Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-29
rishomingo and "Itawamba.' u

In our search after the origin oil names
many interesting events are brought to
light 1t was not great while ago that
the Chickasaws pursued the wild game of
the soltudes of Northern Mississippi un-
disturbed !; and among them all tradition
gives us no more worthy examples than
those of Tishomingo, the hospitable
king of the Chickasaw nation, and his
fair daughter " Itawamba.
In the year 1916 a lawsuit was pend
ing in one of the high courts of Georgia,
by which the title to large estate, then
under investigation, depended entirely
upon an absent witness, who ha', it was
found, removed to Fort Pickering, a for
tilted station on the Mississippi river,
The testimony of this witness was of the
utmost Importance to secure the prop
erty of the owner; and although the
Journey was hazardous one, of many
weeks absence, yet the value OF the
property in jeopardy justified it. So he
set out on horseback after taking leave
of his family.
The defendant, man OF wealth and
an intriguing and crafty designer, learn
ing the absence of his opponent, and
aware of the nature of his errand, deter
mind to prevent his return, and thereby
secure to himself the ownership of the
much coveted possession he found
worthy tool in his oyerseer II minion at
his command), who undertook BY the
promise of large reward to follow to
the death the unsuspecting victim
The hired assassin overlook the prosecu-
tor at an inn kept by an Indian, IN Cot,
ton Gina small village now called
Cottonginport, about forty miles south OF
Corinth, Miss, on the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad sr
The following morning the two trav-
elers set out together, and in crossing a
swollen stream, the ford of which was
difficult, the prosecutors horse became
entangled in some drlftwood, and while
he was struggling to extricate himself
the murderer assailed him with large
club and left him stiff on the bank, while
he cut the horses throat and left him to
be foated down the stream. de then
extracted all papers and letters from the
pocket of the PROSTATE form, beat most
desperately the lifeless frame and east It
into the stream, consoling himself with
the thought that none but Indians could
possibly find the remains, and they would
suppose the horse and rider were drowned
in the effort to cross the dangerous
stream. He then mounted his horse and
pursued his journey
The body of the mangled man, after
drifting a short distance became en-
tangled in some drift near the bank. and
in this situation was soon after seen BY a
marty of Chickasaws on their way to Cot
ton Gin. They drew the body from the
mud and discovered faint signs OF life
Every restorative suggested by savage
instinct was applied, and strange to tell
the man was restored to animation, but
not TO consciousness; the blow upon the
skull had injured the brain. 1t now be-
came question with the Indians how to
dispose ofthe helpless man They feared
if he should die while in their hands that
thew would be considered his murderers
by the white men in the territory around
them. Finally they resolved to take him
to their Chief, Tishomingo, who lived
not far from the present town OF Car
rollville
The old king received him kindly, gave
him couch Of skins and committed him
TO the care OF his daughter Itawamba,
who tenderly nursed him. She bathed in
unetuous herbs the fostering wounds,
and bandaged the swollen limbs, and for
months. waited kindly and patiently
upon the invalid. Winter rolled away,
spring came, and with it consciousness
returned to the mind of the poor sufferer.
As a dream, he remembered his meeting
with the overseer-his journey for twelve
miles-the angry stream that crossed his
way-then the blow-the fall - the dark
ness-all else was blank.
His anxiety tc return to his family IN
creased with his health The good old
Indian king sent him to Cotton Gin,
where he found a newspaper containing
an advertisement of his estate for
sale" signed by his wife administrative.
Without delay he SET out for Georgia,
and arrived Just in time to prevent the
marriage of his widow. He lived many
wears after his return, but was never the
same business man he was before the ac-
cident. His murderer, haunted by
guilty conscience went to Fort Picker
ing. and committed suicide by jumping
into the Mississippi.
In 1886, when the country that lay in
the northeast portion of the Chickasaw
Purchase was marked of into counties
and it became the duty of the Legislative
assembly to select names for the new
counties, a gentleman composing that
body. conversant with the above facts,
proposed " Tishomingo and lta-
wamba" for two Of them, in compliment
70 the charitable Chief and his faithful
daughter. Historical Magazine.