The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-31
Matilda Enham, Columbia, Pa, says (:
THE LEGEND or NANTUOK RI.


A Cloud of Smoke, a Pipeful of Tobacco
and Giant-Letter From Young New
Haven From Nantucket.
Nantucket, Mass, July 20, 1S95.-As
one gazes at Nantucket from the deck
of a yacht or from over the rail of a
Vineyard sound "side-wheeler" he little
connects its origin with, q cloud Of
smoke, pipeful of tobacco and giant.
Yet herein lies the basis of rather
amusing legend which many an Indian
swain once whispered in the ear of his
lady love, for it is itself tale pertain
ing to a love affair."
Siwanticot, or the Devil of Cape Hig-
gins, as he was Familiarity known by
the natives, dwelt in cavern on the
northwest end of Martha's Vineyard
Island, which lies some ten miles off the
coast of Massachusetts. He was q ge-
NAL old fellow, whose principal char
acteristics were his prodigious appetite
and his startling propensities for smok-
ing. In fact it is said that he frequent
ly devoured couple of tons of whale
or whole grampus at sitting, and
then smoked two or three hundred
pounds Of tobacco before indulging in
his after-dinner nap. He was fond of
young people, too, quite unlike the prov
erbial giant, and one of his chief de-
lights was to help unhappy lovers out
of their difficulties.
1t happened in the course of events
that certain sachem of the island OBJ
jected to the marriage of his daughter
to a certain young warrior because of
his poverty and obscure parentage. The
lovers at length decided that the best
thing they could do would be to visit
the giant and solicit his aid. Their
pitiful tale deeply touched Siwanticot
and he Immediately set out with them
for the wigwam. of the dissatisfied chief
| In deep voice he demanded how much
| land the youth must possess to be ell
gible for the hand of the young squaw
IAN island" was the reply. GOOD" he
| Numbered, follow me-"
AS the legend goes, at that time Mar
tha's Vineyard extended southeast tc
the little island of Tuckernnck. Prob
ably since then some volcanic shock
| mas caused d great part VI LIE 1SiiiiS
to disappear and substituted the ten
mile stretch of water inhabited by gamy
bluefish, which now intervenes between
the two islands.
| AT any rate, the giant led the party
to this southeastern corner and proceed
ed to begin operations. He had brough'
his pipe with him, and having lighted
| 1t, he bowed once to the rising sun
then twice to that part of the sky where
the north star is seen, blew three times
| on conch shell and commenced t,
smoke with might and MAN, In a few
moments it was dark as night, and sud
denly kissing sound was heard al
| Siwanticot emptied the contents of hi
pipe into the water. Their the smok,
slowly cleared away, and there appear
ed to the happy gaze of all an island
low, barren and desolate, but neverthe
less an island-all that was required.
And in time it bloomed forth and thu
happy pair became the generators Of {
peaceful tribe, and called their islant
after their benefactor. Some of thei
descendants, now well mixed with ne
gro blood, can be found any sumIsrss
day smashing baggage at the steam
boat dock and offering to drive vol
lround the quaint old town Of Nantucke
behind a scrubby horse.