The Newtown bee., 1891-12-18
Along the Housatonic.

:"
Shelton, pestling closely along the ma
gin of the stream, as ii not quite sure b,
that the granite hills, which overlook til
place from beneath gray, corrugate
brows, might some day resent tbs intru
: ion into their solemn assembly and brus
the presumptious little burg into tn
swift running stream at their base. Grae
ually, however, such fears, II they eve
had existence, have subsidized, and som
of the more adventurous have begun IL
vading their very citadels, planting beat
tiful homes high upon their rugge
shoulders.
From far in the north, the river come
down, pushing its way past the frownln
hills and over the fretful dams, now nois
lily protesting against the numerous OF
structions, then again gliding along 81
lently, rejecting from its calm surfac
the ten thousand fantastic forms tina
have from time immemorial gazed int
its waters.
1t is these lovely rivers, brooks ant
rivulets that go gathering along amongs
the rocks, clear as Dante's stream tina
flowed on the borders of Paradise, which
constitute one, if not the chiefest charm
of New England landscape.
AS if to add to the natural attractive
ness of the Housatonic and vicinity, q
number of Indian legends abound, the
scenes of which were laid along it's
banks; and, of such interest, that one is
inclined to place them with others that
aspire to be called classic. The very
name itself, Housatonic, is enough to
awaken the Imagination, filling it with
incidents wherein the red man and his
dusky mate were the actors and this
crystal stream and these sentinel hills the
stage. Surely the deep glens, the rocky
heights, the ghostly birches in the dark
valleys, the silvery brooks leaping from
rock to rock in restless haste to join the
swift running river, furnish all the es-
sentials, the warp, the wool and the col
oring necessary to weave a fabric both
weird and picturesque.
Last Summer C9D, a western gentle
man spent Il few days with some friends
in Shelton and, upon their invitation, Wis
tied a spot known in that locality as In
interesting legends alluded to.
There were four in the party: Mr. and
Mrs Horace W., Miss Carrie NJ. and my
western friend, Tom E.
Tho ksNNoll>, 10 oil ,,hout q p,iIo
and a half above Shelton, on the same
side of the river and back therefrom some
hundred rods, more or less and is reach
ed by a road which first ascends the riv-
ers bluff and then dcscends nearly to the
waters edge.
Why the road first goes up and then
goes down, instead Of keeping along the
river nearly on a level, or rather why it
was not built there in the first place,
probably no one knows, unless it be that
t was never thought of. The idea of IL
road in Connecticut, without an endless
succession of hills,i is, apparently, not de-
sired; at least the one taken by the party
VAS not an exception. However, after
lalf hours drive up and down, in and
,ut, past hoary rocks, copse and thicket,
through dell and wildwood, the famous
spot WAS reached.
Without any legend or niystory attach
ny to it., the rocky formation itself is
enough to well repay a visit.
1t consists of ii circular basin of solid
ock nearly enclosed, over the rim or top
If which beautiful stream dasheS from
! high ledge on the west side, escaping
through the opening on the side oppo-
lite. The walls are nearly perpendicular
md very smooth. 1t does not require
leavy drafts on credulity to believe that
t was what it is rcpuGed to have been,
III Indian we'll.
The earlier inhabitants in the vicinity
leclare that, before the visits of so many
'andalS, each of whom deemed it his
mt depths, SO that now it is nearly filled,
was practically bottomless. That the
water alone could fashion so strange a
eceptacle is hard to believe. Still Ma
ure's work is not done by the day nor
he year; it is all the same to her wheth-
+ it takes IL moment or centuries to dig
cavern; all the same whether she en-
'loys the earthquake or the tt ickling Wa
er as her servants.
After satisfying their curiosity at the
Veil, Mis- Nj. suggested to Tom that
hey climb the ledge to see what there
vas above; adding that she wished to
how him the identical spot whence was
btained the information that gave rise
0 the Legend of Indian Well"
Tom glanced up the steep, rocky height
nd, as the day was very warm and the
tw of gravtation strongly opposing any
fort TO raise his 200 pounds of manhood
nch distance, he intimated that it
night be possible for her to bring the
spot" down on the lower level without
lis assistance, thereby earning his last
az gratitude.
Her only reply was a whitening look
hat utterly routed his hooking object
ons and the ascent was made.
The upper level showed Wild rocky
avine, destitute of all vegetation,
through which the rivulet struggled that
applied the Well.
After gazing about few moments, the
rdent young climber remarked, Lets
% up a little farther and will show you
he very spot"
Tom braVely followed under the exhil-
rating influence of the perspiration that
rickled down his back and numerous
'ther places with which it became quite
till she exclaimed, "Here it is ~
He glanced at the place indicated and,
aking step or two forward, saw before
lin an irregular hole amongst the loose
tones foot or two deep; dozens, simi-
He. were ALI arnnnd