The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-23
A Legend Of SacO River.

Legend OF SacO RIVER.
Saco is a small town at very short
distance from the sea, in the state of
Maine, famous only within circumfer-
ence of few miles in connection with
the Labrador fishery, and also as a nur-
sery of an industrious, Woodworking
set of shipwrights and fishermen. In
the early history of the state of Maine
mention is made of Saco Island as
the site of an Indian village, but To-
cal tradition gives more ample details
relative to the election of the redskins
from the place. But with this 1 have
nothing to do, except incidentally, as
will be seen from the course of my
narrative. Abel Jacks, my informant,
was the son of working shipbuilder
of Saco, a pushing, industrious man,
who in times of thriving business and
when a special job was on hand would
work eight days without taking off his
clothes. He lived in house Just above
the town, the front of which faced the
island which parted the river, variously
known as Cuth and Saco Island. Abel
was his youngest son-at the time we
speak of young man of twenty.
About dozen yards distant from their
residence was an old, tumble-down
shanty, which had been abandoned for
many years. A murder had been COM
mitted within its walls a long time ago,
and people said that ever since noises
were heard at midnight around its
ruins-a troubled cry of conscience
from the criminal. No man was ever
found bold enoughto reside in it again,
until poor widow, Curtis by name, OBJ
tanned leave to make it her home.
Widow Curtis was as superstitious
and fearful as her neighbors- perhaps
even more so, for she firmly believed
in death warnings. The once glad
mother of nine children, she had lost
eight, and before the real news reached
her she always had a warning. She
found herself at last with only one
child, daughter aged eighteen, who
was at service on Cuth Island, in
the house of Squire Sheen, and to be
near this beloved child the widow took
up her quarters in the haunted shanty
which to her scared heart had now nc
terrors. Mr.. Jacks was kind to the
poor widow, gave her some furniture
and assistance in various other forms
and she was grateful A great part of hel
lllhC W 10 SBChI Ill UhC hOuoC VI ullC chlD
wright, whose son, Abel, was warmly
attached to her daughter, Martha, who
was, indeed, to be his wife that very fall
For some months the widow had beer
quiet and happy. The thought of hel
child's advantageous marriage had
driven gloomy ideas from her head
and her cheerful state of mind the as
siduous kindness of the Jacks had also
tended to promote.
One afternoon tremendous storm
startled the good people of Saco ant
filled them with alarm. Saco river wa
lined with saw-mills, the owners o
which floated timber and planks dowr
by its waters. But just above the towr
a huge boom lay across the stream, t.
check the RATS and to protect the bridges
which connected Cuth Island with the
two shores. Once in the memory O
man a freshet had carried away thu
boom and given passage to the vas
weight of timber, which, coming will
terrific violence against the bridges
had destroyed them. The storm OF
this occasion was followed by the rapit
swelling of the river, and about fou
O'Clock the boom gave way. The noun
tains of planks and logs brought dow
by the inundation rushed madl,
through, and all communication be
tween the town and the island was Gu
off. The timber plunged with irresisti
BILE force over the falls below the island
carrying the bridges with it, The roa
of the blast, the rushing of the will,
waters, the crashing of logs, the plung
ing of masses of wood over the tw
cataracts, the running to and fro of tn
people, all reused in poor Widow Curt
feelings of terror and alarm, and abou
sunset she came into the house of oil
Jacks and told him that she had re
ceived death warning relative to he
child. Tears streamed down her palli
cheeks, and her whole mien was that O
broken-hearted woman. Both oil
Jacks and Abel sought to comfort he
in every possible way. They trie
ridicule; they tried reason; but all il
vain; the widow still declared she ha
heard the never-failing warning.
And what was it like?" suddenl
cried old Jacks.
GA low screech, like the cry of on
in PAIN" replied the widow.
"Tush, woman, you heard the squaN
of Cuth Island. She never fails to how
with the tempest"
But the widow was not to be salts
fed. She declared that every instan
she felt more sure that Martha wa
4 gone. About midnight she starte,
, towards home, and Abel went along tn
! water-side with her to say few word
of comfort. "Did you hear that?'
; suddenly said the poor mother; 81
that was not Martha's voice it was he
: spirit" Abel had heard the cry.
was shrek of despair, so clear, so dis
Z tinct, no man could hesitate or doubt
d The night was now calm and still, an
the moon shone brightly over the Who'll
a scene. "A boat lay moored within a