The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-12-11
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From Arlhur's Home Gazette.
The Tower of Death.
BY ROSE ROVER.

From the letter Of a fair correspondent,
in Tennessee to whom we have before
referred, we take the following interesting
aboriginal lcgcnd.I
AS you will have seen from the post
7 mark for this letter. the Journey mentioned
in my last, as being IN contemplation, has
been performed am now about one
hundred miles from Nj, and have been
here three days. Aud, would yuu believe
it, came on horseback! Quite feat YOU
wiiissay, for delicate Miss just escaped
from the close confinement of a boarding.
schooEss
My brother was The companion Of my
journey; and quite an interesting time we
have had of it. Having travelled much, he
u has become accustomed To notice every
. tllirG worlhy OF remark, and be pointcd,au
I to me, many interesting Objects hat otRefs
$ wise fligl hs sgf, escaped n,i' ons erssssieli.
SnaoI. sfis i attetiy
tis,is tos Ft,ck tis;essa&c
\ perpetidiculariy from the hank nf-.a little
creek that ran parallel with the road, and
which resemble much the wall Of an i'm.
a mcnse fortress. This irnwnng cliff, which
crises to the hriuht of one hundred feet or
more, he told me is called the Tower of
Death" On asking for an explanation
of the causes for this fearful name. he told
me that there was an Inlian le.cnd con
nectcd with it, that led In ihis; terribly siw-
nificant title; and he then related TO me the
4 story, which | give you below, as briefly
as possible.
While there were yet but few settle
ments on the banks OF the Mississippi. and
this portion of Tennessee was still occnpi-
ed by the Indians, young ana daring hun
II,
tlercd SO far in pursuit of Il wounded deer,
that he got bcyon reach of assistance,
without knowing IT,; and when he suddenly
saw'hmscif surrounded hy score of red
warriors, nothing was left him but subnis
sion or instant death
The feelings oi these dark children OF
the forests towards the white us,irpcrs
of their lands, were, at that time, any thnr
but amicable, and young Montague knew.
therefore, that his situation was then bv no
means cnvlable. But there was not AS
great reason for apprehension as he mag
incd The red men were then on II hunt
ing excursion, and the winter being near,
and the rainy season about To commence,
they were ready to return to their wig
vans in this region, when he was captur-
ed. Having taken his arms from him,
homes, and here set him at liberty, first
telling him that if he attempted to escape
and return to his white brethren, the con.
sequences would he fatal to himself
Seeing that escape was impossible while
the red mcr continued to watch hs every
movement, the hunter thought it most cy-
pedient that he appear perfectly reconci!cd
to his lot, and his checr!ulncSs and seem
ing contcn,mcnt had luiicd many of their
suspicious, when the tragedy am abou, to
relate put an end TO all, as to his earthly
career.
Montague became the property of the
chef Of the trhe.,. lie was caliad in their
fang uage Ouzwa-nIe, or the HeaR of Rock,
&. 'rry appropriate name, as will he secn,)
i,nt by him the hunter was treated less as
O. slave than rs companion. All might
have been well, had not Ou-wa-nic had
daughter, or had she been less beautiful
But PiIn-pa. noo, the Star of the morning,
was exceedingly beautiful; and ere one
week had elapsed. after he first beheld her,
the Young hunters bold heart Welded TO
the beauty and gentlcncss Of the Star of
the Morning, and he became her slave
Nor was his love unrciurncd The white
warrior was hnndsouC, and many times,
during hia captivity II was proved That his
heart knew no fear. The hear, Of The IN
dian maiden was therefore given in ex
change. But as Pm. .pn-noo confessed her
love. her beautiful features were clouded
with sorrow, and from her soft, dark eyes,
there started two glistcnin. drops that roll.
ed slowly down her smooth check, as if
reluctan; TO quit pathway So soft and full
Of beauty. And w',a, caused the swcc,
madcn's tears Alas, she was destined
for ono OF her own race; and she know well
that her iron. hearcd father was never to
be removed from his purpose. She was to
become the bride OF . nomhbnrlng chict
whon the snoT had passed away. and the
birds again hcgan to sing among The green
trees; and nothing, save dc7;h, could
change IIor dr"t'0y, .ind Iea,iI she wonli