The sun., 1909-05-09
HORSEHE.ADS.
The Change OF Name Has Deprived the
Town or q Chief Industry.

TIC SnunBc OI Nhuo nob DcppNcu s"e
Town or Chief Industry.
"A good many people who live there
are kicking to this day because the name
Of Horseheads was changed to North
Elmira," said taikative citizen Of Che
mung county. DO you know why2 j
see you don't. Well, maybe you don'i
know, either. why it was called Horse.
heads In the first place? see you don't
Then 1t is plain you've never been to
Horseheads.
-You SEQ when the first white settlers
entered the Chemung county a century
and quarter ago they found the skulls
of don't know how many horses lying
in heaps along the river at a spot that
seemed to be a good place to settle on
The tradition is that these skulls had
belonged to horses that were with the
army Of Gen. Sullivan when he made his
historical raid on the hostile Indian
tribes up through that country and
into the Genesee country in 1870. On the
return march Of the victorious army
from the Genesee country part Of the
troops encamped along the Chemung
Az Gen. Sullivan intended to float down
the Chemung with his force on rafts he
ordered the killing OF the superfiuous
horses. Wild animals devoured the car
casses and there the bleaching skulls
lay when the first settlers came in and
preempted the land. So they thought
the matter over and called the settle
ment Horseheads.
That's the way Horseheads came to
get its name and the reason good many
people who live there are kicking because
the name was changed is that as time went
on and Horseheads grew to be quite a
town It's queer name excited the curl
osity OF strangers and It was soon noticed
that the very first thing they would say
on landing there was:
Why is it called HorseheadsY
so 1t came to pass that patriotic citi-
zens began to lie in wait for strangers,
and as soon as the invariable question
came It was their one great delight and
recreation to tell the story in much detail
In fact competition in telling the story
became so close among enterprising and
watchful Horsehead Homers that the man
who captured the ear OF stranger first
and most frequently was rather looked
upon with envy by the less alert Of their
fellow citizens.
-It is related indeed that the wide
awake citizen even reduced this giving
Of the cherished information to 80 exact
a science that he did not wait for the
stranger TO get all Of his question out OF
his mouth. 80 the person who alighted
from the cars at the station and began
his first remark with Why or What or
Will you needed to speak no further.
for the citizen. lying in wait. would launch
the story at him at OnCe
At last one day a capitalist from the
East, who was sought after to become
interested in establishing a manufsctur-
ing industry In Horseheads. visited the
place. He stepped into a public house
near the depot to inquire where the local
a'Will you kindly tell me- said he, but
that was as far as he got. Four alert
citizens were on their feet in an instant.
They all addressed him:
I'm September, 177s.' they said, Gen.
Sullivan. on his return from chasing the
Indians out Of the Genesee country, en-
camped on this very spot .
"Then followed the rest OF the story.
The visiting capitalist stood speechless
with surprise. The proprietor Of the place
said to him:
They got il badly mixed up. Order
your drink sent to the back room and I'll
come In and tell you the story straight
ne visiting capItaust hurried out OF
the place. Meeting a boy on the street
he said to him:
My son. can you tell me-
Oh. yes. said the boy. In Septem-
Der. 1870, Gen. Sullivan"
Tho visitor rushed down the street
and presently met the man he was seek.
ing. This citizen explained the state Of
talist declared he wouldn't put cent OF
money in Households unless the name
OF the place was changed. They wanted
his money bad. and the Legislature Or
something was induced to change Horse
heads to North Elmira.
But a good many patriotic citizens
are kicking about It yet. and even NOV, |
will exclaim:
why, it's sacrilege! Here. where Gen.
Sullivan encamped in September, i77e,
after-