The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-07-22
LEGEND OF NIAGARA.
Indians Have Strange Tale of
Formation of Wonder.
Huge Snake Said to be Foundation
of the Greatest Cataract
of The World.


formation of the great cataract, and
this Is the story they tell:
Once upon time, a long while
ago, there lived in Western New York
beautiful Indian maiden whose pr
ents wanted her to marry hideous
old chief because he was rich.
The beautiful maiden said that
while she had always male 1t rule
10 obey her parents In all things as
a dutiiul daughter shout. in this
case she must politely but firmly de-
cline. unless they really insisted up
on Ii. They 5 aid they did insist, and
that She would please get ready tor
the wedding At once.
The maiden went out walking in
the woods to think IT over, and the
first thing she knew she had walked
to the Niagara river, Just below where
II comes out of Lake Erie. 1t was a
great many miles from her home. but
Indian girls were good walkers, and
ten or twenty miles meant nothing to
them when they wanted to take good
long stroll, and time to think
As the maiden stood BY the river
and saw il rushing down ont of the
lake. her thought became more and
more sad, and, finally. seeing a Ca
noe hauled up on the bank, she det, r
mined TO trust herself to the mercy OF
the water rather than go back and
marry the hideouS old chief
At tia, time there -ere no great
high tails where the laundering wa
tiers OF Niagara now roar and rave.
but there were fearful rapids there.
whirling and twirling among jagged
rocks. In fact, the whole place look
ed just as the rapids above the falls
look now az you stand on Goat Island
aid look up at them.
GIRL RESCUED RY THUNDER GOD.
To ge, caught in those rapids was
sure death, and the girl knew II; but
she was 50 sad and sorrowful that
she did not care what became OF her.
Her only ,sire was to get away
from home So she launched the
canoe. jumped In, and the swift wa.
tiers began to hurry her toward the
rapids
Now the great Indian. Thunder God
Hiuur-he who brought the clouds
and rain and controlled the lightning
had a summer cottage, constructed
out OF a cave, at the junction OF the
lake aud the river. where he used TO
spend his leisure time fishing, and 1t
was his canoe which the maiden had
launched forth upon the turbulant
waters of Niagara riv.r. Sitting in
the mouth OF the cave, getting his
fishing tack e really for the next day
and thinking where he could get the
best ground worms for bait, the thun-
der god looked up and saw the girl
sailing away in his best canoe.
At first he was angry, but when he
cav how beautiful the girl was and
that she was drifting to certain death
he was sorry for her and called to he.
20 come back. Then he saw that she
had left the paddle on the bank and
was helpless.
Spreading his wings, for Hinun
had wings and could fy much better
than Mr.. Saatos-Dumont. he flew to
the rescue and caught the maiden
Just as the canoe was being dashed
against the horrid rocks OF the rapids.
He took her back to the cave aud ask
ed her to tell him why she did such
foolish thing as to venture out on the
river without paddle-he would say
nothing about her taking the canoe
without asking for 1t.
The maiden told him all and he
said: well. perhaps you would bet
ter stay here a while, as l happen to
know that the hideous old chief you
speak OF will die In few days. and
then you can go home In safety. But
while you are here" added Hiuun,
"you might as we'll learn something.
and l will be your teacher"
SNAKE MADE THE FALLS.
So the girl stayed on the shores OF
the river for several days aud the
thunder god taught her many
thisgs.
why" asked the maiden one day,
lido people In my village die In such
numbers? What causes so much sick
ness there?"
~ will tell you" said Hinun. land