The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry, with Legends of the Surrounding CountryBarry, Joseph
History
The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry, with Legends of the Surrounding Country
Barry, Joseph
Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) -- History; Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) -- History -- John Brown's Raid, 1859
peace again reigned in the Livingstone household, but the name of
"Wizard Clip" still clings to the village and, it is to be hoped, that
the legend will not be allowed to die out for, laugh as we may at those
old time tales, they have a charm for even the most prosaic and
skeptical. John Brown's fort is lost, forever, to Virginia, but it is a
matter for thankfulness that, while brick and mortar can be disposed of
to satisfy the love of gain, the traditions of a people cannot be
converted into money and that sentiment cannot be sold by the square
foot. Land-marks are more easily destroyed than folklore.
In gratitude to Father Cahill, Livingstone before his death deeded to
the Catholic church thirty-four acres of land, and this tract is what
has ever since been named "The Priest's Field." The clergy of that
faith, however, renounce all claim to the place because, no doubt, they
felt that nothing in the spiritual ministration of Father Cahill
contributed or was intended by him to contribute towards the object
Livingstone had in view--the expulsion of a veritable demon. Father
Cahill, like the Lutheran minister, went to the house merely as a friend
and not in the character of an exorciser of a real spirit and, if the
rascals who so cruelly tormented their harmless neighbor were more
afraid of the priest than of the other minister, with whom they were no
doubt familiar, it was no reason why a claim should be set up by the
former of superior influence with Heaven. Mr. McSherry and Mr. Minghini
were made trustees of the property, but by common consent, the land was
left with the Minghinis and it is now theirs by prescription, perhaps.
In the county clerk's office in Charlestown, Jefferson county, West
Virginia, can be seen the deed made by Livingstone and wife to Denis
Cahill, the supposed exorciser of the fiend. It will be found in Book
No. 1 of the County Records, and it conveys the title to thirty-four
acres of land--"The Priest's Field"--to Father Cahill and his
successors. Our esteemed friend Clerk Alexander will be glad to show it
to anyone curious to see it. The deed is dated February 21st, 1802.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry, with Legends of the Surrounding Country — John Shaqi
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