The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-14
THE DEATH WARNING
a Legend OF SacO Island. e. By Percy B. 81

THE DEATH WARNING.
A Legend OF saco island. By PERCY B. sr. JoHN
OF all the great centres to which strange charac
ters are attracted, Paris is, perhaps the most re-
markable, very much, apparently, because of the
encouragement given in it to original talent.
Clever aud enterprsing Americans are often met
there. One whom lately encountered proved to
be pleasant and eonversjble man. We chanced
TO get upon the subject Of superstiton or rather to
speak more fairly, on matter pertaining to what
has been called the nightside Of nature.
expect you love yarn; just give you one
which Is genuine. I'm not superstitious man,
but the contrary But I'll give you an item of new
country fancies which will amuse you"
shall not preserve the energetic words of my
American friend, but give the facts Of his narra-
tive exactly as they were told.
Saco Is a small town at very short distance
from the sea, in the State of Maine, famous only
within 4 circumference of a few miles, in conneC-
tion with the Labrador fishery, and also as the nur-
seIy Of an Industrious, hardworking set of ship
wrghts and fishermen. In the early history of the
State Of Maine, mention is made OF SacO Island as
the site OF m Indian village; but local tradition
gives more ample details relative to the election OF
the Red Skins from the place. But with this |
have nothing TO DO except incidentally, as will be
seen IN the course OF my narrative.
Abel Jacks, my informant, the OF a
working shpbuilCer OF Saco, a pushing, indus
trous man, who in times OF thriving business, and
si1bt d,rs ,,,;,Io,,t t,l,i,,, IF AZ .Ia,G ~
Iieed in bn,ss inc, bo,ss ,b ,,, tha g.. ~
which faced the island which parted the river, va.
rIousy known Cuth and Saco Island. Abel was
his youngest son at the time we speak Of young
-: ;Iy N ~ ~ III " U'9'"h' ~
NeiI reslushee was an oia tumble down shaniy
"nl1H I"u oeeh apahuoheu Iot many years
time ago, and people said that ever since noises
were heard at midnight around its ruins--a trou
Oieu cry o. conscience from 'he criminal mo man
was ever louna ooia enough to reside IN 1t again
untl poor widow, Curtis by name, obtained leave
to make It her home
widow Curtis was as supershtous and teartu
a. her neighbors, perhaps even more so, for sht
hrmiy believed IN death-warnInRs The once GLAD
mother OF nine children, she had lost eight, and
before the real news reached her, she always hat
warning. 1t IS true that her signs and tokens
came very much oltener even than bad news bu
bad news did sometimes follow her hints iron
the other world, she lad sufficient reason for he
belief, She found herself at last with one onll
child, daughter OF eighteen, who was at servic,
to be near this beloved child the widow took ~
her quarters in the haunted shanty, which to he
scared heart had now no terrors
Mr. Jacks was kind 10 the poor widow, gave he
some furniture and assistance in various oths
forms; and she was grateful. A great part of he
time was spent in the house of the shipwright
whose son Abel was warmly attached tob he
daroTtar Nartha. who was indeed tn he his wifi
tlat yery fall. For some months the widow hat
ben quiet and ihappy; the thought of her child'
advantapeous marriage had driven gloomy idea
from her head, and her cheerful state of mind the
assduous kindness of the Jacks had also tended II
promote.
one afternoon a tremendous storm startled th
good people OF Saco, and filed Them with alarm
SEQ river was lined with saw mills, the owner
of which foated their timber end pIauks down b
"A
lay across the stream, to check tine raIs, and q
pfpgsct The bridges which connected Cuth Islanr
llh the two shores. Once in The memory Of ma
. ireshet had carried away the boom, and give
passage to tbs vast weight oil timber, which com
ing with terrific violence against the bridges, ha
uierly destroyed them. The storm on this occa
son was followed by the rapid swelling Of III
river, aud about four o'clock the boom gave way
the mountains of pIanks and logs brought down b
tn, inundation rushed madly through, aud all CON
nuncation between the island and The town wa
cut Off The timber plunged with irresistible fore