Evening journal., 1889-08-24
A MYSTERIOUS PLANT.
II Marks the Scene Of an Old Tragedy In
Western New York.

- AtAS oNNtt Dl an OiU lTaEtuy IN
Western New York.
"For fhrec quarters Of century, saws a
reSidentof Livingston county, three stalks Of
plant which has not been found in any
Other part Of the state and seems to be gen
orally unknown west Of Connecticut, have
sprung up every season, blossoIned 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 aud mysterious manner in which
the plant appeared at that particular place,
where it marks the scene Of bloody tragedy,
committed in the pioneer days Of western
New York, make the spot the object of daily
visits, both from those who live in the neigh.
borhood and the summer sojourners at Avon
Springs
1.-THE plant grows near the old state road,
on what was formerly part Of the Hosner
estate The state road, which was built IN
l7al, was the thoroughfare by which the first
emigrants from the east entered that portion
Of the Genesee valley. In October, 1914, a
body Of American troops on its way from
Buffalo to Sackets' harbor over this road
canped for MONDAY ratons near the road
side, not far from the Hosmer homestead II
was ON Sunday, and the previous day had
been ray day among the troops The men
had all their pay with them, no opportunity
having offered for 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
.he midGle of the afternoon the report of a
gun was heard ar the uosmor house, coming
rom the direction of the camp No attention
was paid To it, but half an hour later some
persons who visited the camp, where the fires
we're still smouldering, discovered the dead
body Of a soldier lying ia the bushes close by
There was a bullet hole IN bis temple The
body had evidently been dragged to its place
% concealment, and it wes partly covered
With leaves. The news OF the finding Of the
Head 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 was Identified as
har 81 Private Alexander Search was made
for Baxter, and be was taken into custody at
Buffalo. He had on his person the amount
Of his own pay and the amount that Alex.
ander had received. All the circumstances
so plainly fixed the murder of Alexander
upon Baxter that speedy trial, conviction
and execution followed.
Alexander was buried near the spot where
lAa 0pfll WIS ARNitl ut itAL NtlI n pant
never before seen in the region, and Of a spe-
cics tnat was entirely unknown to any one
who lived il 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 nowhere else, and
appeared in the same manne6 with the com.
ing Of every spring, blossoming regularly at
the time wheat was ready for cutting, they
began to attract wide attention. Mr. G. W
| Clinton, Of Buffalo, finally discovered that
the plant was Of the species known in Con
| uecticut as false cromwell 1t was alsC
| learned that Alexander, the murdered sol
der, had come from place in Connecticut
1 where the plant was common. How it came
TO spring up in that solitary spot, 70 mari
the grave of a native OF the soil to which 1
J was itself Indigenous, has never been ex
| plained, and that its seed has never takel
| root anywhere else in the vicinity is a mys
terry.
There is another vegetable curiosity Il
the vicinity Of Avon Springs which botanist
have found nowhere else. IL is a remarkabl
bulbous root which formerly grew on th
Genesoe fats in abundance. 1t lies a FEY
inches below the surface and grows horizon
tally to the length OF four on live feet, an'
frequently attains diameter Of nine inches
1t resembles a small log. From it springs
bright green vine, not unlike a strnwberr,
vine, which bears small purplish blossom
The Indians, relics and reminders Of who's
occupancy Of those rich flats still abound
called this root the man Of the ground
They attributed great medicinal virtues &
it, but II it has any it Is yet TO be discovers
by the white people. Red Jacket, as the ra
dition Is, annually calnped where the presen
Avon Springs station Of the Erie railroad is
for the purpose oe collecting this root, as wei
as TO take advantage Of the mineral waters
the peculiar and beneficial medicinal proper
ties Of which were Wei known 90 the Indian
long before tho Gcnesee country was know
70 the whites "-Hammondsport a.. " Cor
New York sun.