Eastern times., 1856-02-21
Death of Red Jacket.

Death of Red jacket.
OF the last hours of the famous Red Jacket,
we have an impressive picture, from the Iro-
quos, by Minnie Myrtle. He was taken sud-
denly i'll in the Council House, of cholera
morbus, where he had gone that day dressed
with more than ordinary care, with all his gay
apparel and ornaments. When he returned,
he said 10 his wife, Il am sick; could not
stay TIL the Council had finished | shall
never recover He then took off all his rich
costume and laid it carefully away; reclined
himself upon his couch, and did not rise again
till morning, or speak except TO answer some
slight questions. His wife prepared him med
iclne, which he patiently took, but said, 1T
will do no good, / shall die. The next day he
called her to him, and requested her and the
little girl be loved SO much TO sit beside him,
and listen to his parting words.
| am going to die, he said. i shall never
leave the house again alive. wish TO thank
you for your kindness 10 me. You have lored
me.
You have always prepared my food, and
have taken care of my clothes, and been
patient with me. am sorry ever treated
you unkindy. | am sorry left You on ac-
count of your new religion, and am convinced
that il is a good religion, and has made you
better woman, and wish you to persevere in
it. | should like to have lived little longer
for your sake. | meant TO build you new
house and make you more comfortable, but it
is now too late. But hope my daughter will
remember what | have so often told her-not
to go into the streets with strangers, or asso-
ciate with improper persons. She must stay
with her mother, and grow up respectable
woman.
When am dead, Ii will be noised abroad
through the world-they will hear of it across
the great waters and say Red Jacket, the great
orator, is dead And white men will come
and ask you for my body. They will wish to
bury me- But do not let them take me-
Clothe me in my simplest dress-put on my
leggins and my moccasins, and hang the cross
which have worn so long around my neck,
and let it lie upon my bosom. Then bury me
among my people. | wish the ceremonies to
be as you like, according TO the customs of
your new religion if you choose. Your min
lister says the dead will rise. Perhaps they
will. II they do, wish 10 rise with my old
comrades | do not wish 10 rise among pale
faces. | wish to be surrounded by red men.
Do not make feast according TO the customs
of the Indians. Whenever my friends chose,
they could come and feast with me when was
well, and do not wish those who have never
eaten with me in my cabin, 10 surfet at my
funeral feast When he had finished. he
laid himself again upon the couch and did not
rise again. He lived several days, but was
most Of the time in a stupor or else delirious.
He often asked for Mr.. Harris, the mission
arv, and afterwards would unconsciously NUT
teri do not hate him he think hate him,
but do not | would not hurt him. The mis-
sionary was sent for repeatedly, but did not
return till he was dead. When the messen-
ger told him Mr.. Harris had not come, he re-
piled, Very well. The Great Spirit will or
der it as he sees best, whether | have an op-
portunity 10 speak with him. Again he
would murmur, He accused me of being a
snake, and trying to hurt somebody. This
was very true, and wish to repent and make
satisfaction
w Whe,her it was Mr.. Harris that he referred
10 all the time he was talking in this way could
not be ascertained, as he did not seem to COM
prehend if any direct question was put to him,
but from remarks, and his known enmity TO
him, this was the natural suppostion. Some
times he would think he saw some of his old
companions around him, and exclaim, There S
Farmers Brother; why does he stand there
looking at met then he would again sink into
a stupor.
The wife and daughter were the only ones
to whom he spoke parting words or gave a
parting blessing /; but as his last hour drew
nigh, his family all gathered around him, and
mournful it was TO think that the children were
not his own-his were all sleeping in the lit
tie churchyard where he was soon TO be laid
they were his step-children--the children Of
his favorite wife.
These he had always loved and cherished,
and they loved and honored him, for this their
mother had taught them. The wife sat by his
pillow and rested her hand upon his head
Al his feet stood his two sons, who are now
aged and Christian men, and by his side the
little girl, whose little hand rested upon his
withered and trembling palm. His last words
were still, Where is the missionary and
then he clasped the child TO his bosom, while
she sobbed in anguish-her ears caught his
hurried breathing-his arms relaxed their hold
she looked up, and he was gone.
He had requested that vial of cold water
might be placed in his hand when he was pre-
pared for the burial but the reason of the re-
quest no one could divine. 1t was complied
with, however, and all his wishes strictly heed
| ed The funeral took place in the little mis-
sion church, with appropriate but most simple
/ ceremonies, and he was buried in the little
mission burying- ground, at the gateway O
Il