Litchfield enquirer., 1856-03-06
\ Legend of Hoboken.
The First visit of Henry Hudson.

The First visit Of Henry Hudson.
 Two hundred and futy-six years ago there was 10 lovelier spot dotting the bosom of the Mahakaneghtuc than the little island now known as Hoboken, or by the Indians called Hobok. Its shores on either side were laved by the waters of the Great River, and the beauty of its scenery made it one of the favor ite haunts of the red man. Its most prominent point overlooked the waters of the bay, and commanded an extensive view for some distance up the river, the entire scope of the island, and the cliffs and mountains to the westward and northwest. Here met the savage i'll council, and here arose their conical huts. Here were chanted their war songs, and here each season, were celebrated the festivities of the harvest feast. Here the swarthy chief, the leader of a thousand braves, recounted his victories and exhibited the trophies of anhundred battles and here the young warrior, stretching his 1.-the limbs upon the green sward beneath the branches of the o'ershading oak, wooed the dark maid, and charmed her soul with his passionate dec larations. Beautiful island, like an emerald set in the bosom of an Indian princess, there was no peer above thee in all the bright waters around-that kissed thy shores as amorously AS ever the f's,dest lover breathed his adoration upon the lips of his mistress. No foe could approach thee unobscryed, for the fame of thy braves had reached the great tribes of the West.
 That part of the island now known as Castle Point, Was the village location of the tribe-- The shrubbery had all been cleared out, and the trees thinned and burnt, so as to admit of an unobstructed view, and to guard against sur prise by foe; while farther to the westward there was a large plot of level ground, with an artificial mound raised on one side Here was the background of the Indian, and their princi- pal place of burial The hills above were covered with dense forest, in which roamed the different animals of the chasc-whilc the surrounding waters yielded bountiful supply of fish and oysters, the shells of the latter, at the present day, being often found in thick l,yers a foot or two below the surface of the earth, indicating the location, at some distant period, of an Indian cucainpmcnt.
 Two hundred and forty-six years ago .- Where have the races gone that then inhabited this vast contincu, The white man then held but feeble tenure in Virginia, and the Indian was lord supreme of forest and river, and his battle cry startled the wild beasts from their la;rs. Two hundr d and forty-six years ago the ship of Henry Hudson anchored in the great r'ver which now bears his name, and the heart os the stout voyagcr bounded with cxutaton at the thought that he had discovered the long sought for northwestern passage. Who can imagine his feelings us he entered the broad and beautiful bay, and his eye scanned the dis tancc around him, and lis glance stretched up- ward on either shore of one of the no!lcst rivers on the surface of the globe? Two cen tnries have passed and the scene has changed. The actors have all made their exit and proud cities now stand upon the old hunting grounds and the hum of commerce has succeeded the war-whoop. Hohoken itself has long since ceased to be an island for the wash from the mountains above, and the deposits made by the more rapid current of the main channel, have filled up the western passage and where once noatcd the Indian canoe, are nov green meadows. rst.E
 On the second day of October, l600, Henry lIudson on his return voy,igc down .sc riccr, brought his. vessel to anchor off the southeast angle of HoboecH, i,l four fathoms of water and scnt two of his men ashore in boat for the ptfrpose of trading with tho Indians, and procuring corn, tobacco and vcnison. The 1 chiefs, ae slse time, were assembled in grand council, to debate upon what it was best to dc regarding the visit Of the pale faces, and thcil white-wingcd canoe. Some were for pursuing them to instant death, in revenge for the loss of four of their warriors, that had been sho, by the vessels crew on her voyage up the ri-el several days previous; while the older chiefs advised caution, as they did n6s kacw how te deal with strange people, whose weapons flashed and roarcd With tlie anger of the storm spirit In the meantime, however, several young warriors, who had observed the boat put of from the vessel assembled on the shore as i 1 to give the strangers a welcome reception, ant invited them to land by various gestures ant ! terms of speech But their trcachery was soor made apparent, for the boat had approached to within only few yards of the shore, wher those in her were greeted with shower of ar rows that fell thick about thcm~-but doing nt i further harm than wounding one of them In th, shoulder but the Indians had to pay dearl, for their temerity, for the wounded mans com panion seized muskct, and discharging it killed one of the Indians on the shore, wherea
 the rest ran away, and left the raen to return to the ship in peace The wounded man wa. not found to be seriously hurt '. the arrow Va. easily extracted. and the wound dressed. Hud
 son was very much offended at this treatment
 of the Indians, and had he taken the advice o
 bis chief mate, he would have landed with hi
 whole crew, and chastiscd the Indians for thci
 treaehery. But considering that the wound 0 l the injured man was of so slight nature, aus
 that 10 hnd already been we'll revenged. sh,
 commander thought 1t would be more prndcn
 to cncoMage friendly feeling on the part 0