Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-09-29
A MISSOURI LEGEND
BY c. c. HAHN.

BY c. c. HAHN.
When the nov beautiful city of
QuincJ, in Illinois, was first founded
it was over in Missouri, at what is now
known as West Quincy, and consists of
O station and two houses, located in a
wide expanse of Missouri swamps. At
one time, however, there was quite a
village there, and the following ctory
will explain how it came to be aoan-
doned:
One autumn, n hunter, / man from
the East, who chose to pass his vaca-
ton in this manner, landed at West
Quincy, intending to make it his head
quarters while he hunted and tished up
and down the Mississippi River from
that point. He found deserted vii
lage of some two dozen houses, all
built after the same pattern except ~
plain four sided editice, somewhat
larger than the rest, which he at once
took for q Westinghouse. An eX-
animation of the interior showed
him that his srrmise was cor
rect. The platform in the western
end, the pulpit and the rough pews be-
low could have been used for nothing
else than preaching"
For months the man hunted along
the Missouri shore, making West
Quincy his headquarters, and as the
days grew cooler he began tearing down
the cottages one by one and using them
as fuel: At length he had burned down
every cottage in the place and as a last
resort began upon the meeting house.
1t lasted for seven days, and on the
eighth he was silently joined by a
traveller as he was enjoying his after
dinner smoke and meditating about
starting East in the morning. The
newcomer said nothing but good even
ing" and sat down by the fire which
was made from the sills of the old
church
"a curious thing, this--finding a de-
serted town." said the hunter at last.
"Would you like to hear its story 2"
asked the newcomer.
"Of course L would. Can you tell
it?" And he gave look of surprise
at his companion.
II can"
Ten years age q band of hun
ters and trappers located here to
carry on their trade. They were, most
of them, fear, fugitiyes from justice.
There was one man who was consid-
cred the leader because he had more
brains than the rest, and the men
called him Doc" L believe he did
take his degree in some Eastern medical
school. He ruled things, and the rest
did about what he said.
One day canoe came across the
river, bearing lady. 1t was seen
when it left the other shore by one of
the trappers who fastened up to in
form the rest that lady was coming
to visit them. OF course the news
created great excitement, for each one
had "a wife Or mother, a sister or
sweetheart back in the East, and each
wondered if it could be cher" When
the boat nearcd this side the whole
camp was down to meet it, and when it
was certain that it was woman on
board, Doc was appointed to go and
welcome her He did SO as calamity
as if he We're back East where he was
born, and after leading her up the shore
to little knoll few rods away
from the rest of the men, asked
who she was and why she came. OF
course, he expected to hear heI
namc some one of his companions and
announce that she had come to find
him. But nothing of the sort.
81 am in search of the lost sheep,
she replied. 81 have given up my life
to work among those who need Chris
tianity most. Woman can do what man
cannot, and am on my way to sta
ton a few miles farther inland, where |
expect to make my home and work
with other Christians in cstablishinga
church"
"Well, ma'am,' said Doc, with his
most polite manner, at is long ways,
and as it is pow late in the afternoon
you will be obliged to remain with lis
over night. We cannot offer you much,
but will give you the best we have.
Then, in the morning, some of orr men
will accompany you on your journey,
and--if you care to--we haven't heard
any preaching here for several years
if you care to, you might talk to the
boys tonight"
The lady assented and was taken to
the best camp in the place, which was
given up to her, and at night she
preached.
After the sermon, Doc called the
boys together on the quiet, and said:
Boys, it's only ten miles to the
place she's going to, and we must get
there as soon as we can. Tomorrow
we will break the sad news to her that
the settlement has been burned"
The next morning the lady was in
formed that the place to which she had
intended to go had been burned to the
ground, but, Doc added:
"Why not stay with us? We will
treat you well, will build you house
and church, and you can preach to
US every Sunday-preach to us as we'll