The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-11-30
THE SIX ROADS GHOST.

old friend as they drove along, approach.
Ing the south branch of the Railway
river at the Six Roads
"Ghost2 Whose ghostg' was the nat.
ural query.
81 have never seen the unquiet shade
myself, but popular tradition, assigns the
specter to a handsome British officer
who had his career summarily adjourn.
ed sine die, at this first bridge while he
was busy trying to coerce the revolu.
tionary rebels into love and duty for his
master, King George ILL.,"
BY the time he had made this explana.
ton we were across the bridge, and ou1
horse had given spasmodic Jump as
though he had seen the ghost, but it was
only ruminative COW that breathed a
sigh In the nearby pasture.
"Well, regarding your ghost. What is
its history and who has seen it2"
Several people claim to have seen it,
and It is also fair to say that there are
quite number more who are willing to
swear that they have not seen it, although
they have looked for it conscientiously,
l belong to the latter class myself. I
look for that ghost every night that
cross that bridge. Not that particularly
want to see it or that have any special
business with either British officers OF
their unquiet shades. but because it is
very natural that, when a man is told
that ghost may be seen in a certain
place, he will look orit there, and at the
same time solemnly asseverate that he
don't believe in ghosts in any form.
"Now, as to the history of this particu-
lar ghost, if ghost can be said to have
history. which | claim is open to doubt,
will give you the tradition the folk lore
OF the vicinity furnishes. Before the
iron horse knocked the business and the
romance out of many country tavern.
the locality known as the six Roads
was quite place. Previous to the build
ing of the turnpike road, in 1910, the
cross roads at that place was the rally
ing center for large district of coun.
try. Some of the earliest Fourths OF
July the country owned were celebrated
there with great pomp and ceremony,
and the patriotic glories of 'trainin' day
always drew there crowd who feasted
fought, drank and made merry with
great heartiness. Even before the Rev.
olutionary war there was a blacksmith
shop and several houses, besides the tav
ern, to give the place Importance, and
during the time that tried mems souls
some tragic events transpired near the |
old tavern.
"The south branch of the RAILWAY |
river runs about four hundred yards |
south from where the old revolutionary |
tavern stood, and dividing itself ON this |
low ground, required then, as now, two
bridges. In the revolutionary days, and |
for many years after, the bridge furthest |
from the tavern was single arch stone
structure, several feet higher than the |
road leading TO it from the south.
''At the time the British army Law
around New Brunswick and Perth Am
boy, Washington found his force toe
weak TO risk battle, and he retired tc
the mountains in the rear OF where
Bound Brook and Plainfield now flourish.
He could easily defend himself there. and
the British had the rare good sense to
know that to tackle George up among
those hills would be a most unhealthy
and Improbable investment of time,
talent and Hessians that cost too much
TO be wasted.
They were anxious, however, to draw
him out, and 10 that end frequently sent
out troops TO make threatening demon.
strations In that direction. These move.
ments Gen. Washington could see from
what Is now known as 'Washingtons
rock, back Of Plainiield, which has of
late years become very popular as a place
OF resort for special picnickers who de
sire 10 get rained ON.
washington viewed these British
demonstrations apparently with exasper-
ating calmness; but he sometimes sent
Gen. Morgan down to interview the In
truders, whereupon tho British suddenly
discovered that they had pressing busi.
ness al Perth Amboy, and lost no time
in getting there.
"One day a small British command
with two pieces OF artillery was cut on
one OF these raids, and came down from
Woodbridge towards the Six Roads. Onl
the way they stopped aud fired a round
shot over towards the old tavern. What
they did Il for. nobody knows, as there
was no one In sight. The ball finding
nothing else 10 assault, struck a rock out
By the barn and knocked a chunk OF Il
as big as a -four barrel. and the piece
lies there yet.
"An cid continental soldier, who passed
away many years ago, has left upon rec
ord that he ssw the ball strike the rock,
and that the pieces aew and humned
like the nation. A few minutes after
he saw young British officer come
down the road riding a very fine horse.
He was a good rider and the horse was
going al a smart trot as ho passed the
old tavern; but a few minutes later ho
came ON the fall run aud with an empty
saddle A patriot sentinel stood on the
hall BY the school house. near where the
Bramhall house i now. and when The
lfiioer got 10 the stone bridge and uas
about 70 oroas a. that sentinel shot him
lead.
''The circumstances would probably
never have excited especial Interest IN
Ihose piping times. fun Of the stirring
of vindictige warfare. had u
aoi heen that. after waiting for tbe dis
yusted royaliSts 10 retire. ths sentinol
vent 10 look for his game and could not
ind a. Tho body ~ the hFitish o. !
icer had mysterioualy disappeared. and
Ihough an active search was mads ii
lever was found
''fears after. when he Ga tavern uas
appis jack AMID aornea ~ paa-
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