Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-05-16
CORRESPONDENTS.

The story OF u FroStDurS Huruy-
Gurdy.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
During the recent visit of Andrew
Roy to Frostburg many stories and
anecdotes of old times were revived
and re.told. Mr.. Roy is generally
known. having been for many years
resident of this region. His father
settled here away back in the fortes.
Mr.. Roy knew all the pioneer miners
the Percys, Sloans, Tenants, old Bill
Parker, father of the Eckhart mer-
chant, old Andy Lancaster, and many
others who have long been gathered
TO their fathers.
One of the many "reminiscences
every visit of Mr.. Roy to his former
home is the story of the hurdy-gurdy.
This was a fine barreled organ, which
belonged to a Catholic priest of Frost
burg forty years ago. The priest an
nounced that he would rattle the organ,
and ON the appointed day every mem
Der of his congregation, as we'll as
many friends outside of the Catholic
church, "tried their luck" at the
rattle. The prize fell to the late David
w. Roy, younger brother of Andrew,
and the organ was carried home in
triumph to Pompey Smash to the house
of Roy.
For several years the hurdy-gurdy
discoursed Its music for the edifcation
of the denizens of Pompey. Then the
war came on and many of the young
men of the region enlisted, some OF
them walking over to Pennsylvania to
get enrolled in the first regiments
raised in that State. In the early part
of 1868 Andrew Roy returned from the
front with bullet-hole through his
body, received in one of the bloody
battles of the Peninsula. He had been
reported as mortally wounded, and
found his mother wearing mourning
for him.
The welcome and unexpected return
of Mr.. Roy as one risen from the dead
was the occasion of many congrat.
uatory visits from various old friends,
among whom was the late Alexander
Sloan, father of the present able and
popular States Attorney of this county.
The hurdy-gurdy was brought out and
all its sweet airs played for the edifca-
ton of Mr.. Sloan's children, one of
whom was his daughter, Maggie, then
a bright and vivacious little girl of 6
years of age. Little Maggie was an
inveterate and uncompromising South
ern sympathizer and had resisted and
spurned all overtures to bring her back
to = love for the old flag. When she
heard the organ play she at once de-
sired to possess it, and promised both
father and mother that she would be
good little girl for all time if they
would get her that organ. Mr.. Roy,
seeing her eagerness, proposed to make
her a gift of it on condition that she
would give up fealty to the cause of the
South and become loyal little lady.
To the surprise of all present the girl
consented. She remained true to her
pledge. stoutly declaring ever after
ware that she was for the Union, and
at the close of the war Mr. Roy turned
over to Maggie the coveted organ. de-
claring in Gen. Sherman's language
when he captured Atlanta-'the organ
was Maggie's and fairly won."
The hurdy-gurdy was played for all
1t was worth by all of Sandy Sloan's
boys and girls until it got out of fix and
required repairing. David w. Sloan,
Maggie's big brother" then half
grown man, conceived the idea of
taking it to pieces and reconstructing
1t himself, but, as time has proved,
Dayid was better fitted by nature for
expounding Blackstone than for mend
ing hurdy, gurdies. Henceforth ''there
was no music in its SOUL" and it was
"fit for treason, stratagems and spoils."
its glory had departed and the young
hearts of the house of Sandy Sloan
were no longer thrilled with its sweet
melodies. The organ still survives and
is now in the possession of Mr.. Jona-
than Radcliffe, of Pompey. ~