Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-30
An AaIERIcAN LoURpEs.
WisCousiu's Holy Hill where Modern
Miracles are Declared to be Common.

MILWAUKEE,, Nov. 24.-Here in Wis
consin. ana but a few miles from the me-
tropolis OF the State, there is a place
where it is claimed by many that mira
cles are of frequent occurrence. Holy
Hill, or as it is variously called, Hermit
Hin, st. Mary's Hill, and Lapham' r
Peak, In Washington county, about 81
miles northwest of Milwaukee,, is the
place. Articles have from time 10 the
appeared in the press descriptive Of Jdls
famous hill and the marvellous cures
said, TO have been performed there
through the power Of iaIlh a i,t,e1
yet so far as tLe iat'ea
part is concerned the tales are
ever growing in number aud interest.
They fnd deY0ut believers and unbelleV.
ing scofers: even 50 was 1t in the time OF
the Saviour. These accounts Of mlfacu-
Ions cures are of interest TO all, Wnetner
OF one class or the other, ana purpose
giving the statement OF one VINO has re-
sided 10 the shadow almost OF Holy Hi
for more than a quarter Of a century, and
who says that he tells only such things
regarding them as he has absolute proof
of and knows Of his own knowledge.
Those who are interested enough IN the
strange tales 10 wish To know more OF
them can have their curiosity easily sat
isfed.
Holy Hill ia situated near the eastern
line Of the town Of Erin, Washington
county, and is the highest point Of land in
the eastern part OF the State, being S24
feet above the level of Lake Michigan and
1902 feet above sea level. 1t stands in the
midst OF a country Astounding in beauu-
ful and diversified scenery, and the view
from its summit is q grand one. For
miles around the country appears IKE
vast panorama, with its hills, forests, lakes,
farms. churches and villages. Holy Hill
can be reached by few miles traYel
from Richfield. Schleisingerville, or
Hartford, all stations on the northern
division OF the Chicago, Milwaukee,
and st. Paul Railway. The country IS
rough in the extreme, yet 1t is well set
tied and abOunds in beautiful farms,
nearly all owned by thrifty farmers OF
foreign extraction. Leaving the main
road at the foot Of the hill, the path to the
summit winds up the steep Incline at
easy stages, the distance being nearly or
quite half a mile. Crosses or "praying
stations each one bearing a picture
commemorative Of some event in the life
of the Saviour, to the number of fourteen,
are placed along the road. 1t is an al
most daily occurrence during the summer
season that afflicted persons of all ages
and natiOnalities, and in all stages
of decrepitude and disease, make
the journey from the base to
the summit Of the hill. stopping to
pray TO the Blessed Virgin and the
saints in general for relief from their all
ments. A great number of these pilgrims
annually visit the hill, and toll up the as
cent. 1t being part of the creed to believe
that the greater the suffering undergone
in the attempt, the more certain the inter-
cessiOn Of the saints in the matter of re-
lief and cure. Many progress slowly up
ward on Bonded knees, and it is said, that
weak and delicate women perform the
Journey In shotted shoes, which battle the
feet In blood. They thus initiate the ex-
ample OF the martys Of olden time, ard are
considered by the faithful, as being par
ticularly heroic, in enduring such suffer
ings.
Aboat half way TO the summit is the
spot where formerly stood a rude hut, &C.
cupied nearly a quarter OF a century ago
by the hermit, from whom the height has
derived one Of its appellatiOns, Hermit
Hill. Francois, the hermit, was said 10 be
descendant of nOOle German family.
and was educated for the priesthood.
Failing in love with the pretty daughter
OF an innkeeper Of his native land, he
yielded himself up to it. Before doing so
wholly he resolved TO Danish himself from
the country for a couple of years. both TO
test his own love and that Of his charmer.
1t was the old story of the absent lover as
cOntTasted with another swain who was
present TO urge his suit day after day. On
his return Francois found that his lady
love had sOlaced herself in his absence
with another lover. Urged on by the love
turned to hatred, be killed the faithless
one and fed. Remorse for his crime pur-
sued him wherever he went, and the spec
ter OF the dead was ever present 10 his
sight Occupied or unoccupied, moving
or stationary. IL was always the same,
until finally, broken down by his suffer-
ings, he knelt at the foot OF the cross, con.
fessed his sin, and sought for mercy where
alone it could be obtained. He was for
given and again taken into the church,
but never was able to forgive himself.
After years OF wandering, given UP TO
penance and devotion, he came to this
place, diseased in body and mind, and
buried himself in what was then almost
wilderness. 1t is generally related that,
although he took no medicine, he became
cured Of his infrmities, and before he de-
parted he was a sound man.
A few years ago the old church was re-
moved, and large and handsome brick
edifice now occupies its place. The cost
Of the church has been very great IN pro-
portion 10 its character, on account Of the
difficult roads. 1t is said TO have cost
about Sl6,OOO, and is not yet quite COM
pleted, there being nothing but rude
benches for the wOrshipers. Rev. Father
Zimmer. of Hartford, dictates as pastor
at present, but the people of the cOngre-
CATION are endeavOring TO have resident
priest provided 10 minister TO their spirit
uai wants. One OF his flock says:
eLOuis Marines, Of Hartford, was the
first man cured or the hill. When he
came there he had no use Of his limbs be-
low the knee, but went on crutches. He
went on the hill every day, and one day a
lady-eame into my house and asked two
neighbOrs who were there 10 20 up upon
the bill and help the poor man down, as
be was very bad and could not kneel, sit
Oh lie down, and that he was CRYING
out with pain all the time. 1 was laid
MP In bed and the neighbOrs were
playing cards with me. Before we
nau our game done we heard some
one singing and shouting, and looking
out saw Marines coming along on one
crutch and swinging the other in his
hand. The next day he left one crutch at
the church, and the following day left the
other and walked with a cane only. |
said 10 him then that ] could not believe
that be had been as bad OF as he pretend.
cd Az this the tears came in his eyes,
and he showed me his limbs, which, with
his feet, were nothing but skin and bone.
This was several years ago, and since
that time Marines has become entirely
well, and is a big, heavy, healthy man.
lie keeps a store In Hartford, where he is
known as Cheap john