The Honesdale citizen. [volume] (Honesdale, Pa.) 1873-1908, 1908-07-16

nlgnt toliowing the re-opening, the
boarders held meeting, Mr.. Allen be.
ing invited to attend. The writer also
hud the good fortune to be present, and
ueger will he forget the wonderment do.
picted on Mr.. Aliens face on finding his
room filled with large number OF his
personal friends, from among whom
Prof. l. Ii. Barnum, principal OF the
Houesdale school, took the floor, and in
b.h ,ll OF tho donors, made q neat pre-
sentntioD speech, reviewing their hosts
noble course In the matter OF his sick
sueat, und concluding by handing Mr..
Alien q very handsome and suitably in
ments, remarking that the time-piece
was warranted to last "life.time" and
expressing the hope, in behalf OF the
giv,rs, that he might live TO put its du-
rnbiiity TO the fullest test Mr.. Aliens
response was disclaimer OF having done
anything more than his simple duty,
coupled with an expression of his sur
prise that his course should have promp.
ted such generous action Oh the part Of
bis friends. He had followed the die
tatcs Of his own judgment and was re-
joiced to find that his action had met
with their approval; hoping that he
should never prove lees worthy Of it
Ihan in the try ing ordeal through which
the house had passed. A vote Of thanks
was then rendered Mrs. Allen, after
which the party enjoyed handsome
collation., prepared by n. B. Allen in
| honor Of the occasion. Following Mr..
Parcolls's recovery, his bedding, cloth
ing, etc, we're burned and the us:ial dis.
iniectnnts employed, so that a month
eftor tho house was closed Drs. Dwight
and w. II. Reed and G. A. Dusinberre
gave it q clean bill OF health; the board
era returned to their former rooms
guoste resumed their vieits and the
smallpox crisis %as thing Of the pact.
On Sunday afternoon, September 14th,
1873, lot Of driver boys sitting on
the cabins Of their boats awaiting turns
t. load at tho Union docks in the Homes
dale basins, began pelting each other
with coal. Among the lads was a
colorod boy named John Williams. who,
with others finally retreated to the dock
and took refuge behind some coal cars,
whence they kept up their 6ombsrdmont
Of the enemy on q boat Of which Samuel
Clark was captain. Clark demonstrated
and the boys laughed at him. where.
upon he went into his cabin and brought
out gun. Just OF the critical moment.
one OF Williams's companions pushed
him within range, and Clark let fly O
charge OF buckshot, one OF which pene.
trated the lads forehead. The wound
was probed to q depth Of four inches
without finding the ball, which was sup
posed to bave lodged in the brain, and it
was then thought that the lad would in
all probability die. Efforts were made
ID place him in some hotel or boarding
place, but without success, until Mr..
Alien, happening to inquire as to the
cause Of the trouble, and being told, i'm
m1diately ordered the boy TO be taken
to the Allen House. where he would be
properly cared for. Young Williams
wAs bright lad OF about thirteen years,
and at once enlisted the sympathy ol
the hotel people, W ho looked daily fol
some untoward complication to arise
from his wound. Nothing developed
however, and fortnight later, his boa,
having returned for another trip, he
went to Rondout in his old capacity Of
deliver boy. When she came back fol
the next load he deserted the ship anG
presenting himself at the Allen House
begged permission to remain, which was
granted, and for three or four years b,
wac not only clothed and fed but school
ei and-as he developed good voice
Instructed in music at the expense o.
Mr.. Allen. He finally went to New
York, married, and, so far as is known
i'd slill living.
These incidents perhaps OF no grea
moment in themselves, are related a
giving an insight into the generous and
benevolent nature Of Mr.. Allen. traitl
Of character which attracted friendl
and assured the popularity of the no "
Fow country hostelries in towns thu
sizD OF Aonesdale can boast of entertain
ing more people Of worldwide distinc
ton than tho Allen House. The write
rpcGlls from memory the following t.
which the register could doubtless .Ic
saJrce OF equally prominent names
MIG, Scott Siddons, Olive Logan, Auue
eHd SIsan L. Dickinson. Mortimer
nompsou (Doestcks), B. P. 5hillaber
(,irs Partlngton), Theodore Tilton, Rev
~. il. Mllburn (the Blind Preacher)
Hcur. Ward Beecher, John B. Cough
justin Mccarthy, Arthur Pember, Johl
q. SAKE, Horace Greeley, Whitelav
R2it, Blind Tom, Bayard Taylor. J. G
Shaw (Iosh Billinge), Prof. Silliman
Governors ilartrauft, Hoyt, Curtin and
Hastings, Lieutenant Governors Louis
A. Wutr"a, John Latta and q. II. Black
SJpt Wlckersham, John Wanamaker
Wayne McVeigh, 1t. Gov. John Latta
IsAac |. Hayes, the Arctic Explorer
Benson j. Losing, the Hlstorlan. snC
InImsa Nast, the Artist.
A'-r the death OF their father 10 1875
Mar,in T. und VIM, r Allen managed
tina GuslLees OF tho hotel until the for
rior / ecamo sole proprietor in 1873 Mr.
Aitol .rComing postmaster OF the Dor
ourh, ne Ioased the hotel to Frank Cries
man IN 1905. In January, 1907, GeorgI
b. B..udon became the lessee. He dice
il j."uery lest, and the house il nov
maunrrd by Mr1 Brandon and her son
who aro very cre1itably maintaining III
wril.d"sors cd popularity.