The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-07-29

Among the trials and tribulations which beset the United States in the days of its infancy was the famous whisky instruction which occurred toward the end of July 17e1. Its be- ginning marked a crisis in the affairs of the young nation which was finally averted when troops under the com mand of "Lighthorse" Harry Lee quelled the uprising.
 If you were to visit a certain ridge in western Pennsylvania between the Monongahe1a and Youghioghony rivers, about four miles west of West Newton, you would come upon one of the most historic dwellings in the state-the old Fell mansion. This mansion was built just after the close of the Revolutionary war by Benjamin Fell, a worthy and ardent patriot of those stirring days
 Fell belonged to prominent Quakersfanaily and at the time of the war he owned and operated the biggest tannery in the State. At the dark hour of the Revolution when Washington's i'll equipped little army marched to winter quarters at Valley Forge, Fell stepped forward and of fered his entire stock of leather to the Continental troops. Washington gladly took advantage of Fe1Ps sacri-
 
 army.
 The picturesque old mansion where Fell made his home served as the headquarters of "Lighthorse'' Harry Lee when he was sent into Western Pennsylvania with troops to subdue the whisky insurrectionists. A short distance from the house is FelTs Church where the body of the pa triot lies in eternal rest.
 Since those days the house has been somewhat remodel1ed but in it's main features it is the same as when Lee was there.
 When Lees army was sent to queIl the whisky uprising. Western Penn sylvania was facing an acute crisis Alexandre Hamilton who was then Secretary of the Treasury, devised an excise tax levied on spirits in order to obtain much needed revenue for the government. The law was enact ed in 1791. It levied a tax of from nine to twenty-five cents on a gall lon, according to the strength of the liquor.
 The new excise hit Western Penn sylvania hardest. Whisky was the chief product which supported the farmers and distillers of that portion of the state and popular wrath rose high.
 At a meeting held in Brownsville July 27, 1I91, a formal protest was made against the law. Later intem- perate resolutio condemning the law were passed by the four counties most affected.
 l Resistance to the law commenced l and one Robert Johnson while at tempting to serve marshaFs writs, | was tarred and feathered by the in 1 surrectionists. Popular feeling ran l high and took the form in expressin g l itself of indignities worked on inspec- 1 tors.
 l Although Washington issued a pro- | clamation calling upon all persons | to refrain and desist from all unlaw- | ful Instructions to the excise law, 1 the outbursts against the law and it's upholders continued. Finally an at- | tack was made by five hundred in- surgents led by John Ho1croft known ! as Tom the Tinker, upon General 'Neville's house at Bower Hill. The 1 place was defended by eleven soldiers 1 and Major Kirkpatrick and Gen. Ne vile. During the action which en- l sued, the leader of the insurgents was 1 killed and the house and outbuilding burned. The uprising was eventually ! quelled by "Lighthorse'' Harry Lee l hi