The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-01
OLD MISSOURI YARNS
TWO GOOD ONES PICKED UP eY THE
TRAVELLER m JOHNSON COUNTY.
How the Rev. Dad Heiser Wa Chased by
Lightning and Beat the Fluid TO the
Grsand-Rsnantic Story OF the white
bridge over Black water.

Groand-RsmAntie Story OF the Whit,
bridge over Black Water.
Black Water. Scaly Bark, Big and Beal
creeks are the water courses OF this county
writes a correspondent Of the New Yorl
Sun from johnson county, No. Their
was time when ghosts, goreons, horror,
md hair raising feefawfums had their
haunts along these streams. Even today
one comes unawares upon gravestones in
unfrequented places, but the names and
epitaphs are worn away.
There is not much doubt that this sec
ton was the starting place Of many of the
stories which drifted and drifted until
their identity was lost. The first white
corners 10 this country were from Vir-
ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and the Caro-
linas. The first towns Of the county are
gone You meet occasionally a man OF
woman whose grandparents knew of Co
lumbus and Rose Hill and Boards and
Brookstown. But these towns closed up
years before the war.
The settlers were deeply religious from
their viewpoint. High Blue was the camp
meeting spot where the people met annu-
ally and worshiped until their fervor was
exhausted and the absolute necessities of
their various homes called them back
1t was at one Of these camp meetings
that the Rev. Mr.. Heiter told his light
ming experience, and the story passed
down from one generation TO another.
One day the writer was riding over what
is still known in johnson county as the
Old Shawnee trace-an old road The
other man pointed TO church spire.
They had hard work TO build that
church, though" said the Missourian,
whose existence had been confined to one
county. For a long time people who
lived about here turned up their noses
when preachers hitched and alighted. Ii
was all on account Of old Dad Heiter
That yarn Of his at High Blue made skep-
tics and lots of infidels. In them days, so
I've hearn, preachers had to do other
things than preach. Some plowed, and
some was builders, and occasionally, when
they wasn't fit for anything else, they
kept school when they could find enough
young ones to make q school Dad Heiter
was a chimley builder, built chimleys to
houses. Chimleys In them days was built
outside Of the house, and was of stone and
sometimes Of wood, in which case 10 had
10 be plastered inside with mud, 50 the
chimley wouldn't catch fire They had to
use scaffolds In building the chiinleys,
and the scaffold was put up on long poles
higher than the chimley
Dad was preaching at one of ths High
Blue meetings when thunderstorm came
up, and most OF the congregation wanted
TO leave and crowd into their wagons or
cabins But Dad Heiter hadn't finished,
and he called to the people 10 show their
faith by staying. He said II they would
ask the Almighty 10 hold back the rain
until the sermon was over he would do it.
"Then he told OF his experience with
the lightning. He was building a chimley
and was at the scaffold when storm came
up. He told how the lightning flashed |
and how the winds bent trees He had the |
chimley all but finished, and he ask ed the ]
Lord TO tarry the storm until he got J
through. But the Lord was not inclined, |
and just then Dad saw streak of light |
ming making for him, and he knew he !
had displeased the Lord in asking too |
much. So he flung down his trowel and |
ketchin ono Of the scaffold poles with his |
hands he locked his feet on the pole and I
slid down without putting on any brakes, |
and the minute, he struck the ground the
lightning which he had seen coming fol- |
lowed, and came down the pole right after
him. Dad beat it down."
1--WE heard Pap say that his pap, who
was there right up In front, leading the
singing, said that the congregation would
a staid cause Dat0yas power as
preacher as well as "a chimley builder. But
Dad hadn't more'n got the words out
when a streak OF lightning hit barrel of I
,ider that sot just back of the stand where
Dad had been tearing round and split the |
barrel to flinders and boiled up tho cider
INTO steam. Then tho congregation left,
md the people said 1t was a sign and that
Dad was q wolf in sleeps clothing, and
he meeting at High Blue broke up and
'ome of tho converts who was to have been |
baptized that day backslid, and there was
more horse stealing that winter than ever
vas known in johnson county"
What Is the connection between Mr.
ieiters lightning story and the church
which you pointed outp'
Nothing only Dad Hotter lived in this
,eck of the woods, and you know how long
takes to lame q prejudice.
There Is a white bridge over Black Wa
er, n sluggish stream, she banks of which
re high and ovsrgpown With willow,
which gives the waters al ths more dole
III appearance.
"This site,' ssid one Of the johnson
ouDty1tes, pointing 70 the bridge, "was
me only ford ON Black Water up 10 the
ine of the breaking cut of tho war.
there was a man who lived ten miles back
Who had daughtsr, and she ran away
With young fellow Who was not liked by
cr father. They had several miles the
tart before the old man found out what
'ss mp, and he galloped In pursuit. He
anne In sight of the slopcrs right horo Just
. Lochinvar spurred his horse into tho
'ater, which was high and swift The
oungsters never got across, and, although
he waters run down and search was made
DR. many day, the bodies were never
ound .........
For years after Shs old mans denth no |
sed TO be seen dressed in white Oh his
Ihite horse and with shotgun ON his
houSder on this very sits vi hen the night
10 the blacklist and the water was high
D. The ford was deserted, and people
'srt out OF their way 70 escape 1t until
vcrybody of that time died of and the
sw generation built this bridge You
% It's whitA Well, the story Ii that the
ounty didnt paint n, nor yet any citizen.
nd some of me old women ssy IL waa l