Wichita eagle., 1890-01-05
TALES OF THE POTOMAC.
FOLK LORE THN HAS INVESTED
THE RIVER WITH MYSTERIES.

mat are 1radftfonals
Folk lore is a study which has its at
fractions for almost every one. bat there
are few. at least in Washington. who
have devoted as much time 70 it. or
whose Investigations into the realms Of
quaint sayings and queer superstitions
have been attended with more interest
ing results than those Of Mr. William Il
Babcock, who has contributed many val
liable articles on the folk lore Of America
10 leading journals both in England and
this country. In recent article he tells
of legend which has host of believers
along the banks Of the Potomac, in the
vicinity of Little Falls, which is only
about three miles above Georgetown.
The story runs that in the early DAYS OF
Washington. during one of the first Brit
ISL expeditions against the colonists.
q number of soldiers, one OF them a
drummer boy. attempted TO cross the
river at a point about a quarter of a
mile south OF the falls. just before the
MARYLAND shore was reached the boat was
overturned and the drummer drowned.
and ever since persons rowing over the
spot where he went down can hear the
muffied notes of the drum and his spirit
plays the dead march. The place is gen.
orally given wide berth by those who
know the story.
THE PIN CUSHION STONE
Another story which comes from along
the banks of the Potomac is that Of the
pin cushion stone which marks the cross
roads Just before Mount Vernon is
reached. In the old days when that his
torical spot was alive with the happy
voices of the plantation darkies. man
killed his wife in a quarrel over pin
cushion, and IS the murdered woman
fell over the stone it has since been called
the pin cushion stone, and Il said 10 10
possessed Of an evil spirit
A venturesome farmer, TO show his
contempt for the stone and Its traditions.
once took il home with hirn and placed
it in his barn. That very night the barn
caught fire and WAS burned to the
ground, and as he met with n succession
of disasters, his experiment. tended only
to increase the popular belief in tho
stone, and it was subsequently, taken
back to its original resting place.
In travelling about the country in the
vicinity Of Washington one is struck by
the changes wrought by time even in tho
names of places On the banks of the
Anacostia river Is enc of the most
charming spots in the neighborhood Of
Washington, and is favorlte resort for
picnickers from the city. 1t is known
I p
urally suppose the spot had been named
in honor of President lincoln; but that
such is not the case Is vouched for by
| many persons who remember when IL
was Lickin Bank, and even this was rot
its original name. Ii seems 1t was first
known by Old trappers, who designated
| il az the Lick in the Bank" and &c has
| gradually grown into its present cogno-
| men of Lincoln Bank.
Further up in Maryland is a village
now known as Forrestville. but which in
| past years was known as Long Old
| Fields. Civilization ilow cd in two streams
| up the valleys of the PatexsEt and Pc
| tomac. The former was the greater.
| having the richer roofing and broader
! base. Its outpost waB on the crest OF
| the rough ridge which separates them.
and which was and r. to this day viii
! derness here long fields were cleared
| along the road at an early day. and In
| time grew into old long fields. The travel
! from valley to valley halted here as At a
/ half way house, and does 20 now. For
| generations it has been known ~ Old
/ Long Fields, and il was only recently
/ that its name has been changed by the
| postoffice department.
! ORIGIN or SOME sUPEEsTTroys.
| As far as can be learned the greater
| number Of traditions and superstItIons
| which are familiar in America had their
! origin in England and upon the cont
nent, but there are many which seem 20
| have originated among the slaves in ante
| beiium days. They have been handed
| down from generation to generation
| until thew have come u form part OF the
religion Of q VAT rna iority OF the negroes.
and in the interior Of many soutbsrn
stetes, where plantation life is but little
changed from. what II was forty OF fifty
! years ago, the farm hands have Tho
| greatest terror q a voudoo doctor. ard
believe implicitly in his power 70 work
| them good or III, whichever lie sees IT.
But the belief IN Old saws Is not con-
| fined 70 the colored race By any means.
for there ID many faSmer who viii not
plant his crops ave in the dark OF tbs
Isoou." and any one who has lived Ia
seahosrd town hzs heard many = tfnao
the merry notes Of the sailors tn q pas-
sing sloop ss they "whztte for the WIND. ;"
In many bornsdsad spider VIII %
allowed - 1--we. as the lord CT the manor
ia con vincad that 70 kill one will surely
cause diszssser 70 fail upon htrnsed or fam
lily. There u also a sup~rstItson. com
mon IA many isew England stairs. To
the effect mat il t~o persons arc walk
ing along hard In hand and n1s<t with q
post or any obstacle which osus>s thsEn
~ separate, that the one whe Passes On
the right Of u viii 20 70 b~svvn and thS
other 20 hsI-W arlington Pos
A Singular Community.