The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-11-29

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arrows, demanded the reason thereof,
and Toki replied that if he had in
jured his son he would have driven
those other arrows into the Kings
body. The story mas first related
by Saxo EXAMINATIONS in the twelfth
century.
| 2. But in the eleventh century the
above prototype of Tell had success
ors or imitators. King Olaf, the
Saint of Norway, challenged Elm
dridi, among other things, to shoot
an arrow at a writing tablet on the
head of Eindridi's son. Each was to
have one shot. Olaf grazed the boys
head, whereupon the mother inter
fered, and Eindridi was Withdrawn
from the contest. Olaf remarked
that his competitor had a second ar
row, which Eindridi confessed that
he intended for his Majesty if any
thing very unpleasant had happened
to the boy.
8. A year or two later in this
eleventh century, another Morse
archer, Hemingr, had match with
a King Harold. Harold set spear
haft for a mark in the ground. He
then fired in the air; the arrow
turned in its descent and pierced the
spear haft. Hemingr followed suit,
and split the Kings arrow, which
was perpendicularly fixed in the
spear haft. Then the King stuck q
knife in an oak. His arrow went
into the haft. Hemingr shot, and
his arrow cleft the haft and went in
to the scckat of the blade. The en-
ragged King next fired at tender twig,
which his arrow pierced, but Hem
ingr's split a haze. nut growing upon
it. "You shall put the nut on your
brother Bjorn's head" said Harold,
"and if you do not pierce it with
your spear at the first attempt, your
life shall be forfeit" Of course the
thing was done. Hemingr is sup
posed to have had his revenge by
sending an arrow throUg Harold's
trachea at the battle of Stamford
Bridge, where he fought on the Eng
lish side.
4. In the Farae Isles, the above
Harold is said to have had swim
ming match with a certain Geyti, |
who not only beat him, but gave him
ducking. Harold condemned him |
to shoot a hazel nut off his brothers |
head under the usual penalty, and |
with the usual result.
5. The same story is told of one
Puncher Suggestive name) with |
this difference, that the object aimed |
at was a coin.
6. In Finland, it is a son who |
shoots an apple off his fathers head, |
for which feat some robbers who
had captured the sire gave him up
to the son.
Z. In Persian poem of the twelfth |
century, king in sport shoots an
arrow at an apple on the head of his
fayorite page, who though not hurt
died of the fright.
8. The story, with a difference, is
told of Egill, in the sage of Thidrik,
of no particular date.
8. 1t is familiar to us in the Eng
Iish ballad of William of ClousIey, |
chronological date of event uncer-
tain.
10. Enter William Tell in the first
decade of the forteenth
century. We need not tell his well |
known tale again. Itis only neces-
sary to remark, by way of comment, |
that the Tell and Gessler legend was
not set up till many years afterWard, |
and in no contemporary record is |
any mention made of either Tell, |
Gesler or the apple incident. No
Vogt named Gesler ever exercised |
authority for the Emperor in Switz- |
erland; no family named Tell can be |
traced in any part of that country.
IL, and lastly. The haro's name |
was not Tell at all, but Mcleod, and |
he came from Bramar! Mr.. Barring
Gould has quite overlooked him. |
Therefore is the new claimants |
story here subjoined, in order to
make the roll Of legends complete. |
1t is taken from "The Braemar High
lands; their Tales, Traditions and
History" by Elizabeth Taylor. The
king referred to is Malcolm Can
more.
"a young man named Mcleod, had
been hunting one day in the royal
forest. A favorite hound of the
kings having attacked Mcleod, was
killed by him. The king soon heard
of the slaughter of his favorite, and
was exceedingly angry-so much so,
that Mcleod was condemed to death.
The gibbet was erected on Craig
Choinnich, .. e., Kenneth's Craig. AS
there was less of justice than revenge
In the sentence, little time was per
mitted ere it was carried into execu-
ton. The prisoner was led out bv
the north gate Of the castle. The
king, in great state, surrounded by a
crowd of his mobiles, followed in pro-
cession. SorroWing crowds of the
people came after, in wondering
amazement. AS they moved SLOWLY
on, an incident occurred which arrest
ed universal attention. A young
woman With a child in her arms
came rushing through the crowd,
and, throwing herself before the king,
pleaded with him to spare her hus-
bands life, though it should be at
the expense of all they possessed.
Her impassioned entreaties were
met with silence. Malcolm was not
moved from his purpose of death.
Seeing that her efforts to move the
king were useless, she made her way
to her husband, and throwing her
arms around him-declared that she
would not leave him-she would 90
and die with him. Malcolm was
somewhat moved by the touching
scene. Allen Durward, noticing the
favorable moment, yentured the suo.