Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-14
SCREAMING MOSES.

About the year 1880 there resided upon
the Croton River, in Putnam County, N.
Y, an Indian of peculiar character,
known by the name of Screaming Moses.
At that time New York was but village
in size, and the country above it-now so
highly cultivated and so profusely studded
with villas and mansions almost palatial
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
chorus with the hunters rifle
Moses was a strange person. He had
been chief of his tribe, but had voluntari-
" 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 utterance 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 undisputed title to
the same.
appreciated this Indian. As rule, his
manner was that of light-hearted man
but often, when he supposed himself to lie
alone, he would weep like child. This
became known, but none were able to
look into his crushed and vacant heart
ard read, there, its agonies and struggles.
He was considered maniac.
twas terrible night in the month of
February. The snow was lying upon the
ground to a great depth, and it had been
thickly crusted over by the freezing of the
rain, which had been falling for the pre-
vi0us twentyfour hours. Great icIcles
hung from every branch Of the huge for
est trees, while the trunks of these were
clasped by the glittering substance. Dc
casionally the masses would come tum.
bling down, and the thunder caused from
this would roll through the forest, dying
out Tin 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 fig
ure belonged to human being, save from
the fact that it walked erect The Indian
was incased in ice, which cracked at
every moment as he sped onward. Once
large quantity of the frozen masses fell
from 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 at the bank of the
Croton River; but, as 1t was frozen over, 1t
could only be distinguished as such from
the regular, open space as 1t wound its
way onward BY the side of this stream
the Indian seated himself For a long
time he remained motionless, his face
buried in his hands. Then he sank back
upon his crusted bed, while he gave ut
terance to an agonized moan. But he be-
came silent and motionless almost imme-
diately, and for an hour hsremaiIed thus,
even in the pelting storm, without exhibit
ing the least signs OF life.
Presently he leaped to his feet, for
crashing through the crusted snow aroused
him. Then a huge black bear sprang to
his side Moses drew his knife, and was
about to strike the beast, as he supposed
he was about to be attacked but such was
not the case Something behind in the
forest riveted the attention Of the animal,
for he turned in that direction, growled
fiercely, and then took position ready
for a spring. At this instant a stream of
fire blazed out, and the report of 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 awaited
further Developments. In moment after
a man strobe up to the spot and bent over
the bear. Life was not yet extinct, and so
a knife was driven deep into his heart. AS
the man gazed upon the red blood as it
gushed forth he muttered: :" / would that
crimson came from the heart Of Whirl-
wind, or Screaming Moses, as he is called
hereabouts. But ii shall be the same
with him. Once have caught sight Of
him to-day, and | was on the point of
sending bullet crashing through his
brain but would not do II. He must
know by whose hand he dies, and that
death must be a lingering one-fuli of
torture. 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