Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-01-20
The IEGEND OF KETTLE ISLE.

Almost in sight Of the Reef Of Nor
mans Woe, on the north shore Of Mas
sschusets Bsy, there Is = fatal strip Of
grazing land, sometwo miles In length
by less than half mile in width, con-
eerning which some singular facts are
related.
SkiIting the rocky coast from the
Cham Cliffs to Cobblestone Beach,
near which lies the leland, the few
farmers Of the neighbcrhoodh have found
ii Q convenient psstursge during the
long Yeas, and it Is remarkable that
cattle and sheep grazing its rich grasses
and herbage thrive for time, but in
the courss Of 3 month invariably lose
appetite. grow weaker and weaker, and
If not removed at once death ends their
misery. Six weeks removal TO con-
tiguous land suffices to bring them up
again, AFTER which they are good for an
other grazing term of tiyeo six months
upon the fatal field; and even sickly
animals from other pastures here gain
vigor for q time, growing sleek and fat.
IL Is also singular that horses are entire
Iy exempt from the mysterious fatality
attending horned animals, keeping in
good condition for any length of time.
These facts are we'll. known to farmers
and fishermen living in the pretty viii
lsge of Kettle Cove, aad will be vouch-
ed for.
A hundred years or more ago the
island was peninsula extending from
the Point, as it is now called, far out
into the sea, making the cove much
larger in area than at present time, and
protecting 1t upon all sides save to the
southwest. This deep and sheltered
bay was known to the navigstors as n
safe hsrbor, and from its singular shape
came to be known As "The Kettle"
from which we now have Kettle Cove
and Kettle Island. The fishermen tell
q story Of buried treasures in an iron
pot-near the saddle Of the island, aud
some have connected the above names
with this tale, but think they are mis-
taken. At all events, If you will take
the chart aud, after filling in with 3
pencil = portion of Crescent Beach,
where the water has encroaehed upon
the low sandy shore, draw curved line
outward from David's Rock across to
the br.akwster, "The Kettle will sp-
pear mo st plainly.
The rocky bar is readily seen when
sailing over ii, and there are persons
now living in the village who remember
well OF hearing their parents tell OF
crossing II at low tide in childhood. At
The time OF the opening Of the story II
was narrow, sandy strip Of land,
though high enough to afford dry pas
sage at all tides. The island. too, had
eLsnged, for the older fishermen re
ncmber.d when Ii was covered with n
dense growth Of trees upon It's western
1oItioD, while to day the whole area il
llarren rs heath. These are the simple
acts, and this the legend:
, In those early days there stood upon
The xestwsId side o. 49, now ket
lie Isle, low, ts-Sect ,.,.s. IN which
bysd an old wolfram and fair young
IN II chung upon pretty slope, where
iihe south winds played around ii
Through the summer days, and the sun
loved TO liDger; and from its doorway,
looming through the shrubby hemlocks,
Lone could see the ocean rolling far be-
,S@aA under the cliffs. Behind the hut
rose q ragged hiliock, considerably
higher than the erumbling old stone
chimney IL over shsdowel, and farther
mack o grove of birches sheltered IL from
Inne chilling blasts of the north aud
Nst. Situated IN q wild spot-thOugh
plain view of the ocean spproaeh-it
Ess hidden on the land side, aud few
IA dared to follow the tangled, zlgzsg
hadiDg toit, and fewer still had
sloCd- bent ath Its shadow.
The bent old woman was well known
by reputation for miles around, but none
cared for near acquaintance, as was
whispered she dealt In witchcrsft. As
ior the girl, there were few who had
not heard Of her rare beauty, and some
who had not seen her. Twas even
whispered, too, that she might be su
:, sociate in the practice OF the black
i IL, her fair face covering the features
! Q hsg more evil than the other one.
Upon the mainland. or, as we now
speak Of it, the Point, lived thriving
lsrnser, for those days, who was blessed
with . daughter and two sons. His
farm covered the whole Puiut, and a
sfrip of wild, unbroken land, extending
along the coast from Cobblestone Beach
10 fbe Chasm Cliffs, served IS pastursge
for sheep aud cattle, and for o small
flcck Of sheep belonging to the old wo-
man.
The KIrl was o shy, timld creature,
tall. 1.-THE and graceful, with sunny hair
and son, peace-lik skin, her brown, ex-
pressiye eyes beaming with.tenderness
and love. The old woman claimed
Shat the girl Was OF her own blood, and,
While there were those who doubted IL,
50 one was sufficiently concerned to
ilths matter and find out the truth;
int whatever might have been the
Views OF people in that region, the
snrmeF,s daughter Ruth and his eldest
sob. William, knew she was sweet and
1ovable.
free n bird, joyous and happy, she
ms : welcome victor at the farm house
4 n ever foupd delight In the company
SI Ruth and William. lt Is not strange,
Men. % she grew to beauteous woman
hood. that William iound out the day
chat be loved he. madly-aesperately;
bat when he walked the sandy beach
Hllrf right with her, driving across the
nfYroE bar old granpy's sheep, and
3rcke OF love TO her, she only gazed af
him. and ansWefed nothing
Another day they met; her face was
. fnI1 OF tnnhhine, and there was music
and lhuahter In hr heart and eyes