The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-05-26
Single Copies S Cents.


Van Cortlandt family, on summit Of the
hill west of the mansion. 1t commanded
an extensive view of the Hudson south
ward, with the entire range Of the Palisades
from Pierm ont to Hoboken.
At little west of the cemetery, at the
the main land, is the site Of the old
fort or castle of Kitch-a-wan tthe original
name of the Croton RiyerD was pointed out.
II is said 10 haye been the oldest Indian
fort south of the Highlands. 1t was built
by the Sachem Croton, and there he gath
cred his parties for hunting or for war. Al
little east of the site OF the fort we came
to Kitch-s-wan burying ground, in beau
tiful nook at the entrance to Haunted
Hollow" concerning which old supersti-
tions supplied many weird stories of early
times. The people believed that they saw
in the groves and glens tins forms Of the
departed red-men whom they called the
Walking Sachems of Teller's Point.
Only one Of the twin sisters could be
seen-Mrs. Miriam Wllliams--the other,
Mrs. Eunice McCord, being too feeble in
mind and body TO receive yisitors. Their
maiden name was Teller, and they had
long been widows. They we're descendants
Of Andrew Teller, who in 1911 married a
daughter of Oloff SteYensonVan Cortlandt,
and sister of the first proprietor OF the
Van Cortlandt Manor. "Teller's Point"
received its name from descendant of his
who occupied it.
The memory of Mrs Williams seemed to
be but very little impaired by age, her recol-
lections Of her childhood and early woman
hood being very vivid. She well remem-
bered incidents connected with the en-
campment of the American army at Yer
planck's Point, in the fall of 1852. She
and her sister were then twelve years of
age. She remembered seeing Washington
ride up to the gate III front Of their house
one day, with single attendant, dismount
and ask her father, Who was standing near,
for some food, as he had been detained on
business below. The twins were standing
at the door as the General entered the
"ouSN' 0h" p'''SihH hio HdHuS oIt iHelT
heads said:
"You look as much alike as two eggs may
you have long life"
"The wish Of the great man has been
granted" said Mrs. Williams, "for we
haye lived long. We were ninety years
old last August. HIe had very little in the
house at that time wherewith to entertain
such guest. Ny mother could set upon
the little table only some cold ham, fresh
rye-bread, swee! butter, bit OF cheese and
some cold water We children were peep
ing through the open door into the room,
and ! remember as well as II il had hap
pened yesterday seeing General Washing
ton, before sitting down to partake OF the
simple meal, place one hand on the table
and closing his eyes ask blessing. Father
meanwhile, stood with his head uncovered
in the further part OF the room. And
here" said Mrs. Williams, ''is the very
table at which General Washington stood
and asked blessing pointing to a small
oval table standing near her.
'You seem to have much bodily strength
and good health,' | remarked, ''for wo-
man so old"
'Ycs, she answered; "sister and have
never had any dangerous sickness. We
were married when we were quite young;
have always lived prudent and generally
happy lives; aiways had plenty of sleep.
and were no gahabputs as most women are
nowadays. Why, you'll hardly believe me
when tell you that neither of us was ever
more than five or six miles f,om where We
were born, The Tellers are strong
bodied and long-lived people"
The story related TO me a few hours later
was a confiI mation OF the assurance that
the Tellers possessed great bodily vigor
''Do you remember the French army en-
camping near here the same fall when you
saw General WaShingtous'' inquired.
"Oh, yes" she said. "'rhey came from
the south. They crossed the river at Kings
Ferry, and marched by our house. They
encamped at Cromford, below mere. re-
member how afraid and yet delighted sister
and were as we watched them from our
window as they passed by. We never saw
so many soldiers. nor such glitterlng uni-
forms rs some of the officers wore; and we
never heard such drums beat. We were
bewlldered with the show, and dreamed OF
it many nights afterwards.
! said farewell to the venerable woman
on whose head the hand of Washington
bad been laid, and to whom kind words
had been uttered By his lips. At her
carriage in front of Mrs. IVllliams's house
1 parted company with Mrs Van Cortlandt,
and soon afterward rode to the house of a
friend about two miles further north.
With a neighbor of his we climbed to the
top Of Prickly Pear Hill, the summit Of
which, five hundred feet above the river
was quite thickly stTewn In some places
with species OF cactus bearing that name,
from which the eminenee derived its
title.
From that elevation we obtained most
extensive view OF the lower Hudson and
Its shores, and cluster Of localities OF the
most stirring events Of the old War for
Independence. That pinnacle Washington
made his chief point OF observation while
the American army was encamped near,
in the fall of 1882. There Washington
and his officers and Rochambeau and his
French officers had viewed the scenery tc-
gether with profound admiration. At one
sweep of the vision might be seen the
lofty cIags Of Highlands and the Fishkl.l
Mountains stretching eastward, with all
the intervening county adjacent, to Peek
skill, Verplanck's Point and Stony Point,
the theatres of important military events
during the War Of the Revolution, then
drawing 10 a close. Before them was
Haverstraw, near which Arnold and Andre
completed; 1eller's Point, off which the
Vulture lay when Andre went to meet