Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-05-05
MY STAY IN ALTOONA. PA.
By ]. y. Knot.

] spent SUNDAY, hpIll-iiiii. anu tiS
Monoay fUIlO"ins, ali ntooIA, rSnn7
sylyania. Wnat vas said in Iormei
communication aoUut me notes II
Ine otate vi pennsylvania does not GER
fanny Apply ~ tne "Colohial' an AL
tOOna.
Notwithstanding the shutdown in
tine railroad SHOPS. which, by the way.
are the largest SHOPS OF Me sort in tnq
world, AlIoonaS business goes on
prlskly; anu win lis something like
sixty thousand population, II displays
TASTE IN its stores and deals OUT
comfort in noIeiS and restaurants III
sharp contrast WIN some other places
almost as large that | have Solourned
in during this tour.
by cnanCe round in the Altoona
phone book the name OF Mr.. James L.
Knott, and called him up. | found.
what suspected, that ne was grand
son of Miner Knott. brother 10 my
own grandfather, Samuel Knott.
This led 10 the discovery that Levi
Knott, a son OF Miller Knott, and thus
nv own fathers first cousin, Is living
in the city of Altoona and wished to
see me. We spent much OF one daN
together, and 10 our mutual delight,
Mr.. Levi Knott, father of the James
Knott called on the phone, had some
curios TO show me. Among them was
an old walnut clock, brought from Eng
land in the by-gone ages by some OF
the Knott ancestors, and the CLOCK
still runs and keeps accurate time.
He showed me drinking cup o.
some costly ware, and many-colored
which has this history: In the Slavs
riot near Lancaster, Pa, in lS47, Il
young Shareholder, named Gorsuch
and a Virginian. While attempting to
capture some runaway slaves, was at
tackled by band of negroes, shot and
was trying 10 crawl away unseen by
the Infatuated negroes, when Mr.. Mil
Ter Knott saw him and went to his re-
lief. The negroes seeing the wound
ed man, rushed up with all sorts OF
weapons 20 kill him. Mr.. Miller Knott
regular giant in strength and sta
ture, stood over the body of younS
GorSuch, both threatening and per-
suading the negroes, until they dis
perse1. The voting Virginian was
then AIKEN to ;Hc home of Miller Knott
nurSed back to health, and sent on his
way. In parting from the man WIN
had saved his life, young Gorsuch
gave MI Knott 1eirloom, in the form
Of this drinking cup, which he said had
come down in his family for genera,
tons. 1t bears the initials, "E. c.
Some of the family Of this name in Vir.
ginia may recognize the circumstance
and be glad TO know that the son of tn,
man Who saved Mr.. Edward Gorsuct
still ives in Altoona and has the
drinking cup in question.
BIZ, probably more of a curiosity
was s''own me il a solid ivory cane
with 1rnamented ivory handle, bear.
ing the name of "rohn Adams, 1775'
It seems that '-'air sailor who was
very fond of the voung Miller Knott
IN scne way (never satisfactorily ex.
plain'N got possession of this cane
and I'D for wears told Mr.. Knott he
wou'd one day Give him something
the " of which he never saw. The
sailor wed to be ,inetv-six wears old
an1 'h7fore his laath presented Mr.
Millor Knott, in 1872 with this cane
SaVl1o that he "f""nd il on the street,
If 'adelphia" >. trs time that tbs
! Cont" entail Compress met there. with
Iohn 'Iams one ~ the leading fienrn ..
Inc n'me of the original owner Of the
~, III written. - A'ams' unmistak-
ao'e 'an'writin~ As a relic. for
oeau'' and for If -ineic worth, I have
never zen its ec"o'. Mr.. Levi Knot.
mas lad intimat'ons from rich relic
hun'e-~ that they would not part with !.
tor ''""ntv-fve thousand dollars !,
thev had the cane '' !
n" owner, however. has asked mo
10 ne~H'iate with - National Musemr,
Al NNshlngton, n G.. To which M,
hno'' wishes to present the cane Tho
muSe"r' will hav" few. il anv NOR,
oeahN ~ or valuah'e historical relics