Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-04
A LEGEND OF NIAGARA.

A great want has Just been hlled. Le-
pends about the Niagara Falls have been SO
scarce that it will be great relief to many
to know that a new one has been dlscov-
cred. Not exactly new, either, for it Is
written ON old parchment, and must have
been living where it was found for many
wears but, as it has just recently been
discovered, it is to the present generation
new. While shoveling snow from the steps
of the Extortion Hotel Just after the recent
heavy fall the above-reterred-te parchment
was found. The following is free trans.
lation of it's contents John Jackson, a
Young man of some pugilistic attsinments,
who dearly loved handsome young lady
in Buffalo, determined to take his darling
to the Falls for a trip. Now, John, like
many other Buffalo young men, didn't
know much about the outside world, and
had never bsen warned to avoid the Nj
agara Falls hackmsn. 1t was with light
heart that he stepped from the train on
that bright May morning, and with Ange-
lima Thompson hanging gracefully on his
arm. started gsily for the great cataract
little dreaming of the terrible fate that
awaited him, and that was destined to
bring to so gloomy close a day which
seemed to have dawned the brightest Of all
the Gays of the year. TIE couple had
gone but a few steps when they were
accosted by hackman, who said
"Have hack, sir 2
"No!"
"Better take hack. This is zone of
the finest, and I'll drive You to all the
points of interest"
"No; we will walk %
What! Do you mean to say that
YOU re going to make that young lady foot
it over these rough streets? If l had as
handsome lady as you have l wouldn't
be so penurious as to make her tramp
around here and have sore feet for a
week.
Now John, as was formerly limited, had
some knowledge of the manly art, and the
remark about penuriousness grated on his
finer feelings. Angelina said
"Oh, never mind him, john"
But Johns blood was up. So he put up
his hands and gave the impudent hickman
one in the neck. In an instant they were
surrounded. All the hackman came to the
rescue of their co.laborer. Angelina
screamed, and that made John nervous,
and he could not attend to his counters
and guards. The only faint made was by
Angelina, and the blows from whips, fists
and other missiles that rained on John
from all sides made him retreat in dismsy.
And this, the day that opened SO brightly,
closed darkly, particularly in the region OF
John Jackson's eyes. Bat as he washed
the blood from his face and tied Angelina's
handkerchief around his throbbing temples,
he was heard to mu.ter, 4" | will be re.
venged ~
Several weeks had passed. The cataract
was still doing business at the old stand,
and waving on high its glorious plume OF
white spray. The hackmen were also al
the old stand. The battle with the young
Buffalo man had ceased to be topic among
them, and in the wild rush for worldly
gain they had almost forgotten the face OF
Jackson A wild shrek pierces the morn
ing air, and the train from Buffalo, with
Changing bell and kissing steam, brings up
at the depot. John Jackson walks from
tie train. At his side IS person in female
attire, but the person has not the handsome
form and smiling face of Angelina. The
hackmen, in the aforesaid rush for worldly
gain, do not recognize the man.
Have hack, sir 2
"No."
"Better take hack, It's fifteen miles
to the Falls.
mo; we will walk.
GOA, you're a pretty fellow to make
that young girl trudge around"
That was as far as he got. Jacks arm
had Strengthened. His fist had come in
contact with the nose of the speaker. The
noble form of the hackman was groveling
in the dust. 1t was at this period that the
conduct of the person in female attire be-
came noticeable. There was no scream,
! and nobody swooned, while the attitude
! assumed was not usual one for lady.
The hat dropped forward until it nearly
| touched the nose, while the fistg-very
large ones for lady-were tightly clenched
| and the elbows were drawn back In a Pat
| Rooney style, which plainly showed that
their owner would pu5 up with no non.
sense. The other hackmen rushed to the
rescue of their fallen companion, but the
| first to arrive received such a singing
blow from Johns companion that he re.
| tired in dismay. The second was simil lrly
dealt with, and he also took back seat.
In the meantime John was not idle. He
kicked, thumped and otherwise maltreated
his antagonist until he felt that the dis.
honor heaped upon him during his previous
visit had been wiped out. Then his com.
panion took his arm, and, with sweet,
seaside.musing smile, said odd you see
me get away with that red-nosed coon
what tried to interfere ?" The loving
couple went Immediately to hotel, and
shortly after they had disappeared through
the doorway two young men came out
One was John, while the other was 6
stranger, and carried small bundle. The
woman has never since been seen alive. -
! detroit Free Press.