The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-11

Miss Martha NJ. Horning of New
port, II. l., has the distinction of being
legal heir each June to q red rose,
this same pretty rental being given
for the site Of the Zion Evangelical
Lutheran church at Manhcim, Pa. And
thereby hangs tale that is full of
romance and sentiment. Many years
ago, it was in 1850, Baron Henry Will
lam Stiegel came to Pennsylvania from
Germany. bringing 100000, which he
invested in iron and glass works, He
had several hundred worllmen gathered
around him, and for their convenience
founded the little town of Mannheim.
He built himself n palatial home among
their cottages, the brick being brought
from England by ship. and then hauled
by wagon from Philadelphia, seventy
miles away. In this house he set apart
a chapel, where he preached to his
people in their own languages for
twelve years. Then, on Dec. 4, 1712, he
decided to the congregation piece of
land on which to build church, and
unique clause IN the deed read, land
yielding and paying therefor unto tho
said Henry William Stiegel, heirs and
assigns, at Mannheim, in the month of
June, yearly forever hereafter, the rent
of one red rose. if the same shall be
lawfully demanded, >,
w ICE III lnf kuuu 1iiN-
time the rose was paid with all formal
ity Then came the Revolution, which
diverted the attention of tho congrega'
tion to other things, and the custom was
forgotten. In 1891, when n now church
was being built, the pastor discov-
cred the poetic provision In the old
deed His suggestion TO revive the
custom met with great approval, and
search was made for the oldest legal
heir This was found to be Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Luther of Pottsville. Pa, and
with n quaint and pretty ceremony the
rose was presented 10 her.
The payment of the odd rent has
since been continued. the second Sun"
day in June being set aside for the
ceremony. and from 5000 10 $4,000 peo-
pie come each year to witness the all
day service. Not only is the stlpu- |
lated rose given. but all the congrcga- |
tion marches by the altar and each |
places a red rose there in memory of |
the old Baron and his philanthropy. /
in 1905 the rose was received In due !
Newport. r. t. but last year she was |
TOO infrm TO appear, and the next heir I
in line, Mrs. c. G. Hoover of Broadway,
Va. a great. great granddaughter of the
Baron, received the rental.
The old Baron had an interesting
history, From his Elizabeth forge can
mons and ammunition were manufac-
turcd and sold 10 the Continental army
in The time of the Revolution. George
Washington sent him a number of Hes
sian prisoners TO be put to work cutting
wood and burning charcoal for use in
tine furnace. But somehow things be-
gan TO 90 wrong with the Baron and he
became imprisoned for debt under the
old Colonial laws.
ibc Colonial Assembly, and he went
back in poverty TO his people TO be
ONE ianitor and choirmaster in the
.hurch he had given, serving in this
humble capacity until his death, No
me knows definitely where he is
buried. but the Brlclsvile cemetery,
lancaster county, Pa, is thought to be
hat the ceremony of the rose will be
continued forever hereafter not so
much because the old deed requires il,
mt because the people want TO keep
lliye the memory of the gentle old phil
whose kindness and bencvo-
ence live on even though the resting
,lace of his body is lost.
Col Hugh Scott, who has been more
utteSSIHl tndn dnN Uth III lDe army III !
apturing savage chiefs, both in this
ountry and in the Philippines, awes
'art of his prowess 10 his remarkable
of the sign language as ;
sed by the North American Indians,
lie mastered it in the West in the be 5
1uniug Of his career He is greatly
'eloved by the Indians, and is chief of
eveTal tribes. Some time ago when
n apportionment Of government money
vas made the Indians were much
.rlcved because Col. Scott would not {
axe $4,000 which they though be-
onged TO his rs their chief. He is re-
arded as the foremost authority in j
America on many Indian matters and ]
ms given to contemporary science much c
aluablc Information, Col Scott once {
cid Sitting Bull a captive in tbc West {
ihi!e hls men were chasing several '
ands of rebelhous Indians. Another ,
artured leader was being held about ,