The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
MISCELLANY.
THE LOVERS LEAP.
The Tragic Story Of the Indian
Princess WinOna-The Romance Of
of q Beautiful Baltimore Belle.
From the Baltimore Gazette.

tiful. The one most frequently related,
because associated with place visited
by almost every one who comes here, is
that of the Lovers Leap" Far up ON
the side of Mount Munci, overlooking
the Delaware Valley for miles at the
north and the water gap on the south, is
a projecting rock, standing out in bold |
relief from the top of the pine-clad and
frowning cliff which at this place forms
precipice hundreds of feet in height. |
Here, seated upon the soft moss with |
which the rock is covered, the stranger
who has been guided to Lovers Leap"
is told the story of the Indian Princess
Winona. Two centuries ago there
reigned in the valley of the Minisiuk
an Indian chieftain named Wissimen1ng, |
who was al the head of that once pow
erful people, the "Lerri Tenafa," whose
possessions extended from the highest
sources Of the rivers Delaware and Sus-
quehanna to the ocean. WInona was
the beloved and only daughter Of the
great chieftain. The first appearance of
the whites was only to explore the coun-
try. They were from Holland and were
we'll received by the natives.
After settlements had been formed the
gentle Winona was great favorite with
the whites, and spent the most of her
time among them, and her beauty of
person and dignifed but gentle manners
| soon made her welcome visitor among
the settlers. What was supposed to be
a rich deposit --of copper was found by
the whites, and company was formed
under the auspices of the Holland Gov
ernment, and an expedition fitted out in
charge of young man of rank named
Hendrick Van Allen, who was gentle
man of fine accomplishments. Upon
| his arrival at the settlement he met the
gentle Winona and loved her, the dusky
forest maid returning his affection. He
did not tell her of his love, but the two
were constantly together, and each day
theE love grew stronger. At length
Hendrick received orders from the Gov
ernment to return to Holland He
could not endure the thought of leaving
without communicating the cause of his
separation, and though he loved Winona
sufficiently we'll to make her his bride,
his relation to his Government was such
as to forbid the possibility of his taking
her with him as his wife, even if she
should consent to leave her people. One
day, when seated upon the rock which
now bears their names, he drew forth the
letter containing the orders from his
Government, and made known to
Winona its contents. She gave vent to
no unusual emotions; did not shrek
did not shed tear; but, standing erect
she spoke to him of her love, saying il
was so deep and strong she could moi
remain alone, and then sprang, with
outstretched arms, toward the cliff
Hendrick followed her and clasped hel
to his arms as she reached the brink O
the frightful precipice. They reeled &
moment on the mossy rock, and ther
; plunged down the dizzy height, ant
were dashed to pieces on the rocks be
low. The story is also told of a lad,
who Is described as beautiful creature
/ named Josephine Gordon, the daughte
: of wealthy Baltimore physician, VIII,
5 came here some years ago with party o
e friends from Philadelphia, who hat
a been obliged to break her engagement
: with her lover by, her father, and VIII
v met her lover here in the following 70
: mantice way: The party were boatin
;. on the river, and in coming up tn
e stream two horsemen were seen ap
q preaching the hotel up the mountai
e road. The boating party hurried to tn
e house in order to get there before tn
e horsemen, thinking they might b
!, friends. Shortly after the party arriv
:, ed single, strange herseman drove u
O to the hotel and dismounted, his arrivs
l. exciting considerable curiosity as I
q what had become of his companion
l. That evening Miss Gordon commun
g Gated TO her friend and inmate til
3 fact that the missing horseman was hs
d old lover, who, hearing that she W;
y here, came to see her. Knowing tn,
le her father had exacted promise fro
J. her not to zee him again, the young ma
!, had dismounted at house some di
y tance off and sent note by his frier
r begging an interview. Itwas some tin
ID before the young lady could reconci
Is her conscience sufficiently TO conser
r. but her love finally triumphed, and
lg meeting the next evening was arrange
ID and took place in the presence of Mi
I'd Gordon's lady friend. When the love
ut parted Miss Gordon had consented to
5" secret marriage that night, in the O
II. house where her loved had stopped. II
of marriage took place, the only witness
~ | DeiuS TIC UIIuc lTIeIlU anu tIe U
lp couple living in the house. The folio
H. ing day Miss Gordon returned to Bal
" more, and her husband to his home
as Charleston. S. c., from which he was
. return to Baltimore in year to clai
his bride. Time passed, and Sol
months afterwad Miss Gordon's friel
in Philadelphia received a letter frc
ty her begging her to come to Baltimc
he and break the news CT her marriage
tut her father. The friend did as reque
ch ed. The treachery of his daugh
Cd seemed more terrible to the father tn
as death itself, and he few into terri
gn, rage and imprecated fearful curse i
les on his daughter and her husband. /
All passion brought on stroke of paraly'
be- from which he was i'll for long tir
sts When he recovered sufficiently to spe
so, he gave orders for his daughter to les
ea- the house. Almost heart broken
hes accompanionied her husband, whom
till had sent for, to his home in Charlest
out where she soon after died. The new
but her death was abruptly communica
are to her father, and fatal paralytic str