The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-09-07

Pathetic Account Of How Divin-
ity Student f1ade the Place
His Lonely Abode.

! The Catholic Church Daes Not
Sanction the Visits of the n
Afflicted Pilgrims.
What Lourdes is to the Roman Cath
olics Of France and Western Germany
! Holy Hill, in Wisconsin, is rapidly be
coming to the followers Of the church in
the Northwest. Each year sees an in
| crease in the number of pilgrims who
visit the place, until now it is estimated
| that before the present season OF wcr-
ship closes next October, nearly $4,000
persons will have journeyed to the shrine
where so many claim to nave been freed
from their physical suftetings, says the
Chicago Tribune
Known far and wide as the scene OF
many alleged miraculous cures the hill
i'll itself is as picturesque and beautiful
as can be found in Wisconsin, while its
history in book and legend lends it an
element of romance which makes it still
more attractive. Owing to its peculiar
shape the little mountain is remarkable
for miles in all directions. It's steep
sides and pointed summit render it a
marked place, while in addition to this
the fact that it is the only one of the
hills in the range to which it belongs
that is covered with forest makes it still
more noticeable. The other hills with
their gentle slopes are adapted to farm
ing, but the steep sides of Holy Hill pre-
vented any one claiming it from the gov
eminent until Father Paulhaber secured
it as place where members Of the Ro~
man Catholic church could go and in
dulge in meditation and prayer.
1t is only of late years that it has been
government survey it is noted as Lap~
hams Peak, being named from the hill
range to which it belongs. Later it was
given the name of Hermit's HILL by the
farmers who lived near it, and still later
when the story Of the cures performed
upon it began to attract public atten
ton, gathered it's present designation.
It is situated in the town Of Erin, Wash
ington county, and is the highest point Of
land in Eastern Wisconsin. Erin,
though but 40 miles from Milwaukee, is
one Of the most primitive townships in
The state. 1t is occupied solely by farm
ers and claims neither factory, village,
nor hamlet. The government census
shows that in the 20 years from 1870 to
1890, the population Of the township in
creased just IS. Many Of the residents
still occupy the log houses their fathers
built when they secured the land from
the government, while many of the
newer houses are built Of logs roughly
hewn into shape with an ;lx. Other
houses are queer composites OF rough
stcne work and wood, and some with
second stories whfch project over the
lower resemble the block forts built by
the early settlers for defense against the,
indians Nearly all the residents of the
place are Roman Catholics. The first
settlers were immigrants from Ireland
who gave the name OF their island birth
place to the township which the United
States gave them. Later on came Ger
mans, and now little beyond the name of
the place remains to show the nationality
Of the pioneers .s
Art could do little to add to the beauty
of the place, for in it's wilderness and
freedom from all that suggests toll and
labor is a charm greater than any land
scape gardner could produce. The en-
tire country is rugged and cut by deep
ravines and water courses. There are no
rocky precipices, yet the whole region in
spires feeling of strange power. The.
approach to the hill by the roads from
Hartford, Rugby Junction, Of Schles-
ingerville-from either of which points
it can be reached-is much the same
TIE roads are of ordinary country char
acter and wind about among the hills,
twisting and turning to avoid the steep
inclines which constantly face the trav-5
eler. Scattered here and there along the
highways are the quaint homes which
have sheltered the owners of the soil for
generations, and will probably stand for
years to come. The country is one where
changes are few, and the innovations
made at Holy Hill itself are the greatest.
5s The cone shaped peak of the hill can
be seen for a mile in all directions, and
upon the very summit lis the chapel So
pointed was the knob of the hill that
there was not sufficient level space upon
it for the foundations OF the church, and
the builders found it necessary to cut
away the earth. AS it Is there is a tract
Of level ground about the church barely
wide enough to form q walk. With such