Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-09-22
THE INDIAN SPRING.
A Place Where Spectre Is Said to
Warn Mortal Friends of Danger.

Within a radius of a few milss
OF Pittsburg there are number OF
places that have associations connected
with them, dating back nearly hun
dred years in some instances, that lend
to them an interest and attractiveness
that almost rivals the legends which
cluster around the early days OF the
points of interest in the primitive days
of the Ea t and Northwest. One
of these spots is the scene Of what is
still known as the Indian spring. 1t is
situated on the Ohio rIver, about sevee
miles from Pittsburgh, and on the
verge of the village Of Laurel, on the
Fort Wayne railroad. Ask any OF the
early settlers, who still reside In that
section, about the places of interest in
their neighborhood, and they will
invariably refer you to the Indian
spring. A few years ago they would
have related romantic legend con-
nected with the Turkey Foot Rocks"
a mile further down the river, but the
ercroachments of the railroads have
obliterated those Indian signs of
turkeys foot, that showed boldly on a
steep precipice where the wonder was
how any mortal could ever have
climbed to such dizzy height to rudely
paint them. But the water from the
Indian spring still trickles down into
the ravine and forms little brook that
gurgles down the hillside and soon
mingles with the waters OF the Ohio
river.
Less than ten years ago scarcely any
other spot in Western Pennsylvania
presented q more wild, weird and pic
tnresqae scene than this spring. Over
head was natural roof that crept out
and far beyond the crevice In the rock
where the water trickled from; a roof
that was formed OF countless delicate
veins of sandstone. Above the roof a
dense growth of oak and locust trees
bent over and threw out their branches
as though making an endeayor 10 still
further shield the crystal water from
the rays of the sun. So completely had
nature hid the spring that the shadows,
even at midday, might delude one into
the belief that eventide was close
at hand. Underneath the ledge cf
rocks and far back there was Single
crevice III the rocks. From this poured
forth clear, cool stream that within
the recollection Of the Oldest residents
has never ceased to flow, 20 difference
how great the summer drouth or how
parched was the eartl above. In the
center was little roOni Of pebbles, and
on all sides were dense growth OF
ferns and wild grass and flowers.
The legends OF hundred yeaIs ago
have so associated this spring with the
Indians that it still bears their name.
1t is said that the spring was their
favorite resort, II was on the tortuous
path that led up from the Ohio river to
the highlands. The roaming nature OF
the Indians frequently took them from
the hills and valleys beyond the Ohio
river across the waters In their canoes;
Their fayorite Place for disembarkira
was at the hill at the foot of this spring.
There the deep line Of precipltous hills
were broken, and through the little
ravine they wound their way. stop ilg
at the spring, wheIe the cool retreat
afforded them many Il pleasant hour TO
rest. In latter years several legends
have sprung up, most probably the
work of fertile imagination, In which
the Indians were the romantic centers.
1t is said that as far back as the earl est
settler can remember that the spring
has lie, n haunted. On dark, and par
stormy nights, 1t is said that
often when the farmers were driving
home at midnight, from market, th t
a stately figure was seen stalking
the dense laurel bushes where
a path still leeds 10 the spring, and
that the figure, after Ieachiug the ledge
Of rocks ovelhangiDg the spring, and
which commanded View for miles up
and down the Ohio river, would
suddenly wild y wave light to and fro
as though signaling to mortal friends
who were in danger. Ga other occa.
sions. according to the legend, the
weirdnesS of the ghostly surroundings
was still more awe-inspirlng by the
wonderful tinkling of bells in the still
ness OF the night that seemed 10
be Iung by some unseen hand who
owner was apparently stand
ing on the ledge Of tbs haunted rocks.
These legends and ghostly stories
have been handed down and narrated
for ages past, and still may be heard
when the work of supernatural agen-
cies are related at the Laurel tiresldes
in the winter. In these more en-
Iightened days there are not few peo-
PIE who are said to feel a chill steal over
them If occasion should require them
to pass near the SPOT on dark night,
when the storm-clouds are at war with
one another.
The Indian spring, however, still
remains, and the pure, cold water
gushes forth the same as OF yore. But
the bridge across the ravine, thai was
formed by fallen tree, has mOldered
away. Within the past month one of
the greatest of civiliZers and landmark
destroyers, a prosaic oil-pipe line, has
been laid through the Iavine that leads
to the spring, and one-half of the last
trace of the early sources of the spring
are oblieerated.
Capital Punishment.