Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-06
A POTOMAC LEGEND
Captain Blake's Weird Story
of Dancing Point"
IN THE COLONIAL DAYS
HOW THE DEVIL WAS TAUGHT
THE MINUET.
Farmer Mayo Afterward Was Regard
ed With Awe by His Sus-
picious Neighbors.
IN THE COLONIAL DAYS

Some of the prettiest legends Of the old
Potomac were resurrected and preserved by
Capt. Blake the veteran steamboat man.
who died in this city several days ago
The genial captain never tired of reciting
these weird stories OF the misty past to his
friends. His favorite legend. and the one
he told most frequently. is known as THE
Legend Of Dancing Point" 1t relates how
a colonial farmer named Mayo taught the
devil how to dance, and how Satan reward
ed him. As remembered by an intimate
friend of Capt Blake, the legend is given:
A few miles down the Potomac, near the
picturesque Occoquan creek, once favor
lite stamping ground for Washington picnic
parties and excursonists. there Is small
point of land which Juts into the river,
forming peninsula in the miniature. Con-
nected with the little peninsula, which is
known as Dancing Point, there Is a de-
cidedly uncanny legend. which the former
superstitious natives and the present coll
ored folks of that locality repeat in whis-
pers and with bated breath. Negro deck
hands on the Potomac steamboats, are ia
miiiar with the legend of Dancing Point.
and the farm hands in the Occoquan dis
trict who have heard its narrowing details
would rather submit to sound chastise-
ment than pass the point after the
shades of night have been drawn down by
the day."
Consequently. during the candle-light
hours the stiffness of that particular To-
caIity is only disturbed by the croaking of
innumerable bullfrOgs, the shrill cries OF
night birds or the splashing of the wavelets
as they go ripping by in the moonlight or
starlight In their journey to the sea.
The Moss-Covered Ruins.
There is nothing about Dancing Point
that is suggestive of anything out Of the
ordinary, except, perhaps, 1t Is the old
moss-covered ruins Of once prosperous
farm house. These are located short dis
tance inland from the little peninsula.
Dancing Point itself rises gracefully from
the Potomac to q height OF about twelve
feet This fact cuts an Important ngure IN
tha strange legend. A bowed and gnarled
river willow, which bends and cranes In
the gale, like some old legendary night bag.
is another feature Of the grewsome Legend
which has been passed down from sire 10
son for over one hundred years
Long before Washington became even
strarTling settlement the ruins IN rear or
Dancing Point formed substantial farm
house which wa. ocoup' May D w an sa fame
"a q hospftable host was widespread. His
acres along the river front, so the story
goes were low and marshy and at eb6 tide
were submerged by the waters OF the Poto-
mac. The only crop Mayo could raise on
them therefore, was combination OF
wrfgg4ing tadpoles, croakins frogs. and
phosphoresceut will-o'-the-wisps. Mayo also
stood greatly in need Of wharf. for IN
those days the Potomac was an important
waterway, although the passing craft were
all sailing vessels, as It was long before
'' On their way to the port OF Alexandria
these ships would stop at the river wharves
to buy fresh meat, chickens, vegetables. and
otherwise tepIenish their larders: Farmer
water 'front.', inaccessible alike 70 'sths ships
that uass In the night" as well a. those