The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-02-14
TALE OF wALLINGFORD.

ATALE OF wALLINGFORD.
Nearly one hundred years ago strange
occurrence gave rise TO the following
legend.
The location is on the western range
of the Green Mountains and is familiar
to pleasure seekers for miles around
The old Back" is located near the CEN
ter of the town of Wallingford, and If
the northern extremity Of white Rocks
All the year it is silent and grim, seem
ingly awaiting the return of those VINO
years ago dwelt in it's bosom,
The time was when Dandy was the
only place where provisions and other
necessaries could be obtained in that re-
gion. Near the base OF the mountain Is
the Bump Place." so called from the
farmer who at that time occupied the
premises, 1t was one of the few scatter.
ing farms in the Otter Greek valley,
whose lowlands were as productive oil
fever and ague as they now are of farm
crops, and whose enclosing hills were
the abiding place of rsttlers and adders'
The Bump family consisted of the par
ents and three sons. One evening a
light was seen by the family some dis
lance down the mountain which burned
until near midnight, Apparently it was
some two miles down the Back" Ii
was not thought strange until few
nights after the same thing happened
again.
The next evening two Spaniards called
for milk and paid for it in silver. Al
nearly regular intervals tie beacon
burned on the mountain side and one
night one of the boys discovered hre
on the face of the "Back."
Curiosity was at last aroused 80 that
enquiries were made and it was found
that the same Spaniards went to DInoy
for supplies and that the beacon was
guide to their mountain.
People began to wonder why these
sons of Spain were there 50 long. Ger
tainly the mountain promised but poor
subsistence to these adventures when
winter seized the rocks in its icy grasp
at length one of the Bump boys. more
daring than the rest followed the Span
lards to the place of abode. He found
they dwelt in large cavern, and that
there were three of them, the third be-
ing the one to guard their cave and at
tend to the cooking. He also saw thai
they were armed and appeared to be pre-
pared for anything. This caused him to
beat a hasty retreat, 80 hasty, that ut
started a huge boulder which went
crashing down the Back" sweeping
everything before it. In trying to run
on the steep and dangerous place he fell
and was soon in the hands of the out
laws, who threatened his life If he moved.
At the house the people were becom
ing frightened at his long absence. and
late in the evening had determined to &c
in search of him when he returned pale
and trembling. In answer TO their in
uuiries he only shook his heed and
seemed incapable of telling where he
had been, and for long time it was
mystery. T.,
A dav or two after, the mountain side
was found to be IN flames and the same
night a slide occurred caused by the &C.
ton of the heat on the rocks, taking one
third of the mountain side, precipitatinR
it at the western base shapeless mass
of broken boulders, trees and earth
They may be seen today as they fell q
century ago.
of the Spaniards were seen the day Of
the fire with goods packed for a long
journey, making their way from the
place.
After few years the boy who fol
lowed them to their cave told his father
about it and the third Spaniard. but
would say nothing further. He was
urged to lead some neighbors &c the spot
but would not. The boy became man
and Just before his death told something
about it The Spaniords bound him and
threatened to Kill him if he ever dis
closed what he saw. There are, said
he, great quantities of gold and silver
coin IN that cave, could see 1t piled in
heaps near machine that seemed t.
have been used in making it. But more
l cannot say. He passed through life
haunted by the threats OF these men and
died with the horror of them before his
mind.
Search has been made for the cave,
and Sleeping Beauty" has told where
to dig, but no one has succeeded in find
ing it. The Glide probably obliterated
all traces OF it.
The Spaniards have belief that if one
of their number be slain his spirit will
third Spaniard's shade is still guarding
their boarded wealth A few years age
some choppers cut into some meta
which proved to be pewter lamp OF
torch used by the Spaniards for beacon
Another story is that some sixty years
since, an old man, evidently Spanlard
was seen examining the face of tbs
mountain. Was he enc of the myster
ious three Now in summer time many
gay picnic party from Rutland or Other
adjoining towns enjoy the fine scenery
and drink of the ice water issuing from
beneath the ruin of once symmetrica
mountain.
The picnic grounds are known by the
name of "the ice bed" from the fact thai
ice is to be found here even in the hot
test months.
The old crest is still reared toward the
sky, silent witness of its strange his
tory. And when, if ever, its heart is
discovered and the tabled wealth i,
made to do service, then will the mys-
terry be cleared away, but now it is only
tradition. a mix ure Of fact and fiction
g. L. E TdrbeH an Vermont Monthly