The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-07-15
WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA, JULY Is

coiled up like beautiful snake. The
white people knew that his hatred
would be terrible; but they had never
provoked it, and even the children
became too much accustomed to him
to fear him.
Chocorua had a son, about nine or
ten years old, to whom Caroline Camp
bell had occasionally made such gaudy
presents as were likely to attract his
savage fancy. This won the child's
SO that he became a famil-
lar visitant, almost an inmate of their
dwelling; and being unrestrained by
the courtesies OF civilized life, he
would inspect everything, and taste
of everything which came in his way.
Some poison, prepared for mischiev
GUS fox, which had long troubled the
little settlement. was discovered and
drank by the Indian boy; and he went
home to his father to sicken and die.
From that moment jealousy and ha-
tired took possession of Chocorua' $
soul. He never told his suspicious
he brooded over them in secret, to
nourish the deadly revenge he con-
templated against Cornelius Camp
bell. As.ss
The story of Indian animosity is al
ways the same. Cornelius Campbell
left his hut for the fields early one
bright, balmy morning in June. Still
a lover, though ten years hus band,
his last look was turned toward his
wife, answering her parting smile-his
last action kiss fer each of his chill
dren. When he returned to dinner,
they were dead-all dead! and their
disfigured bodies too cruelty showed
that an Indians hand had done the
work!
In such mind, grief, like all other
emotions, was tempestuous. Home
had been to him the only verdant spot
in the wide desert Of life. In his wife
and children he had garnered up all
his heart; and now they were torn
from him, the remembrance of their
love clung to him like the death grap-
pie of drowning man, sinking him
down, down, into darkness and death.
This was followed by calm thou
sand times more terrible-the creep
ing agony of dispair, that brings with
it no power of resistance.
at was as if the dead could feel
The icy worm around him steal"
Such, for many days, was the state
of Cornelius Campbell Those who
knew and reverenced him, feared that
the spark of reason was forever extin-
guished. But it rekindled again, and
with it came wild, demoniac spirit
of revenge The death -groan of Cho-
corua would make him smile in his
dreams; and when he walked, death
seemed too pitiful vengeance for the
anguish that was eating into his very
soul.
Chocorua's brethren were absent on
hunting expedition at the time he
c.. mmitted the murder; and those who
watched his movements observed that
he frequently climbed the high preci-
pice, which afterward took his name,
probably looking out for indications
of their return.
Here Cornelius Campbell resolved
to effect his deadly purpose. A party
was formed under his guidance to cut
off all chance of retreat, and the dark
minded prophet was to be hunted like
a wild beast to his lair.
The morning sun had scarce cleared
| away the fog when Chocorua started
at loud voice from l,eneath the preci-
pice, commanding him to throw him
self into the deep abyss below. He
knew the voice of his enemy, and re-
piled with an Indians cal,nness,-
! THE Great Spirit gave life to Cho
corua; and Chocorua will not throw j,
away at the command of a white man.
"Then hear the Great Spirit speak
in the white mans thunder!' exclaim.
ed Cornelius Campbell as he pointe
/, the gun to the precipice.
Chocorua, though fierce and fear.
less as panther, had never overcome
his dread of fire arms. He placed hi:
hands upon his ears to shut out the
stunning report; the next moment the
blood bubbled from his neck, and ht
reeled fearfully on the edge OF the
precipice. But he recovered himself
and, raising himself on his hands, HI
spoke in loud voice, that grew NOR,
terrific as its huskiness increased
"A curse upon yc, white men! Ma.
the Great Spirit curse We when h,
speaks in the clouds, and his word
are fire! Chocorua had q son-and y
killed him while his eye still loved t.
look on the bright sun, and the gree,
earth! The Evil Spirit breathe deatl
upon your cattle! Your graves lie il
the war path of the Indianl Panther
howl, and wolves fatten over you
bones! Chocorua goes to the Grea
Spirit his curse stays with the whit
mcn!'
The prophet sunk upon the ground
still uttering inaulible curses, an'
they left his bones to whiten in tn
sun. But his curse rested on the set
tlement. The tomahawk and scalpin
knife we're busy among them, tn
winds tore up trees and hurled ther
at their dwellings, their crops wer
blasted, their cattle died. and sicknes
came upon their strongest men. A
last the remnant of them departe
from the fatal spot to mingle wit
more populous and prosperous colo
, nies. Cornelius Campbell became
hermit, seldom seeking or seeing hi
fellow-men; and two years after h
was found dead in his hut.
To this day the town of Burton, j
New Hampshire, is remarkable for
pestilence which infects its cattle
and the superstitious think that Che
corua's spirit still sits enthroned upo
his precipice, breathing a curse upo
them.
Inside Of n Jug.
The following is a leading editori;