The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-12
I'm SEPTEMBER, 1779."
The Tradition of Horseheads Likely
to Be no Longer Available.
The Pet Story or :he Villagers Soon
10 Lose It's PcrtInence-A
Capitalists Mad
Vow.
[Horseheads IN. " Letter ]

III tSctbCi'i
When the first white settlers entered the
Chemung valley, about 100 years ago, they
found the skulls Of hundreds of horses piled
in mounds on the spot where this village now
stands According to the tradition, these
skulls had belonged to horses in the army of
Gen. Sullivan when he made his historical
raid upon the hostile Indian tribes, in li79.
On the return march OF the vic
torious army from tho Genesee
country portion of the troops en-
camped here. As he intended to
go down the Chemung with his forces on
RATS, Gen. Sullivan ordered the killing of
all the superiuous horses. Wild animals
devoured their carcasses, and subsequently
the skulls were heaped up by the Indians
where the first settlers found them. On ac-
count of this incident the settlement received
the name Of Horseheads. In 1887 the village
was incorporated, and the name was changed
by the legislature to Fairport, against the
wishes Of mcst of the people. For eight
years they petitioned regularly to have the
original name restored. This was done in
1S45. No stranger ever comes here whose
first question is not:
"Wby is this place called Horseheads9"
Citizens are always lying in wait for
strangers and as soon as the invariable
question comes, it is their one great delight
and recreation to tell the story, with m.ch
detail, about Gen. Sullivan and the horse
skull mounds. In fact, competition in retail
ing the story has come to be so close among
enterprising Horseheads people that the one
who gets the ear OF strangers first and most
frequently is looked up to with envy by his
fellow townsmen. The wide-awake citizen
has even reduced the thing to so exact
science that he does not wait until the
stranger asks the entire question. The man
who alights from the cars here and begins
his first Inference with "Why" or "What" or
"Will you" need speak no further, for the
citizen, lying in wait, launches the story OF
Sullivan and the horse skulls at him at once.
The man who is now looked upon as the
smartest one in the place is distinguished
citizen who sat up for the a. m. train the
other night. Two strangers alighted. They
were so sleepy they did not stop to ask why
the place was called Horseheads. The wide
awake citizen col.arei them.
II see you want to hear the story about
Sullivan and the horse heads" said he.
@Give me your valise; I'll tell you the story
as we walk over to the hotel"
1t may well be supposed that the fact that
strong effort Is now being made to have the
name of the village changed has raised
howl tf Indignation here. 1t seems a capi-
talist from another place wanted to become
interested in manufacturing on an extensive
scale in Horseheads. He visited the place a
day or so ago to look over the prospects and
talk with q Horseheads capitalist. After
walking about the streets awhile, and being
unable to find the man for whom he was
looking, he stepped into a saloon to ask
where the man lived. There were four citi-
zens in the place. The visitor approached
the man behind the bar saying:
"Will you kindly tell me"
That was as far a. he got. The four citi-
zens were on their feet and on all sides OF
him in less than O second. They all ad-
dressed him:
ain September 1779, Gen. Sullivan, on his
return from chasing the Indians in the Gene
see country, encamped on this very spot"
Then followed the story of the horses and
their skulls The capitalist was speechless
with surprise.
They got it all mixed up," said the sa.
loon keeper. "Order your drink sent to the
back room and I'll come in and tell you the
story slow and straight"
The visiting capitalist hurried out. Meet
ing boy on the street he said:
"My son can you tell ms"
"Ohl yes" said the boy. "In September
17T9, Gen Sullivan"
The visitor dashed wildly down the street
and met the man he had come to see. Thi:
citizen explained the state Of affairs to him.
Then he declared that he wouldn't put dol
lar of his money in Horseheads unless the
name was changed. Some of them want his
money, and are working hard to induce the
people to petition the legislature to change
the name. Patriotic citizens, however, are
outraged at the suggestion. As one walk:
along the streets he sees groups of resident,
discussing the subject.
1T is sacrilegew some Of them exclaim
Here, where Gen. Sullivan camped in Sep
tember, 1779, after"
Then IL he doesn't pass on he will hear tht
rest Of it, The movers in favor of new
name want to have the place called Nortl
Elmira..