The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-21
noRsEHEApED PEOPLE.
A Poor Name well-stuck To Is Bette
Than the Prettiest New One.

HORSEHEADED PEOPLE.
a Poor Name Well-Stuck To Is Better
Than the Prettiest New One.
When the first white settler entered
the Chemung Valley, about one hundred
years ego, 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
General Sullivan when he made his his
torical raid upon the hostile Indian
tribes, in 1879. On the return march of
the victorious army from the Genesee
country portion of the troops en-
camped here. As he intended to 60
down the Chemung with his forces on
RATS. General Sullivan ordered the killing
of all superfuous horses. Wild animals
devoured their carcasses, and subse-
auently the skulls were heaped up by
the Indians, where the first settlers
found them. On account of this incl
dent the settlement received the name
of Households. In 1887 the village was
incorporated, and the name was changed
by the Legislature to Fairport, against
the wishes of most of the people. For
eight years they petitioned regularly to
have the original name restored. This
was done in LS45. No stranger ever
comes here whose first question is not:
"Why is this place called Horse
heads?"
Citizens are always lying in wait for
strangers, and as soon as the invariable
question comes it is their delight and
recreation to tell the story, with much
detail. about General Sullivan and the
horse-skull mounds. In fact, competi-
ton in retailing the story has come to
be so close among enterprising Horse
heads people that the one who gets the
ear of strangers first and most frequent
ly is looked up TO with envy by his fell
lOw-townsmen. The wide-awake citi-
zen has even reduced the thing to SO
exact science that he does not wait
until the stranger asks the entire ques-
ton. The man who alights from the
cars here and begins his first utterance
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
a distinguished citizen who sat up for
the three a. m. train the other night.
Two strangers alightcd. They were SO
sleepy they did not stop to ask why the
place was called Households. The wide
awake citizen collared them.
Il 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 n strong effort is now being made
to have the name of the village changed
has raised howl of indignation here.
1t seems capitalist from another place
wants to become interested in manu-
featuring on an extensive scale in Horse
heads. He visited the place n day or so
ago to look over the prospect and talk
with Households capitalist After
walking about the streets awhile, and
being unable to find the man for whom
he was looking, he stepped unto a sa-
loon to ask where the man lived There
were four citizens in the place. The
visitor approached the man behind the
bar saying:
''Will you kindly tell NC"
That was Us far as he got. The four
citizens were on their feet and on all
sides Of him in less than q second They
all addressed him:
''In September, 1879, General Sui
Ivan, on his return from chasing the
Indians in the Genesee' country, en-
camped on this very spot
Then followed the story of the horses
and their skulls. The capitalist was
speeches. with surprise.
They got it all mixed up said the
saloon-keeper. .'Order your drink sent
to the hack room and I'll come in and
tell you the story slow and straight"
The visiting capitalist hurried out.
Meeting boy on the street, he said:
my son, can you tell me"
''Oh, yes." said the boy. s.In Sep
TENDER, 1879, General Sullivan
The visitor dashed wildly down the
street and met the man he had come to
see. This citizen explained the state of
affairs to him. Then he declared that
he wouldn't put dollar of his money
in Households 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 walks along the streets he sees
groups of residents discussing the sub
ject.
r 1T is sacrileger' some of them ex-
claim. ''Here, where General Sullivan
camped in September, 1779, after"
Then if he doesn't pass on he will hear
the rest of it. The movers in favor of
a new name want to have the place
called North Elmira.-Horsehead IN.
" Cor. N. Y Times.
WANTED TO WE'D A CHILD.
An Italian Attempting to Mary a Twelve