The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-06-08
The PeriLsus SITUATION.
LEGEND OF NIAGARA.


waters of the Niagara river, or Nahaska, the
Indian maiden SKINNED with her light bark
over It's calm bosom. Since theu the hand OF
civilization has despoiled these scenes of their
wilder grandeur The steamboat now APP
breaches the foaming rapids of its giant ca:
araracl. and the bnsy hum of Jnarshalling inl-
provements JON III the clamnr OF lis thunder
ing roar. How changed! The dense lort sis
once darkened its waters, and the wild swan
sported in their quiet seclaslon-the rude
denizen of the wilderness reclined upon the
rock above It's lrghtful chasm. and watched
the surges OF the angry beneath.
Spring had hlossomed into the fullness of
summer, and the rosy hues Of morn gild
the eastern sky. The giddy songsters wei
coined it with their shrl carol, and the forest
resounded Till its echoes swept along min
CLING its joyful sounds with the thunders OF
/ the cataract-all nature seemed TO pour forth
anthems Of Joyous thanksgiving to the Great
Ruler of the Universe. light canoe darted
out into the stream, that thus calmly reposed |
beneath the tranquil sky and its fair bur-
then, the lovely Nallaska laid aside the pad |
die and her wild poetic soul drank OF the EN- /
chautments with which nature thus surround |
ed her. The frail bark with its unconscious |
adyenturer, driited along faster with the m-
creasng flow OF the current on which it was
borne yet still Nahaska moved not-she |
fast approaching; but her thoughts were far
away in the spirit land Of her fathers. She did
not know that the keen eye OF Onawa had
! observed her, reslstlessly borne towards the
angry waters, nor perceived his.strong canoe
as a speck on the water. in the distance.
The gay warblers hushed their notes, and
; the cataracts's roar seemed for ii moment to
i grow lo1der, lis if to warn Nahaska Gifts fear
full presence. She started from her tr-nce,
> and her eyes looked lis if they would start
from their sockets; but with presence Of
mind that seldom lOrsook her, she seized the
: paddle in her hand aud with Il lightning
grasp, struck boldly for the shore.
The stronger arm of Onawa had swept,
e with lis huge stroke, his trusty bark to the
' rescue of Nahaska, his fair bride. Not a
u word was spoken, but us he darted to the side
} of her canoe, she dropped the paddle and
: seized hold of tie side of hIs-lor IA moment
they tossed upon the eapng walcrs-the next
they struck The shore. OnuwA srasped rock
/ that projected but few feet above. and Ma
hasku had just left her boat when his hold
Z slipped and his canoe whirlcd with him Into
I the toamiug waters Of the rapids.
; Nahaska reaching the firm footing of the
y bank. ran swiftly 10 the verge Of the cataract.
&c Orawa had thrown aside the paddle and
u seemed to be preparing himselftor some great
deed. The canoe rushed wildly on between
IL he huge rocks that lift Their heads from
among The oamng waters. Nahdska gazed
y it WIS but d moment-and she fell upOT
!" the fiat rock one dead-the canoe will
IL Onawa had plunged over into the fearful
abyss below she behcld Onawa spring Tor
ward and her SENSES had reeied with thu
=" fearful reality.
, Bound thus to earth by the strong bands
nc of nature. she moved not for ii WHILE out he
NC eyes were set with CLASSY stare.
ny Soon the uuckeunU ADuse and the slow
7" labored breathings throbbed and heaved anC
~ she arose slowly TO her feet Pressing he
lei hand to her brow she approached once more
'so the brink of the chasm, and then started bacl
with convulsve shudder
ne "The Great Spirit she gasped. ''has Ia
III ken from Nahaska The young Chief Of her DO
+, SOM and The angry waters howl his tuuera
. ne song. Oaawa. your n ,ha ska will come tt
lll you in the spirit land of your lalhers." sh'
US now cried aloud. us sne rushed forward, bu
as the srong arm Of q chief as he graSped will
:! the other IL stunted shrub caught her. Th
Ior shock threw him from his loothoId on mar
ni q, row ledge ofrock. and they both swung 70
en- IN instant over the irightiul precipice. Il
Ct this extremity his nerved arm wavered not
moment more and they would have dashe
CO on the rocks beneath, bat the chief threw iOI
Oh ward his foot. and placing it firmly on jut
H. ting crdg Nth all his Strength, he pressed hi
Li'e body forward and thew were saved.
Isl "Onawa," cried Nahaska. half frantic wit
Oh On, the mingling of joy and fear, he hasll
'nI sprung upon the rock, "the Great Spir
'o heard the secret wish of Nahaska, and Oha
wa sees the wild flower hung upon his he art,
he uttered us the maiden reclined herhea
n upon his bosom.
I.
'a- Onawa had sprung forward as the cane
shot the cataract end just escaped tn
rocks b. low. His self possession never lie
- him. but struggling bravely with the foam
ana ing eddits Of the cataract, he reached tr
heG shore, where, climbing the PERCEPTIONS side
nau Of the rock OF the cliff, he just reached I'll
'Hr- topmos ledge at moment so oPportune ft
re- the safety of Nahaska.
his A queer excuse was made few days ag
mes by an old lady. The good woman was sui
,tIv pGned to appear as witness in rather de
icate case. She did not come, and a benc
warrant was issued for her appearance. G
-, which she was brought into Court Tt