The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-13
ANCIENT WINDMILL Is SOLD
1t has Worked Away for One Hundred and
Fifty Years.

IShrs.
Nantucket, Mass, Aug. s-The old
windmill which has stood crowning the
summit of NIL hill' for $50 years Will
60 under the customers hammer to-
morrow a. 10 o'clock.
II has ground no grist Of grain for
many years, but it has become in its
dotage the sign manual Of the island.
No one would think of coming to town
without inspecting this antique struc.
ture, as it stands overlooking the vil-
lage, stretching its sailless arms to the
heavens as II pronouncing benediction
upon all who pay ii homage.
Here it was at the time OF the revoiu-
ton, when il saw the British land on
the island and in a few hours loot the
stores and carry away $4,000 Of the
thrifty old quakers' savings.
1t was here when the youth Of the town
went by hundreds in answer to the cali
of President Lincoln.
II was the first to see the massive
whalers when they returned from four
years voyage. Ike golden argosies,
loaded with thousands of dollars worth
of oil, the vintage of the deep. Then
there was only one town in the United
States richer than Nantucket, in pro-
portion to the number OF Inhabitants.
In its later days the old patriarch has
witnessed the degeneration OF the
islands great industry. and it sometimes
seems as Z the altitude of its arms was
an invocation to heaven for the old days
10 return.
II these later days the old mill sees
a strange and newer crowd advancing
t. is STE. It must be f1attered to find
itself Photographed, etched. painted in
ellis AMI water color.- and circulated
throughout all the world.
When the heavenly laden excursion
beats arrive in the summer. the pas
seHs ars go by the hundreds 70 Mill hill
which also furnishes an excellent view
Of the old whaling town.
Its most distinguished visitor this year
was Grover Cleveland. who came here
on TIE Oneida and spent few hours
here with Mr.. Benedict. The ex-preSi-
dent was in an extremely jovial mood
and cracked few jokes at the expense
of the old mill.
Its gray sides, with moss-covered
shingles. seem in appropriate keeping
with the quaker ancestry Of the town.
The whole place is a vision Of gray, and
artists delight in the somber tints they
find here. Although there are few Of
toe old Friends left. the old mill remains
true t. the old traditions and wears the
gray in all seasons.
There is no doubt that the old mill was
lo+ ;y>
the massive doorstep of stone. Il is
said that it was erected for Eliakim
Swain. and when he passed away his
son Timothy tended II for many years.
1t i interesting TO note that it was
constructed Of oak which was grown
just across Dead Horse valley. This
fact adds greatly 10 the historical i'm
port7nce of the structure. for there are
= few who DOUBT that oak ever grew
here % sufficient size to make timber.
1t is extremely extinct al tire present
time and The only species of the family
is tho scrub oak. which, II course could
never he fused Is building material
TIE old mill. however. ought to be
good evidence that there were oak for
ests here; for no one would be likely to
import - expensive building material
for the construction OF windmill.
If the traditions are 10 De relied on, |
the old mill once had a narrow escaoe |
from destruction. I. * said that II was
sold - Jared Gardner in 1928 for $50. Mr.. !
G2rlner intended to tear Il down and
make Il into frewood. But ne found |
tSat the framework was 50 sound that |
( was WORTH repairs, and the relic was
saved.
There was once three others il is said |
waich stood On the same hill. and waved |
their arms IN unison. 70 the song Of the !
working machinery inside. Thus the old !
mill is the last Of rs race.
During the revolution the millerxorl- |
ed a. the perl OF his life: once. We are
told. British cruiser in Nantucke,
sound fired cannon ball right through
the mill. within a foot Of the rnirsr,s
head.
Another time little girl INDUCED in
ne dangerous sport OF grasping one o.
ne Vanes as il began torevolve and was
,arried around the circle She IS said
% have accomplished this feat witnou. /
injury. but none % her playmates ever
-rie3 the experiment
Strangely enough, there are as vet n,
ghost stories attached 10 t. The old
n:llers were AL respectable citizens, ans
nave been allowed 10 rest in their graves
n peace.
The interior Of the NIL has two sto-
les and remains jus: Is II il had bl,. iust
finished its labors- AL the rude machin-
'ry stands as il did generations ago.
Many hundreds % summer people have
'Eaved the hard oak ana have irnnnor-
a ilzed themselves with the penknife.
Tffe auction saie VII De an event os
nuch interes, 10 the summer visitors
lnS the natives alike. and the hill viii
e ihronSe1 at 10 o'clock. The owner
Z the pr"9erty died about two years
so, and since then the fate OF the oil
tructure has been a subtec, .. much
pecuia1lon.
= is earnestly desired that II shall
ecome the property ot some person or
'siety which would preserve it. II the