The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-10-14


Linked arm in arm together.
Nary B. Dodge, IN Christian Union.
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
hfshly cultivated and so profusely studded
with villas and mansions almost palatial
was ,6ne>vast forest, through which the
red 4fah roamed Free while the black
bear, the volt and the deer were to be
found in large numbers. But the white
man had penetrated these~wilds, and the
echo of the woodmans AK rang out in
! ..chorrs with the hunters rifle. +.
e. Moses was a strange person. He had
- been chief of his tribe, but had voluntari-
ly 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
which, after his death, was seized upon
and occupied by the white man, the heirs
of whom now claim undisputed title to
the same.
There were very few who understood or
appreciated this Indian AS rule, his
manner was that of light-hearted man );
but often, when he supposed himself to be
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.
lie was considered maniac.
1t was terrible night in the month of
February. The snow was lying upon the
ground to great depth, and it had been
thickly crusted over by the freezing of the
rain, which had been falling for the pre-
vious tYenty-four hours. Great iclcles
hung.xoH6 every branch of the huge for
est tYak. while the trunks of these were
bXHhe gittering substance. o.
..caSt haal2 the masses would come tum-
bling tkTn, and the thunder caused from
this would roll through the forest dying
. / ct in the distance Thus an ordinary sound
Would not have been noticed by any but q
praeaiRal ear.
T. 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 fig
ure belonged to a 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 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 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 this 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 ut
terance to an agonized moan. But he be-
came silent and motionless almost imme-
diately, and for an hour he remained thus,
even in the pelting storm, without exhibit
ing the least signs of life.
Presently he leapea to his feet, for a
crashing through the crusted snow aroused
him. Then huge black bearsprang 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
!,
for he turned in that direction, growled
fiercely, and then took position ready
for spring At this instant stream of
fire blazed out, and the report of rifle
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 flat upon the
snow by the side of the beast and awaited
further Developments In moment after
man strobe up to the spot and bent over
the bear. Life was not yet extinct, and so
knife was driven deep into his heart As
the man gazed upon the red blood as it
gushed forth he muttered: II would that
crimson came from the heart of Whirl-
wind, or Screaming Moses, As he is called
hereabouts. But it shall be the same
with him. Once I have caught sight of
him to-day, and I was on the point of
sending a bullet crashing through his
brain; but would not do it. He must
know by whose hand he dies, and that
death must be lingering one-full 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.
ness in them which even surpassed their
import. When the Indian first heard
them he was SO overcome with his emo.
ton that he was scarcely able to move.
But he soon recovered himself; and the
fires of deadly hate and vengeance which
burned in his heart gave him the fierce
ness OF tiger as he leaped to his feet
and sprang upon his foe. So sudden was
the attack that the stranger was hurled
upon his back and the Indian was astride
him, holding glittering knife to his
throat, even before he had time to use his
own weapon or make the slightest resist.
ance. Moses gave utterance to a shrek,
which made the forest echo again, and
then he Kissed these words through his
teeth:
"Jo Milburn, I've got you-ah, I've
got you now" .'.ss5'.ssk$.#
Well-well," growled the man, 9 you
have got me; and what them" r& 5&sl
"What then!" shrieked Moses, his eye
glazing upon his foe, and his hand NOV.
ing as if he longed to finish his work; but,
becoming more calm, he continued: DO
AIilburn, it was just such . night as this,
fifteen years ago, that you came upon my
cabin. The red blood ran Ike water, and
the flame cracked until I became home.
less. You were the leader Of the fendish
band who did that fearful work."
You deserved it, for you were a rene
gade,." growled Milburn.
lyon speak falsely, for ] was no rene