Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-10-20
From the Commercial Advertiser.
THE G4CRIFICE:
AN INDIAN STORY.

The population Of the once powerful
confederacy of the Five Nations was scat.
tered wide over the Western Territory Of
New York. Occupying soil Of great
fertility, and country with beautiful
lakes teeming with delicious fish. and ex
tensive forests affo,ding abundance Of
game-governing themselves by mild and
simple laws, SO congenisl to their we'll
being and happiness-they had vastly in.
creased in consequence above the surroun
ding nations. BY their proves in arms.
they had spread terror among their neigh
bors, and had attained an enviable supe-
riority over all the North American tribes.
Onondaga. situated in the vicinity and a.
round the beautiful lake GeneEiH, whose
sands were repu,ed to have been silver,
was the central, The great NATION VI the
/. Oouiianuschoioni or Amphyctionlc
league Of the five nations. The smoke
of the grand-council fire. which time i'm
memorial had burned on their sacred
hearth, assembled high 10 the clouds, that
the Mohawks and Oaeidas on the east and
Senecas and Cayugas on the west, and all
others Of the surrounding nations, might
know Of their glory. Its living light shed
it's glare through their wide spread coun-
try, and its brightness told the warrior and
the hunter, when far from their home,
that there would their mighty deeds be re-
corded its spirit was diffused through the
hearts Of the brave Of the nation, and in
spired them with renewed energies to
deeds of wonderous daring. Onondaga
was early visited by the whites. AT this
period it is said they alone could probably
muster three thousand tried &warriors for
the field. The whole Onondaga valley
was thickIy covered with their hamleis,
and much Of the surrounding country was
interspersed with their villages.
AT what precise period the whites visit
ed this interesting section, it would be diff
ficult positively 10 determine. Tradition
ary history and high authorizes set the
time as early as the year 1885, and sup
posed authentic relics and monumental in
scriptions in the Spanish language assign
date much earlier, one going as far back
as the year 1920. The French Jesuits
very early and at different periods, at
tempted 10 establish themselves and the
Romish religion in the Onandaga Valley.
A considerable colony was formed where
the village Of Salina now stands, by the Je-
suit DabIon. under the auspices Of Lac Sieur
Dupuis, in 1855. Another settlement was
made on the Bu.ternut creek. two miles
south of the village Of GAINESVILLE. in 1866
In 1890 the English had erected at Onon-
daga strong fort. In 1896 the subtle
count Frontenac, then Governor Of Cana.
da, invaded the valley; the Indians burned
shei. principal villages. and the whole val
ley was desolated. At different periods
both English and French erected detences
to protect themselves in their trade with
the Indians, and 10 secure their alliance
and friendship. Through the jealousy Of
the colonists Of these rival nations, and in
consequence of.heir intrigues with the ma
lives. The settlements we're as often bro
ken up a. formed, and il was not NIL the
year 1855, that Eprhaim Webster perma-
nen,ly se,,.ed in The valley. The Onon-
eadas granted iiuna tract Of land one mile
Square. in a very fertile and central part q
their Territory -, !.
He had long been acquainted WIN 1901
an manners and had Initiated himself INTO
their customs. He had often, though
young. been employed on secret Diss'ens
10 the Indians during the war Of the Amer
Jean revolution. He enjoyed the conn
dence Of Gen. Schuyler, Col. Willet and
other distinguished officers Of that event
ful period, il an eminent degree. He ~
wsys conductsd his trusts with singular