The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1870-06-30
tll 1anagf For the Lancaster Gazette
A Legend of the IIockhocking.


Many years before the world had
heard Of "a Columbus, or dreamed
of another land across the water,
there was near the central part Of
what we now call Ohio, q little
lake. Itseened a stray BIT DIVA
ter borne from some Of the rivers
Iof the country, or possibly from
the distant Atlantic, and dropped
amid the hills to make still lovelier
the grand old forests. Its gently
.undulating shores, had not that
barren, sandy appearance which
characterizes so many of our larger
lakes; but we're covered with a
green turf interspensed with trees
that stood SO near the lake, as to
be imaged in long shadows on its
CLASSY surface. Its crystal waters
were kept ever fresh and pure by a
stream which emptied its sparkling
waters into the south side Of the
lake, and another, seemingly a con-
tinuation of the first, which wound
its way onward and Joined others
on their way to the sea.
But the most interesting object
was an island near the center of
the lake, and raised a few feet
above it. 1t was a lovely combin-
alton ofrocks and tangled shrub
berry, while great forest trees hight
ened its picturesque effect. The
highest part was nearly level, and
served numerous purposes to the
wild natives of the surrounding
country. Here, upon some level
spot, they played their games and
practieed their arts of war. Among
the dark rayines and shady hooks,
the children played as innocently
as do those of the civilized white
man. Here the youth slept and
dreamed of the time when he should
return from the war-path the
bravest of the brave.
Years rolled by without produc
ing any change in the scene save
slight and gradual widening of the
stream. But there came spring
when the rains were unusually
heavy. The lake had risen several
feet and the once quiet stream
now a swollen torrent, had over
flowed its banks, and inundated the
surrounding country. Still il
rained, day and night, almost con
tinually; and the rude inhabitants
who had received the tradition Of
the destruction of the world by
water-but not the promise
doubtless felt that second flood
was at hand. Two weeks passed
thus with now and then an inter
mission, when one night, SO darl
that scarcely anything was per
ceptible, a rumbling, roaring nois'
was heard as of some river break
ing its banks and rushing witt
fearful rapidity, sweeping before i
whatever stood it its way.
The noise increased and mid
night found it unabated. The in
habitants of the adjacent hills
though beyond the reach of dan
ger, stricken with terror, and nc
knowing what to expect, though
T only of the traditional class {
, matter.
Gradually the noise diminishe
and had subsidized into a dull roal
ing sound when morning dawnet
; The lake like a spirit Of the nigh
had taken its fight. The pressur
of its waters had burst its wall
and the river, no longer thread
like streamlet, but vast, rapi
torrent, had swept away the inhat
itants of the lowlands into the dir
, land of spirits.
The clouds broke away, tn
, sun came out, brighter, it seen
ed, as if to atone for its long al
sence. The lake bed became OF
beautiful valley, and the lake itse
, the unobtrusive Hockhocking.-
In