Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-08
A MYSTERIOUS PLANT.
It Marks the Scene Of an Old Tragedy In
Western New York.


Western New York.
For three quarters OF a century, saysa
resident of Livingston county, three stalks of
a 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, blossomed and gone
10 seed, on 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 parks 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
The plant 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 thoroughfare 10y which the first
emiSrants from the east entered that portion
of the Gemesee valley In October, 1914. a
body of American troops, on its way from
Buffalo TO Sackets' harbor over this road,
camped for MONDAY rations near the road
side, not far from the Hosmer homestead. 1t
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 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
the middle OF the afternoon the report of
gun was heard at the Hosmer house, coming
from the direction of the camp. No attention
was paid 20 it, but half an hour later some
tal ha nh -,
were still smouldering, discovered the dead
body of soldier lying in the bushes close by
There was bullet hole in his temple. The
body had evidently been dragged to its place
II concealment, and it was partly covered
With leaves. The news of the finding of the
dead soldier was at once forwarded TO head
quarters Ii was found there that Privates
John Alexander and Baxter were missing
The body Of the dead man was identified as
that OF Private Alexander Search was made
tor Baxter, and he was taken into custody at
Buffalo. He had on his person the amount
ot his own pay and the amount that Alex
ander had received. All the circumstances
so plainly fixed the murder of Alexander
upon Baxter that a speedy trial, conviction
and execution followed
Alexander was buried near the spot where
his body was found. The next year a plant
never before seen in 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 nowhere else. and
appeared in the same manner with the com
ing of every spring, bloSsoming regularly at
the time wheat was ready for cutting, they
began TO attract wide attention. Mr.. q. W
Clinton, of Buffalo, finally discovered that
the plant was of the species known in Con
necticut as false CROMWELL 1t was also
learned that Alexander, the murdered sol
dier, had come from n place in Connecticut
where the plant was common. How it came
to spring up in that solitary spot, to mark
the grave Of a native Of the soil TO which it
was itself indigenous, has never been ex-
planned, and that its seed has never taken
root anywhere else in the vicinity is a mys
terry.
There is another vegetable curiosity in
the vicinity of Avon Springs which botanists
have found nowhere else. II is remarkable
hulbous root which formerly grew on the
Genesee fats in abundance. It lies a few
inches below the surface and grows horizon
tally to the length Of four or five feet, and
frequently attains diameter of nine inches
1t resembles a small log. From it springs a
bright green vine, not unlike a stra wberry
vine, which bears small purplish blossom
The Indians, relics and reminders Of whose
occupancy Of those rich fats still abound,
called this root the man of the ground
They attributed great medicinal virtues to
1t, but If it has any it Is yet to be discovered
by the white people. Red Jacket, as the ira
1ttion Is, annually camped where the present
Avon Springs station OF the Erie railroad is,
for the purpose OF collecting this root, as well
as TO take advantage of the mineral waters,
the peculiar and beneficial medicinal proper
ties OF which were well known TO the Indians
long before the Genesee country was known
TO the whites. ~ -Hammondsport N. " Cor
New York Sun.