Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-09-02

To such. il there be, give greeting OF
fellow pilgrim. hoping at the end of the
journey to arrive with them at The Fathers
House of Many Mansions.
LUDWICK c. YOUNG.
2l29 18th ST., N. w..
Washington. D. C.
When a child, was told the story of
1.-THE Falling Stars" by an old negro woman
who belonged to my father and as related
by her occurring at the time of the advent
into the world of my now only living sis
ter. BY comparing dates, identify the
event described in J. Thomas Scharf's
History Of Western Maryland as the same
told by the old woman. There may be
some yet living who remember that won
derful display. but the witnesses at this
day mist be few. For the perusal Of those
who may not have the history to refer to.
issue copy.
THE following account Of visit to an
old Revolutionary hero. by Hon. Allen
Bowie Davis, Of Montgomery. and his
graphic description Of the meteoric shower
which took place that night. November IL.
1888. cannot fail to interest the reader
Five miles beyond Choppers Mill. on
the Great Seneca. at early candle-lieht.
refined up at the farm of Chas Saffell, an old
soldier, then eighty-four years of age. who
had been musician in the Revolutionary
army. The old gentleman had drum,
fife. and fiddle. an old English musket.
which he captured at the battle of Brandy
wine. and many other relics from the days
that tried mems souls He was spending
the calm evening Of his long life in singing
our long catalogue of heroes. yet unsung,
and from his sweet flute, fife and violin
ardently drank in the inspiring melodies
Of the Revolution. At the hour Of ten
O'Clock took a candle and row of paper
matches. about the length and appear
ance Of a row of pins. and retired to
bed in an upper room. The matches were
made by cutting out a piece Of paper
about three inches long and one wide. and
making dozen clips with a pair Of scis-
sOrs into one Of the lower edges of the
paper. so prepared as to extend about
three-quaTters Of the distance across its
width. This clipped edge was dipped into
the cOmbustihle mixture. and when dry,
all that was necessary TO produce flame
was to tear of one Of these clippings and
draw its clipped ends gently along between
the tip of the forefneer and the wall Of
your room. or over the surface of any rough
substance. ! struck the match. the first
kind known in trade. and with a cheerful
and glad heart lit the candle. was soon
under the cover. and yielded to tired
natures sweet restorer. but encountered
a very singular and inexplicable expert
snce, which will mention. for | am writing
facts. of which ought not TO be ashamed.
The air being keen and frosty. three cOun-
terpanes were on the bed. and slid under
them, and made survey Of the surround
ings in the dark room before trying my
hand at sleep. On entering the room
discovered a wooden bolt on the door. aud
made it fast against intrusion: saw sew
eral chairs. other articles of furniture. and
two windows only. over which curtains
were hanging. one Of them being at the
back OF the bed. within reach of the &c
cupant. Trying my. hand at sleep. met
with half success but just at this stage
Of the proceedings. imagine my surprise
when, by some unseen force. the three
counterpanes were drawn violently from
the bed to the floor. After recovering from
my establishment. visited the ruins on the
floor. recaptured the cOunterpanes. and
coveted sleep once more. After a time |
fell into a troubled doze. and down went
the counterpanes again. with greater vio-
lence than at first | sprang down after
them, found the matches. lit the candle.
and searched for the intruder. but no such
party could be found. neither in nor under
the bed, nor elsewhere in the room.
made up the bed again. got in. tried to
sleep After long trial. know not how
LONG, fell into troubled slumber, but
was suddenly reused by terrific stream
Of unearthly light flashing through the
window. curtain and ALL and blazing over
the room from floor to ceiling. Drawing
the curtain aside, beheld great ball Of
fire, as large as the sun or moon. rushing
from the direction Of the zenith. and de-
scribing a circular or parabolic curve tow =
ards the far distant southwestern horizon.
Hearing at the same time a great uproar
among the servants down in the yard, /
sprane from the bed to the next window,
and looked out upon the great meteoric
shower Of November u and IS, 1888
Rushing down into the yard. | saw a
squad Of frightened servants. so terrified
indeed that they knew nothing save that
the world was coming TO an end. The old
soldier appeared at the door. asked me &c
come into his room. and said it was nothing
he had seen the like before. The shower
continued until overpowered by daylight
the stars rushing down through space like
snow-tlakes, yet vastly more luminous.
Fearful balls Of fire shot madly towards the
earth. like the pyrotechnic rocket shoots up.
ward. consuming their substance in fight
or losing IL by friction against the walls
lof air. Most Of the meteors were as large
and brilliant as the stars themselves. and
IL required no vivid imagination to sup
pose these celestial bodies were then rush
ing toearth; for the heavens hlazed with an
incesSant discharge Of fiery globes. that
burst in countless numbers from the cloud
less shy. Leaving the old soldiers house. |
hurried TO Rockville. through Gaithersbure.
looking all along the road for traces of the
great phenomenon. some natural record
OF engraving Of its occurrence. but could
none save in the eternal flint Of
words and memory. All whom talked
with on the way took a religious view of