The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-20
From Auhur's Home Gazette.
The Tower of Death.

From the letter Of fair correspondent in Tennessee to
whom We have before referred we take the following inter.
esting aboriginal legend
As you will have seen from the post mark of this
letter, the journey mentioned in my last, as being
In contemplation, has been performed / am now
about one hundred miles from M and have
been here three days. And, would you believe it,
came on horseback Quite feat, YOU will saw
for delicate Miss just escaped from the close con-
finement of boarding school
MY brother was the companion of my Journey :
and quite an interesting time we have had of IL
Having travelled much, he has become accustomed
to notice every thing worthy of remark, and he
pointed out to me many interesting objects that
otherwise might have escaped my observation
Among other things he directed my attention to a
huge pile of rocks which rose perpendieularly from
the bank OF little creek that ran parallel with the
road, and which resemble much the wall of an i'm
mense fortress. This frowning cliff which rises
70 the height of one hundred feet or more he told
me IS called the Flower of Death" On asking
for an explanation of the causes for this fearful
name, he told me that there was an Indian legend
connected with it that led to this terribly signif-
cant title; and he then related to ME the story
which give you below, as briefly as possible
While there were yet but few settlements on
the banks OF the Mississippi, and this portion of
tennessee was still occupied by the Indians a
young and daring hunter, named Ralph Montague,
one day wandered so far in pursuit of wounded
deer, that he got beyond the reach of assistance
without knowing ii ; and when he suddenly saw
himself surrounded by a score of red warriors, no.
thing was left him but submission or instant DEATH
The feelings of these dark children of the forests
towards the white usurpers of their lands WERE at
that time, any thing but amcable, and young Mon
tague knew, therefore, that his situation WIS then
by no means enviable. Bnt there was not as great
reason for apprehension as he imagined. The red
men were then on a hunting excursion, and the
winter being near, and the rainy season about 10
commence, they were ready to return to their wig
vans IN ms region, when he was captured. Hav-
ing taken his arms from him, they carried him with
them TO their wild homes and here set him at lib-
erty, first telling him that if he attempted 10 escape
and return to his white brethren, the consequences
would be fatal to himself Seeing that escape was
impossible while the red men continued TO watch
his every movement the hunter thought it most ex-
pedent that he appear perfectly reConciled TO his
lot, and his cheerfuness and seeming contentment
had luled many of their suspicious. when the TRACE
dy am about to relate put an end to all, as to his
earthly career.
Montague became the property of the chief of
the tribe. lie was called in their language Gu
wa-nie, or the Heart Of Rock, IA veIF appropriate
name, as VIII be seen,) but by him the hunter was
treated less as slave than as a companion. All
might have been well, had not Ou.wa ME had a
daughter, or had she been less beautiful. But PIN
pa-noo, the Star of the Morning, was exceedingly
beautiful and ere one week had elapsed after he
hfsl heheld her, the young hunters bold heart
yielded to the beauty and genteness of the Star of
the Morning, and he became her slave. Nor was
J
some, and many times, during his captivity, il was
proved that his heart knew no fear The heart of
the Indian maiden was therefore given in exchange,
but as Pm-pa-nOo confessed her love, her beauti-
ihl features were clouded with sorrow and from
her sotti dark eyes, there started two glisteninp
drops that rolled slowly down her smooth cheek as
II reluctant TO quit pathway so soft and full of
beauty And what caused the sweet maideu's
tears Alas, she was destined for one of her own
race; and she knew well that her iron. hao,tad
aiher was never 10 be moved from his nurnoso
She was to become the bride of n neighbornp chief
when the snow had passed away and ibe hirds
again began to sing, among the green trees; and
nothing, save death, could chance ber Jos,ir,r
And death she would seek sooner Than hacoa r.
wife and the slave of one she hated.
IL required but little persuasion from the bpntor
10 induce PIN pa-noo to consent 10 Nv Win HIN
towards The homes OF his brethren, though both
hopeless
One night, then, in the month of February. thew
mounted Two OF her fathers heefest horses. and
commenced their flight. The night was dark, else
ihey might have escaped. But being unable to see
thelr way, they got lost in the forest, and when
ihey reached the precipce. before mentioned, they
heard the wild whoop of Ou-wa-nie and his war.
rlors; and ere they had time to determine on any
course they were surrounded by the demon fathel
and his warriors.
-. The story says that, in spite of the prayers o.
Flm-pa,no0, and the entfeaties of the hunter thai
ne would spare his child and sacrifice him. the un.
ieenhg o9'wa'nie bound them together, and with
MS own hands hurled them from the cliff 10 The
rocks below. Folding each other in last but AT.
IGcllonate embrace, they disappeared into the dark
'Sss pe!oIe then, leaving the cruel father and his
WIelcheu mnons 10 the bitter pangs OF unrelentino
relnofse' And At is said that Ou.wa. ME bece me
sensible OF The enomity and cruelty of The crime he
had committed, Immediately after il was done !.
ana from that hour he became the victim If -,
morse and despair. And ere one nom baI 49, y, ~
his mangled corpse was found one dav IN r. - 80
where little while before he had tbro,,r ~ I ~
daughter and her lover. During the rrn,-; Us
night, it is supposed that he went 10 HE prsrinins
to bewail his poor daughters fate, and that III 6e
desperation OF the moment he had thrown himself
from the cliff.
Many are superstitious enough to believe that the
spirits OF the Inflated lovers and crae father haun
these rocks; and when the benighted traveller
passes the spot, he often ancies that he hears il
Inc WIND, as It means through the tree tops tn,
despalrlng walls of Ou-wa-nie, and the voices o
ms vicGms, as they tell him they forgive him
MY brother and had paused, while he related
70 me the above story and as | looked around al
the rugged rocks, and raised nv ewes TO tbe inn.
mense pile towering high above US, unconsoious III
dropped tear, as thought of poor Pjm-pa.noo
late. Perceiving it, my brother chided me for nv
erednIity IN believing that the legend was ali true
and without further delay, we resumed our Journey
In Cherokee county, Ala, recently, as the dauVh.
Ter OF Mr. Garrett