The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-21
Copyright 1S41, John BaFr) (Quotlng from old diary). atw..x.o C.,lS-@a.1avH ERaAay

Copyright 194l, John Barr
 (Quotlng from old diary).
 "Lucerne, Switzerland, Friday, September ID, 1886.
 "We've seen 'Pilatus' In tOwer- ing rage, We've seen that uncan. ny old mountain of mystery and tragedy at his very worst. It was terrific. It happened at noon while we were at luncheon. It was a big enough event for any one days diary entry, so I stop here."
 To understand this cryptic entry in my old diary, one must recall the strange tradition of Mount Pilatus. For nearly two thousand years 1t had been believed that Pontius Pi- late of evil fame, had been driven by remorse for the part he had played in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, to flee in hiding from the eyes of men, and that the Swiss mountain that now bears his accursd name was his hiding place.
 According to the tradition. Pilate lived there in seclusion during the remainder of his life, died there and was buried there, and that ever since his accursed spirit has re- mained there, bringing evil upon that region.
 This tradition was so seriously be- lived that for centuries a law exist cd in Switzerland prohibiting, under severe penalty, any derogatory speech against Pilate that might en- rage the wrathful spirit of 'Pilate' and excite his vengeance.
 Certain 1t is that even in our times the inhabitants of that region keep watchful eyes on tn summit of 'Pilatus', and when they see a pee culiar gathering of vapors over 'Pi- late's' sinister head - they know that trouble is coming and hurried ly prepare to meet 1t.
 Our hotel at Lucerne, the Schwei- tzerhof, is located on the Quay at the head of the beautiful Lake of Lucerne.
 From the front windows of our rooms in the hotel the Bostonians and could look out upon the lake directly In front of us, and at our right, within plain sight, loomed up mysterious 'Pilate,' and on our left equally plain for us to see, rose into the sky-celebrated 'rigr-on whose summit we planned to spend day and night. So we were especially interested in those two mountains on the day following our arrival.
 The scene of our first breakfast Switzerland, so long ago, comics vividly back to me. Walter Eaton and his wife, Addie, and his sister, Sissie, were in their usual high spir- its. On the table with us, were our indispensable Baedeckers Tourists Guide and Mark Twain's Tramp Abroad. Of course the days pro- gramme was the chief topic of our conversation, and it'was agreed that we should begin with steamboat ride on the lake. as far as Tells Chapel and the old homelands home and haunts of immortal Wil- liam Tell.
 With his usual speed in making friends, Walter Eaton was already on chunmy terms with the genial hotel proprietor, so as we saw him standing out on the veranda, we went out there from the breakfast room, to tell him of our plans.
 AS we approached him we saw that he was anxiously scanning the sky above the summit of 'Pilatus.'
 "You'll have to postpone your in- tended boat-ride.' said the hotel proprietor, "All water craft will hog the shore today. Small boats will be hauled up high on the shore aslt large ones will be in shsltered pla- ces." ., ~
 Even as he was speaking, we could see all that were out on the lake scurrying for shore.
 Our friendly proprietor cautioned us to stay in the hotel till he should tell us that 1t was safe to go out "You may see," he said, "one oi Pilates tempests'-and if you dc you will never forget 1t as lont as you live"
 The dreaded thing happened al high noon, when all the guests O the hotel, that was crowded to It's capacity, were at luncheon.
 Suddenly, Lucrene was in utter darkness-as though sun, moon ant stars were all plotted out We kep' our seats in silence; Attendants lighted gas jets. Guests starred a, each other and at the black win dows. But nobody wantedw tt talk or eat, so what was left of tht luncheon was untouched. Only ai occasional low whisper could bt heard. We were waiting for wha would happen next. I recall that tht Bostonians and made Q chain O hands.
 I recall that while we hote guests were waiting In silent ex' pectancy, the hotel proprietor tool position where we could all heal him, and in reassliring voice ad dressed us as 8 theater manage might address an audience wht were about to see a great and un' usual spectacle.
 What you are about to witness, he said, If Pilatus follows hi usual procedure, something tha can be seen nowhere else in tn world. The peculiar conformation o this range of mountains, and tn