The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21
ASrI.mAsoxRY, 4 REMrxIsoEScE.
Fnr.Reaehins Effects or the Esenne OF the
Freemn.on and Counterfetter. Evans.


"wbile reading in THE Sun recently tho
story Of the Buckshot war in the Pennsylvania
Legislature." said an old Pennsylvania. !
couldn't help but think that II one Evans
hadn't been arrested for countcrfeitinE Ia
central Pennsylvania the whole political MS
tory of the Keystone State. and perhaps OF tho
entire country, would have been changed. and
many OF the names tina. are now oh the list OF
our great men would not he there. The origin
Of the once powerful anti Masonic party has
always been associated with certain important
events and great political names. but It's true
origin was in Huntington county. Pehheyf
yania, before MORGAN was killed In BATAVIA,
y. Y. IL ho was killed, or before either Thad
Stevens or Thurlow Wood thought of the posi-
bilities that lay in such n movement.
Something over seventy years ago the peo-
ple OF Huntingdon county and adjacent parts
Of Pennsylvania discovered that. there was
quito as much counterfeit money in circula-
ton among them as good money, II not more.
IL was a long time before the source OF the
bogus stun could he traced. but IL was at last
discovered that Howard Evans. prominent
citizen OF Franklin township and tavern
keeper OF wide repute. together with his
bro thor in-law. Frank Beck. and man named
McParren. was. Tres ponsible for the coming ana
circulation OF the counterfeit money. Nc
parren was q woodchoDper. and had a cabin Al
an isolated spot in warrionmack township.
1t wus there that tho counterfeitinG was done.
Evans WAS arrested while entertaining COM
pany of prominent peoDle-at his Inn. Beck
had got wind OF the trouble and fed. He got
us far away as Birmingham. on the Little
Juuiata River, On bi. way TO the West, before
he WAS captured. lie was loaded down WIN IN
bogus coin or no might have made good his
escape. McParren was found in his cabin.
He was tried first and easily CONVICTED. Evans
a. l...fN bail la m
were tried together. wLcL. tao jury came In
with a verdict OF guilty Evans could net be
House. mount his horse, and ride away. TIL, The
sheriff did not start ia pursul; OF him until
ho was ordered e DO SO by t r G1p5t ;own me
ship, but stopped for the night some miles
from Evans's tavern. The next morning
he was never seen In Pennsylvania again. lilo
wis a freemason. and leading one In his
state prison. lie was not a Mason.
-" Tho sheriff who had pursued the convicted
counterfeiter in such lr,snrey way Was me
When he returned TO Huntington and report:
ed that Evan. had got away. some one raised
no would not have escaped. The idea took
root. and In u few hours the county sea- was
on fire with Indignation. A hrry handful was
soon posted about the town. calling for meet.
ing at the Court HOu g of all who were opposed
Masons The meeting was large and full OF
excitement. A series OF anti, Masonic resolu-
tions-the first ever drafted-was adopted,
expressing indignation at Counterfeiter Eyanss
escape. and calling for an expression OF hos
| Utility to the Masons at the polls. An anil; Ma
| sonic organizntio was effected there and then.
| and IA full county ticket placed in nomina-
| ton. The ticket was elected by an overwhelin-
! ing majority. The incident attracted atten-
| then an unknown lawyer In southern Pennsyl'
vania. saw great possibilitle, In encouraging
| and fostering the idea. and. with others. took
| advantage OF It TO begin persistent agitation.
The anu-Masonic feeling was RAPIDLY and
| IA threatening issue In Pennsylvania to the old
parties. and was taken up by the shrewd poll
ttcians IN other states. PARTICULARLY New lorS
state. where IL had gained much ground before
the Morgan excitement gave 1t Its impetus.
| The Anti Masonic party grew so rapidly In
| Pennsylvania that 1t held the balance OF power,
and at last forced the Wing party. leaders in
which had taken II up,to comb Inc with 1t. Thus
Thad stevens was sent to the Legislature from
| Democratic county. and he started on his
great and memorable career: Joseph Ritner
was elected Governor. with a majority IN both
| received full control OF the political machinery
| OF the state. IL was only because the men thus
| suddenly thrust from comparative ohscurity
to great power lost u.cr heads and overreached
themselves by their too bal pable schcminG for
| personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT that they were over
thrown after several years OF control OF the
states affairs. II they had been better poli.
again. Stevens would have gone TO the United
| states Senate. and machine would have been
nr G II ali because Evans. the coua
| terfe,ts- and Mason. esca ped from the custody
| OF the court in Huntington county. As II
| was II opened the way for Thad Stevens's
| long career in the affairs OF tho nation.
| The anti Masonic excitement that came
| from the Huntington county incident was in
| strumental also, in preserving TO history the
| exact presentation OF tn, arst train OF pas.
New York State. and the only authentic de-
| SC ription OF the trip. w. II Brown of Phila-
| delphia was expert artist in silhouette cut
| ting. The anti Masonic Juror led him IL the
cutting from life Of silhouette portraits OF Thsd
Stevens and other leaders, for which he found
so successful was he with them that he de-
| tormined TO go to Albany. y. ". In tho sum
| then high In that state, TO make pictures OF
| Thurlow Weed and others. IL happened that
| the trial trip OF the pioneer locomotive De
| WITT Clinton. with train OF cars on the Mo
| hawk and Hudson Reilroad, WIS TO be made
| nc day hcarrived In Albany. lie cut an exact
| rcpres on tatlon of IL in black paper. together
| With the portraits OF the passengers In the cars.
| the engineer. and the conductor. This he cub
torica. Society. In whose possession It Is now.
| 1T happened also that Ju ige ellis OF Hunt.
| ingIon. Pa. arrived In Albany chat same day.
| sinsularly enough. he was on his way to Can
alleged abductors OF Morgan from Batavia.
| the disappearance OF whom led 20 tho lorna
| ton and success or the anti Masonic Jarty.
| under the guidance OF Thurlow Weed IN New
ncer train. and few years auo. being the last
survivor OF that historic train load wrote full
| account OF the trip and train In n letter to the
| artist Brown. who published II, with copy OF
| bitable record most important fact In rail-
| road history which would otherwise have been
| lost And this all came because the Pennsylva'
| mia tavern keeper, Evans turned countcrfciter.
him to escape deserved punishment"