The Lincoln County herald., 1871-04-27
a Cherokee Lsessd

e11tDt AVUeSVAVO 1eBOOu l8Jrybii
A oorrssposdsot wvitss for Gsosgis |;
Every nosotais. valley sad cascade Of
Northern Ueoryia has at Indian tradition
connected wi,h its history The hero;
KEGS used to relate one which they said
occurred st Ainceos Falls many years be
tore the whi,c men came 10 their country
they we're wsging . 6crcs wst with
powerful tribe whO lived on the Low lands
southwssd. Daring bard fought battle
il so happened ,hss the Cherokees made
captive dosea Of their iOes, whom they
brought houe to their country So
curely boond. Their Intention wss to
sacrifice the prisoners; but ~ they
wished the cercinony 10 be imposing on
account Of the fame Of the captives, IL
was resolved to portpOne tho sacrifice tilI
the time OF the toll moon. la the mean
time the Cherokee braves went forth
again TO battle, while the prisoners, nov
bound more strongly than ever, were left
10 . wivwsm near roccos, In charge OF
an old woman noted for her savage pstri
otism. f
Some days passed, and as the unfortu.
nate enc les lay in the lodge Of the old
woman, she dealt out to them . scsnty
supply Of food and water. They be-
sought her to release them. and offered
her the most valuable briLss hut shc
held her tongue, aud remained faithful to
her trust. It vas nov . morning Of y
pleasant day, when On Indian boy called
Ut the door Of the old wOmsn's lodge,
ard told her that he saw party Of their
enemies on the other side Of the uoun.
tain . few hours previous, and it was
probable they we're coming TO the rescue
Of their fellows. She heard the intelli-
gence in silence. Re entering the lodge
another appeal for freedom was made,
and the prisoners we're delighted to see
smile PLAYING upon the countenance Of
their keeper She told them she had
relented, and promised th't she would
let them escape but it must be on Ger
tain conditions. They were 6rst to give
into her hands what few personal effects
they had left must depart at dead OF
night, and that they might not 6ud their
way back, must consent ~ 90 blindiolded
for two miles through o thick wood into
au open country where she would re case
them. .,......
The prisoners gladly consented, aud az
the hour Of midnight approached it was
accompanied by heavy thunder storm
The night and tho contemplated deed
we're admirably suited. She tied leath-
ern bands over the eyes OF her captives,
aud having severed the thongs which fas
tened their feet, led them forth. with
hands still bound behind their backs
They were fastened to each other by
tough withes, aud we're in this way led
on toward their promised freedom. In
tricate, winding, tedious was the way, but
not a murmur was heard or . word
spoken.
Nov the strange procession reached
q level spot of ground, aud tho prisoners
began to step more freely. Now thoy
have reached the precipice Of Toccoa-
aud a. the woman walks to the very edge,
she makes sudden turn, and the blind
captives are launched into the abyss
below. A howl Of savage triumph echoes
through the air from the old woman icnd
aud with the groan. Of the dying in her
ears and the lightning in her path, she
rctraces her steps TO the lodge to seek
repose, and on the morrow to proclaim
her cruel deed. a5F 10 a..'