The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-29
SCREAMING MOSES,

SCREAMING MOSES.
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 the name
of Screaming Moses. At that time New
York was but a 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 free, while the black
bear, the wolf, and the deer 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
lorus with the hunters rife.
Moses was a strange person. He had
been chief of his tribe, but had voluntar-
lily left them, and now led a 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 bed
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, after his death, was
seized upon and occupied by the white
man, the heirs Of whom now claim undis-
puted title to the same.
There were very few who understood
or appreciated the Indian. AS rule,
his hammer was that Of a light hearted
man; but often, when he supposed him
self to be alone, he would weep like a
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 great depth, and it had been
thicl1ly crushed over by the freezing of
the rain, which had been falling for the
previous twenty.four hours. Great
icicles hung from every branch of the
huge forest trees, while the trunks Of
these were clasped by the g,itteriDg 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
1
noticed by any but practical ear. r.
1t was after midnight when form
moved along rapidly among the trees
1t was that of Screaming Moses, although
no person would have supposed that the
figure belonged to a 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
ne only uttered the savage ''Ugh,' and
then proceeded On his way.
Presently he arrived at the bank of The
Croton river; but as it was frozen over, it
could only be distinguished as such from
the regular, open space, as it wound its
way onward. 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
crnsted bed, while he gave utterance to
an agonizcd moan. But he became silent
and motlOnless Almost Immediately, and
Tor an hour he remained thus, even in the
petng storm, without exhibiting the
least signs Of life.
Presently he leaped to his feet, for a
crashing through the crusted snow arous-
ed MIN. Then a huge black bear sprang
to his side, Moses drew his knife, and
was about to strike the beast as he SUP
posed he was about to be attacked ; but
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 a spring. At this
instant a stream Of fire blazed out, and
the report Of a rife rang clear above the
blast, while the bear uttered terrible
howl, and then sank upon the snow, with
means almost human in their tones.
The Indian threw himself fiat upon the
snow by the side Of the beast, and await.
ed further developments. In moment
after, a man STROBE up to the spot, and
bent over the bear. Life was rot yet
extinct, aud SO 4 knife was driven deep
into his heart. AS the man gazcd upon
the red blood as it guShed forth, he NUT
tered, IL would that crimson came from
the heart of Whirlwln,l or Screaming
Moses, as he is called hereabouts. But
it shall be the same with him. Once 7
have caught sight of him to-day, and [
was on the point of sending a bullet
crashing through his brain; but I would
not do it. He must know by whose hand
he dies, and that death must BE- linser-
ing one full Of tortue. And he must
know that the Wild Flower yet lives and
that she is in my power
The words were spoken in the Most
perfect English, and there was bitter.
ness in them which even surpassed their
import. When thu Indian first heard
them, he was so overcome with his emo
ton, that he was scarcely able to move.