is volley of oaths The last
words heard as We march Indignantly
down the alley, is request to go to a
place where people don't require coats to
Keep them warm. During the stay on the
Hill we had stirred up packs of hun
cry looking ours, and these wretched
looking creatures dogged our steps until
we departed, barking furiously the while.
Strychnine would release the white resi-.
dents of the neighborhood from the tor
lures of these pests.
Manor street is on height, and its long
straight stretch, with the houses plainly
outlined against the sky, presented a
peaceful appearance. The music of an
accordion was heard somewhere in the dis
tance, but as we were after locals and not
music, we did not hunt up the midnight
or rather very early morn musician.
From Manor street down over hills and
the steep embankment of the Pennsylva.
mia railroad, and the Susquehanna rolling
mill is reached. How the fires 10 the
otherwise dark mill shine forth. Every
thing looks larger than it really is, and
the sons of Vulcan seem to be rushing
backward and forward carrying out the
orders of the old king, in the persons of
the brawny men SO busily engaged at
their hard work. If any person thinks "a
rolling mill man too highly paid for his
labor let him stand for ten minutes in
front of hot puddle furnace he will
change his mind on the subject very
quickly.
The Pennsylvania railroad roundhouse
is next visited. The sound of hammers
indicate that night work is going on. The
business of this great road goes on in all
its departments at night, as we'll as dur
ing the day. The shifting engines in
the yards give their head lights
the appearance of great eyes look
ing about for dangerous places
The sky has become overcast. mean while,
and storm threatens, and the distant
rolling of heavens artillery warns us
homeward, A peep is taken into the
bridge which spans the river. L; looks
like great tunnel, and a light in the dis
tance only makes more visible the dark
ness. A glimpse at the dark waters of
the now angry looking susquohanna, at
tho few dimly seen lights of Wrights-