Wichita eagle., 1889-08-28
A MYSTERIOUS PLANT.
1t 3rarks the Scene OF IN Old Tragedy in
Western NeS York.

Western NeS York.
"For three quarters Of q century," says
resident Of Livingston county, three stalks Of
a plant which has rot been found in any
other psr. of the state, and seems to be gen.
orally unknown wsss Of Connecticut, have
sprung up every season, blossomed and gone
to seed on a spot between Avon Springs and
Caledonia, and have never had any increase
beyond the original number. This fact, and
the sudden and mysterious manner in which
the plant appeared at that particular place,
where it marks the scene Of a bloody tragedy,
committed il the pioneer days of western
New York, make the spot the object Of daily
visits, both from those who hvein the neigh
borhood and the summer sojourners at Avon
Springs.
''Fhe plans grows near the old state road,
on what was formerly part Of the Hosmer
estate. The state road, which was built in
1871, was the thoreughfare by which the first
emigrants from the east entered that portion
Of the Genesss valley. In>Octpber, 1874,
body of American troops, on its way from
Buffalo to Sackets' harbor over this road,
cauped for monday rations near the road
side, not far from the Hosmer homestead. It
was on Sunday, and the previous day had
been pay day among the troops. The men
had all their pay with them, no opportunity
having offered Tor spending any Of it. The
troops resumed their march after eating their
rations. Soon after they had left the spot
two soldiers who were evidently stragglers,
were seen about the deserted camp. Toward
the middle of the afternoon the report of a
gun was heard at the Eosner house, coming
from the direction Of the camp. No attention
was paid TO it, bur half an hour later some
persons who visited the camp, where the fires
were still smouldering, discovered the dead
body Of a soldier lying in the bushes close by.
There was bullet hole in his temple The
body had evidently been dragged to its place
Of corcealmelt, and it was partly covered
with leaves The news Of the finding of the
dead soldier Was at once forwarded to head
quarters. It was found there that PriVates
John Alexander and Baxter were missing
The body Of the dead man Yves identified as
that OF Private Alexander, Search was made
for Baxter, and he was taken into custody at
Buffalo. Ee had on bis person the amount
OF bis own pay end the amount that Alex
ander had received. All the circumstances
SO plainly 6xed the murder of Alexander
upon Baxter that speedy trial, conviction
and execution followed.
Alexander was buried near the spotwhere
his body was found The next year plant
never before seen III the region, and of a spe-
cies that was entirely unknown to any one
who lived in the valley, sprang up on the
murdered mans grave This stalk was fol-
lowed by the appearance Of two similar ones.
As they grew again the succeeding year in
exactly the same spot and powhere else, and
appeared in the same manner with She COM
ing of every spring, bioSsoniing regularly at
the time wheat was ready for cutting, they
began to attract wide attention. Mr.. G. W.
Clinton, of Buffalo, fGauy discovered that
the plant was of the species known in Con-
necticut as false cromwell. 1t was also
learned chat Alexander, the murdered sol
der, had come from place in Connecticut
where the plant was common. How it came
to spring up in that solitary spot, to mark
the grave OF native OF tue soil TO which it
was itself indigenous has never been ex-
planned, and that its seed has never taken
root anywhere else ii the vicinity is a mys-
terry.
There is another vegetablescuriosity in
the vicinity Of Avon Springs which botanists
have found nowhere else. 1t is remarkable
dubious root which formerly grew on the
Genesee fats in abundance. It lies few
inches below the surface and grows horizon
tally to the length Of four or five feet, and
frequently attains diameter of nine inches.
It resembles small log. From it springs a
bright green vino. not unlike a strawberry
zine, which bears sniell purplish blossom.
The Indians, relics end reanindets Of whose
occupancy of those rich fats still abound,
called this root the man Of the ground
They attributed great meGicinai virtues TO
it, but if it has any il is yet 10 he discovered
by the white people. Ysd Jacket, as the ira
dition Is, annually ID wnere the present
Avon Springs stat, q the Eric railroad is,
for the purpose OF G tug this roor. as well
SIS TO take advantage the mineral waters,
the peculiar and bene6cial medicinal proper
ties of which were well known to the Indians
long before the Geuesee country was known
to the whites "-Hammondsport II. " Cor.
New York Sun.