Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-01
Indians in Virginia.
From the Dundee IN. ~ Record. ]

mond, which appeared In our paper at the time,
we mentioned remnant Of the ancient tribe
of Indians of whom Powhatan was Chief, yet
existing in Virginia, and promised :: further
account of them.
Soon after landing from the stcamerat West
Point, on the York river, we entered car ofthe
Richmond and York river railroad, taking our
seat in the rear end of the rear car Of the train
Soon after the train started, the conductor
came in at the door back Of us, and called for
our ticket We showed him our excursion
ticket, when he at once gave his hand welcomed
us to Virginia He then turned and introduced
us to an individual sitting opposite, as one of a
tribe OF Indians living at Indian town on our
route This was news to US, as we had never
gathered any knowledge of such tribe yet in
existence, and Of course opened to us an interest
ing theme of enquiry. We at once entered into
conversation with our new acquaintance, which
was kept up during a ride Of perhaps six or
eight miles when Indian town was reached and
our conversation was closed by his inviting us
to call and see them if we could ever make it
convenient, and with hearty shake Of the
hand, he babe us good bye, and left the car
In a very short time, he returned accompanied
by another whom he introduced as one Of his
tribe, who was going to Richmond. We found
tnS Oue Qullc Meli puolCu, "uu 'cly IiCC W SiiH
us information in regard to the history, rs he
said "of our people" He informed US that
he was descendant of the race of Indians who
inhabited that country before the white people
came there, over whom Powhatan was king or
head chief when jamestown was settled, before
whom Capt John Smith was brought to be
put to death, and whose life was saved by
Pocahortas. He Informed us that the Pamun-
key river divided out its waters into two streams
which, after running some distance, again
united, thus forming an island OF between 400
and 1900 acres Of choice land, called Pamunkey
Island This island through the interpositiom
of Gen Washington, was, by Legislative action
secured to this tribe so long as they existed, for
their use and in no case to be intruded upon
by the whites or alienated from the Indians,
and the county court Of the county was con-
stituted perpetual trustees to that the design
of the General and the Legislature was carried
out.
He further stated that there were now about
20 of them Of both sexes and various ages,
who inhabited the island and cultivated itssoiI.
They had good, comfortable framed buildings.
and fine gardens with teams, and were in COMP
Portable circumstances. They had outgrown
their Pagan theories, and were generally
civilized, orderly and quiet being generally
meLDcrS VI tHe oaPtlSI cI'uiCI, lucy nay Z"
chanelof their own and rcgulaHBaptist prcachln
among them. They had Il school house, ard
q Young white woman was tea ching school.
which was attended by all the Indian children.
They also kept up a Sunday school, and were
thus endearoring to bring up their children
properly, that they might bring no reproach
upon the race from which they were descended.
He said there were plenty OF fish in the rivers
about them; these they caught and found 4
ready market for them at any time when they
took more than were needed among themselves.
Then there was plenty Of small game, such
as deer, rabbits racoons, wild, turkics partridges
ouails, ducks and often in the Winter, wild
geese, besides foxes, and other forest or wild
animals, and said he, We often make our living
off of our guns. They have chief who is
elective, who exercises supervision over
them, and before whom all minor difference
pertaining to their matters between man and
man are brought for settlement. All civil
matters arc thus settled so that the chief cX-
ercises the functions Of Il civil magistrate, while
criminal matters are tried before the County
court.
We did not learn whether they made Use OF
the trial by jury. We made enquiries respect,
ing this tribe of men, in Richmond and found
our information gathered from our fellow
traveller was corroborated by them, though
we were informed that in some of the families
among them there was little mixture Of
African blood. The island upon which they
reside is but short distance from the site of
the far-famed White House, where George
Washington was captured by, aud capitulatcd
to, woman, and where Gen. L. Ice, Robert f..
Lees second son, now resides.
SENSATION IN TRoY.-Troy has another
sensation now. Mrs Pierre is the wife OF Il
Well-to do-citizen Of that city. Recently she
was overcome by what physicians pronounced
nervous prostration Some three or four days
ago, as her husband was watching beside her
alone there occurred series Of loud and
astonishing raps. Thinking that some mis-
chicvous urchins were endeevoring to convince
him of Spirtualism, of which he is an undc
cidcd believer, he paid little attention to it
other than to endeavor to scarce off the intruderS.
But his search was Ruthless and the raps
continued. Unable to solve the mystery-hls
wife being in a sort OF trance and perfectly
motioness-he called in i medium, but no
calculation of the mystery could be arrived at.
Since that time the raps have becomeinccssant,
and so loud that they can be heard distinctly
halfa block away. Believers inthe philosophy
say it is spirits, and that is all that can be
learned. Mrs Pierre continues i'll about the
same condition, and her case Is Il puZZler to
physicians
TIE Ice CRoP.-Therc is an overstock Of
ice in Maine-betwcen 100000 and 30O,OOO
tons are said to be still stored mostly on the