The New York herald., 1874-05-23
Cheney and Graves, or Mill River.
From the Boston Globe]


NORTHAMPTON Mass, May 90 1874.
/ am about to dethrone hero, or a pair Of
heroes. People in this vicinity are beginning to
be very much amused and little disgusted with
the way in which two heroes have been created
for them-namey, Cheney, the gatekeeDer at the
reservoir, and the milkman, Collin Graves, and
somebody must speak for them. The newspaper
reading public in general believes at this moment
that In comparison with these two men Revere
and Sheridan sink into insignifcance; but the
people Of this valley, who know the true state OF
the case, regard the two "heroes'' IN far differ
ent way. In chanting their praises and
telling their deeds or valor correspondents here
have racked their brains In the endeavor to place
words IN such positions that they may constitute
fine writing, and at home, in the editorial Offices.
gentlemen OF the quill have "drapped iuto poetry"
In the course OF his journeyings up ana down
stream since saturday, your correspondent has
seen and cOnversed with many persons, from some
OF whom he has received information which could
not be doubted. These statements contained
certain facts which go to show that the two men
in question were far from being heroes. Ihe
poetry which celebrated their deeds was ire
proachable, but surely poetic license Will not
justify make true that which is not true. 1t is
an ugly task to prick this bright bubble at which
the public has been gazing with admring eyes, but
it must be done for the blessed sake OF truth
Now, here is the true story OF "The Rlde":-
On the morning OF awful break George Cheney the
s s the a
os S M M | s eo aow he ns A0s
OF warning people Immediately, and giving them
ss .peys ssan h
S % o vas % s
assertion the latter returns distinct denial He says
the he bade go down to me other vi.
Kim aohsr
spsllman erdered him to 20 and ring the factory bell
sSe sy s'Sss ass 'ssa sns g. NJ
the seAt @ % nsa
mobbed Monday night as stated IN these de-
mex q
speman disbelieving what he said was unwilling to
un ns
The the was as hSnsn oo e to so a hy
thing because the wave was upon % the village
yesterdaya he conversed with man who keeps shop
aSs M na s M ssn
Spcmans house SO that he was unable 10 how long
he s doors he @
CSnsy ' d 20
livery stable the street He began hammer at
hsd NOT Arrived Cheney then ran ne
Tc ana stated what 5 ss ss 3,
stable and @ w sk % any Ds he could Sn lay hi.
i whs your serrsspondent. nSrmsns had FOUND on.
wha tie and had Hn % in the
milk wagon and 100 coming on Williams
se% and
Of their danger. Both nesitated somew seemingly
believing that anything the matter, and ap.
parenty unwilling. whether there was not TO
mode themselves In minute or two, however. the
noise OF the approaching water heard, then
both turned around their teams aud started, in sheer
frig ht on the towards Haydensviie. Your CORE.
spondents informant stated that he returned towards
shop then, and when he reached the stable, he saw
1t became evident that any attempt to reach the vii
lagos below would be useless.
Poor Cheney Is not bright One of the most
prominent Of Williamsburg told your pondent
that he regarded Cheney as extremely minded
man. and further stated that he offered himself Mr..
Spelmau Tor that the corporation might ace
ft to give him. and that the KIND of wan ted
his offer pied So the gatekeeper and mil
are not after ALL they have been re
senfed to what Is 10 be done this with the
cords Of unfinished poetry about the ride" Is of the
puzzles OF The hour.