The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-10-01
SCREAMING NOSES.


- SCREAMING NOSES. q: w. 49,. =
About the year 1870, there resided up.
on the Croton river, in Putnam county,
in the State of New York, an Indian OF
peculiar character, known BY tho name
Of Screaming Moses. At that time New
York was but = little village in size; and
the country above it now SO highly cul
tivated and SO profusely studded with
villas and mansions almost suburban
was one vast forest, through which the
red man roamed Tree, while the black
bear, the wolf, and the deef were to be
found in large numbers. But the white
man had penetrated these wilds, and the
echo of the woodlands Ak rang out in
G ,orus with the hunter rifle. 80 '''''' %
Moses was a strange person. He had
been chief Of his tribe, but had voluntar.
lily left them, and now led vagabond
life. hanging around the homes Of the
pale faces. He derived his name from
the fact that he frequently gave utter
ances to wild shrieks; and when night
came on, he nearly always made his bid
among the rushes growing upon the
banks Of the Croton. And yet this man
was said to own half the territory for
miles around, which, alter his death, was
seized upon and occupied by the white
man, the heirs Of whom now claim undis-
puted title to tho same.
There were very few who understood
or appreciated the Indian. As rule,
his manner was that of q light hearted
man: but often, when he supposed him.
self to be alone, he would weep like
child. This became known; but none
were able to look into his crushed and
vacant heart, and read there its agonies
and struggles. He was considered a
maniac.
1t was terrible night, in the month Of
February. The snow was lying upon the
ground to a great depth, and it had been
thickly crushed over BY the freezing Of
the rain, which had been falling for the
previous twcnty.four hours. Great
icicles hung from every branch Of the
huge forest trees, while the trunks Of
these were clasped by the g'ittering sub.
stance. Occasionally the masses would
come tumbling down; and the thunder
caused from this would roll through the
forest. dying out in the distance. Thus
an ordinary sound would not have been
noticed by any but practical ear.
1t was after midnight when a form
moved along rapidly among the trees
1t was that Of Screaming Moses. although
no person would have supposed that the
figure belonged to human being, save
from the fact that it walked erect. The
Indian was encased in ice, which
cracked at every moment, rs he sped on.
ward. Once large quantity Of the fro.
zen masses fell from a tree upon him,
nearly throwing him from his feet : but
he only uttered the savage "Ugh," and
then proceeded on his way.
Presently he arrived ut the bank Of The
Croton river; but as it was frozen over, i,
could only be distinguished as such from
the regular. open space, IS it wound its
way on ward. BY the side Of the stream the
Indian seated himself. For long time he
remained motionless, his face buried in
his hands. Then he sank back upon his
crusted bed, while he gave utterance te
an agonizcd moan. But he became si!en,
and motionless Almost Immediately, and
for An hour he remained thus, even in the
pelting storm, without exhibiting tn.
least signs Of life.
Presently he leapcd to his feet, for .
ed him. Then huge black bear sprant
to his side. Moses drew his knife, ant
was about to strike the beast as he sup
posed he was about to be attacked bu
such was not the case. Something be
hind in the forest riveted the attention
Of the animal, for he turned in that d.
rection, growled fierccly. and then took
position ready for spring. At THU
instant a stream Of fire blazed out, ant
the report Of rifle rang clear above tn,
blast, while the bear uttered tcrribl,
howl, and then sank upon the snow, will
means almost human in their tones.
The Indian threw himself fat upon tn,
snow by the side Of the beast, and await
ed further developments. In q momen
after, man strobe up to the spot, ant
bent over the bear. Life was rot We
extinct, aud so a knife was driven dee,
. into his heart. As the man gazcd upo,
the red blood as it gushed forth, he NUT
tered, II would that crimson came from
the heart Of Whirlwind Or Screaming
Moses, as he is called hereabouts. Blu
it shall be the same with him. Once
haze caught sight of him to-day, and
was on the point of sending bulle
crashing through his brain; but woul'
not do it. He must know by whose ham
he dies, and that death must be linger
, ing one full of tortue. And he mus
know that the Wild Flower yet lives an
that she is in my power
5 The words were spoken in the mos
$ perfect English, and there was bitter
, ness in them which even surpassed thei
? import. When tn. Indian first hear
, them, he was 50 overcome with his emo
: ton, that he was scarcely able to move
t But he soon recovered himself; and tn
fires of deadly hate and vengeance who
j. burned in his heart gave him the fierce
j. ness Of tiger, as ne leapcd to his 'cc
/ and sprang upon his foe. So sudden wa
r tho attack, the stranger was hurled upo
? his back, and the Indian was astride him
: holding glittering knife to his throat
e even before he had time to use his wea
i pom, or make the slightest resistance
Moses gave utterance to shrek, whic
made the forest echo again, and then /,
Missed these words through his teeth:
h $40 Milburn, I've got you ali, Nv
got you now
j. "Well-well." growlel tho mar
: you've got me; and what then 3
!. "What then = shrieked Moses. his cy
J.. glazing upon his foe, and his hand movi,
+. as If he longed to finish his work bu
t becoming moro calm, he continued
e 40 Milburn, it was just such = night a
I