New-York tribune., 1905-02-19

along over the sparkling bosom OF the portio,
Of the river bearing the old Dutch cognomen
The sun is on the westerly side OF the meridian
Tarrytown. with its shimmering windows. IS
on the right Cloud shadows are flying I'd
the hfllsides where old Dutch hobgoblins were
once credited with sporting. Directly ahead
Croton Point juts out from the easterIy shere
and appears to cut of the river on the port
bow rises the height OF Hook Mountain. The
river seems to make a sharp bend around the
headland What is the party's surprise as the
yacht swings around into Haverstraw Bay 70
find that the headIand is the segment Of a long
curve and appropriately named Point-NO-POint
That it pays to heed superstitiOns is proved By
a strange tale told of Hook Mountain. About
two hundred years ago band OF Germans set
tied near High Tor. the highest peak Of The
mountain. They were experts in extracting
metal from the rocks Hugo. a nobleman. was
their leader He was fearless and derided those
who believed in supeTstitions-
II was the custom in Germany to allow the
furnace fires of the metal workers to subside at
the end of every seven years a salarander' Il
was said. grew in the fires If they were not
extinguished at the end of this period It would
reach it's perfect development, issue from the
laughed in his hearty way when any one urged
that he should put his fires out, and had them
plied with more fuel One day as Hugo stood
bv his furnace he saw the monster take shape
II had the form OF a dragon 1t darted Us
tongue ont. and everything which its tOngE
touched was seorched- Its eyes blaZed and Is
writhin- body and swinging tail were AEs
metal at white heat Hugo's wife recognized TIE
danger her husband was in, and with holy water
extinguished the fire. She lost her own life
however while saving his Seven years Alaf
Hugo's son was the price he paid for his dis
belief in superstition. A third period Of seven
years was ended. and Hugo upon High Tor was
shown the riches of the earth which ne might
win if he would give up his soul A prayer from
his daughter saved him this time In the depths
the saIamander could be seen, but ne vas
harmless.
Soon after knightly man was seen on Hsa
Tor There sprang up between him and Hugos
daughter a pure affection Forgetting that she
was a woman and should be silent the daugh-
ter tried to tell him of her love he gently
sileuced her saying: When you slept cana
and put crown of gems on your head This
did when I was in the power of the earth spirit
Then 1 had power only over the element Of ire
Fire either consumes or hardens to stone Now
water and life are mine Behold! Wear tnsse
for you worthy"
With these words he gently touched the tears
falling from her eyes. They became hhes
his hands. These he placed upon her brow
Then he said: 'I left heaven for the love q
man. passed through the ordeal OF fire. beng
liberated by your mothers act Then | tooS
the form Of a child. I have had many trlAS
being obliged at the end OF each seven years !"
take the form of salamander. Now. after pass
ing through them all safely. I have asal
jeOpardized all in my love for you Because o.
this 1 am in danger of becoming an earth spE'
once more"
While they talked Hugo appeared With hIn
were some of his men Seeing his daugh's'
trembling. he thought harm threatened her. II
his rage lie ordered his men TO take the youns
man and throw him into the furnace. As they
seized him his face began to shine The gri :
she looked upon the smoke rising from the ral-
mace beheld in Ii form clad in robes OF siiSe'.
1t floated higher and higher. As she watched "
peace came to her soul. il is said, and her eolF
tenance became serene The spirit Of her Lover
had Won over the flesh.