The National tribune., 1901-07-25
A LEGEND OF NIAGARA.
LuHdy's Lane aad Other Historic Spots
Random Notes on the Great Cataract.
BY LILLIAN HERROD.


the Falls and surrounding country their
name, Niagara" 1t signifies the thun-
der of the water" vivid description of
this most remarkable phenomena within
| their territory.
This territory was occupied by the
Neuter tribe of Indians, who i'll 1T23
| joined themselves to the lroquoiS in or
der to avoid their fury. Many are the
legends, connected with this spot, but they
never have been fully collected. The most
popular one was told to the writer during
a short stay ut Niagara. 1t is called the
Legend of the White Canoe
Before civilization had intruded upon
this domain it was customary for the tribes
to -cougTegate at the Falls each year IN
order to offer human sacrihce to pro-
pItiate the Spirit of the Falls" 1t was
an honor that all sought.
The lot fell one year upon the only
daughter of powerful Chief of the
Seneca tribe, who was the idol of her
father, her mother having been slain by Il
hostile tribe of Indians. When the ver-
| diet was given not culver passed over
him, so perfect was his self-controI.
The fated day arrived and was spent
| in savage festivities. Night fell and the
moon rose slowly above the horizon, sill
vering the Falls. Then a white canoe
| filled with fruit and flowers glided from
the shore. In it sat the maiden. Slowly
1 S1t SuIueu HeT canoe INTO Ine TIDIt.S
amidst the shouts and cries of the In
dians.
Suddenly a second white canoe left the
shore and shot out into the water, guided
| by the strong arm of the powerful Chief
| The-twO canoes met, father and daughter
gazed into each others eyes, then swept
over the precipice together, into the EN-
! brace of the laundering cataract and en-
tered into Eternity.
The burial spot of the braves and war
| riOrs was on Goat Island.
The first printed allusion to Niagara
Falls was written by Jacques Cartier in
! 1888. Although the river had been known
to the Jesuits as early as 1910, yet the
| earliest description of it was given by
Friar Hennepin in 1913.
The French the same year erected a
fortified storehouse where Lewiston now
stands, and claimed their right to. the
land through early explorations. They
built and launched the first vessel upon
the upper lakes, The Griffin" The Eng
lish contested unsuccessfully the rights of
the French until the year 1154, when they
conquered and settled upon the land until
IN 1IIG, they in turn were obliged to yield
to the United States the land upon the
eastern side of the Falls. They occupied
this land until 1888, and did not relinquish
it until 1886.
There are at Niagara so many and
varied points of interest worth visiting
that to enumerate them all would be al
most an impossibility. The Falls and at
tendant parks, the Whirlpool, site of the
battle of Lundys Lane, the suspension
bridges, Devils Hole, Bloody Run,
Queenstown Hights, and Gen. Brock 5
monument are among the number.
Niagara in itself and its chief attraction,
the Falls, have been SO fully described
that it would be useless TO attempt it, but
points other than the cataract are worthy
OF notice.
Why is it that so many brides choose
Niagara for their wedding tour, unless the
grandeur OF the scenery diyerts their
thoughts from others and the noise of
the cataract browns their honeyed words
intended for no ears save their own.
Goat Island, for so many years the
property of Gen. L. Il. Porter, of the War
of 1872, and his descendants, still is eoy-
cred with natural forests. 1t was while
one of his descendants was visiting in
England that she was asked il she had
ever seen Niagara Falls. Her quiet an
swer was, Il own them"
Luna Island derives its name from the
fact that for a short time each month,
when the moon is full, it is the best place
to witness the Lunar Bow. The Solar
Bow is visible, however, from here when
ever the sun shines.
A sad incident occurred upon this Island
in 1919 when the family of Mr.. Deforest,
who was visiting Niagara, went with Mr.
Addington TO visit this spot. Just as they
We're leaving Mr.. Addington seized An
nette, Mr.. DefOrest's little daughter, and
playfully held her over the edge of the
bank, saying, Il am going to throw you
over" Fear caused her to leap from his
arms into the raging water. Uttefing a
cry of horror the young man sprang in
after her and before the parents could
realize the situation they were both drawn
over the falls. The body of the little one
was recovered the following day, but it'll
was several days before the body of Mr..
AddIngton was found.
The morning after the writer's arrival
at Niagara, as she FASTENED to visit the
Falls, seeing at the foot of the American
Falls mound of earth thrown up by the
waters, she ran up to the top to obtain
q better view. AS she turned around she
was surrounded by circular rainbow. 1T
was beautiful sight, once seen never to
be forgotten.
Many people Of note have been attract
ed to this spot. 1t was here that the
Prince of Wales, now King Edward VII,
on his trip throughout the United States,
came to revel in the glorious spectacle
and enjoy rest from the confusion which
attended him wherever he went. The
heart of Thomas Moore was touched by
tuc sISut VI tuiS BTdHueuT. Ieel, so |
he wrote, "as if l was approaching the |
residence of the Deity" Col. Robert In
gersoll on the contrary, was disappointed, |
for he said: mo truly kind being would
turn loose such quantity Of water and
shock the human mind" Margaret Full |
Ter, Charles Dickens, Nathaniel p. Willis, |
and host of others have been drawn to
this historic spot.
The Devils Hole-and where is there
such another spot that so suggests the
abode of his Satanic Majesty-is a gloomy |
place upon the bank of the river from 100 |
to 200 feet deep. A deep precipice over |
hangs this dark chasm, from the top of |
which falls q small stream, known as |
Bloody Run.
1t was during the French war in 1863 |
that detachment Of British soldiers con-
sisting Of about $50 men were forwarded
with large supply OF provisions from
Fort Niagara to Fort Schlosser. The |
Seneca Indians, urged on by the French, |
lay in ambush along this dark spot, be-
ing secreted in the bushes. Just as the |
English passed the precipice the Indians |
burst upon them, uttering a terrific yell, |
and before the soldiers had chance to
form they poured into them q whitening
fire which drove them over the cliff into
the yawning gulf below, where they were
dashed to pieces on the rocks. Tradition
adds that drummer boy caught upon the
branches of q tree during his fall and
hung suspended by his drum strap He
succeeded, however, in effecting his es-
cape. Stedman, who cond Jcted the en-
voys being well mounted, dashed through
the Indians, and although repeatedly fired
upon, succeeded in making his escape.