The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-02-01
VAUGHN'S CREEK.
AN INCIDENT OF OLD TIMES go YEARS
AGO) IN SIMPSON COUNTY

For THE COMET
STEEPsLANT January 23d, 1873
Vaughn's Creek small run making into
the east side of Pearl River. two or three
miles below the ferry at Rockport receivec
its name from George Vaughn who was
probably the earliest settler in its vicinity.
He was one quarter Indian, and was II first
cousin to the Bessieres family, who owned
and occupied the Coor Springs lands when
the settlement of the country, by white I'M
migrants, began. He lived, when young
man, near Jackson, Louisiana, and being
industrious, had good prospect before him,
but suspicious were directed against him, of
being guilty of the murder of relative Of
his own named Sneart he was arrested
and imprisoned, and though acquitted,
finally, Of the charge, the expenses of the
case absorbed his hard earned gains, and
feeling that the acquittal of the law was not
fully indorsed by public sentiment, he aban-
doned his white relatives, and settled among
the Indians of his grandmothers tribe Sc
Letting beautiful spot overlooking the val
ley and stream of Pearl river, and just
above the confluence of the present named
Vaughns Greek with that stream, he erected
a comfortable cabin, cleared five or six acres
of land and set out ali orchard. The Indians
esteemed him greatly and their intercourse
might have been pleasant and beneficial to
all parties but for quarrel between him
self and young Indian, resulting in the
of the red men, his own life was now for
feited to the relations of the slain Indian;
but in consideration of his white blood and
the affection in which he was held by his
adopted tribe, he was offered permission to
leave the country and save his life. This
clemency he declined. Taking his axe he
proceeded to destroy, one by one, the fruit
trees he had reared, leaving only two stand
We're left for some superstitious |
reason not now known. This labor finished,
1e announced himself ready and placing |
nis back to large black gum tree near his
house, received the avenging bullet His
grave was dug in few PAGES of where he
Tell; and with his rifle. three days rations
md perhaps some other articles he was
here consigned to his everlasting repose
The early white settlers in the neighborhood |
heard the account OF the affair from the In
lans who were then numerous in the
and the beautiful little
stream beside which he lived and died, still
oears his name. A few days ago the writer
hereof stood beside the lone bed of that
1uiet sleeper, and heard these particulars
rom a friend whose house is near the spot.
l slight mound where the chimney once
tood is the only visible relict of the old set
lement, and the grave itself would probab-
y have been undistinguishable long since,
nut for the cupidity of q white man, Some
en- years after his burial, settler i'll the
was hunting in the woods,
nd coming to the grave found man named
Allen digging out the earth. On inquiry he
Ounu Llau Uue SuppOSeu loSuLAeSbioht5V "''o |
fter the dead mans rifle, the barrel of
yhich he found and carried away, neglect
lg to refill the grave, which, in ,nse-
uence, shows plainly to this day. The
learing of "Vaughn's old feld,' and the
all ground, which adjoined it, comprising
n area of perhaps ten or fifteen acres, is
vergrown with tall young pine trees. and s
ther growths, but the large timber sur
ounding it defines very clearly the limits of
le fields His farm was on the gentle slope ]
here the hills incline to the level valley of l
ne Pearl river ; just at the top of that slope
.ood his house, and on the plateau above !
as the clearing long used as ground for l
ball play" by the Indians. After his death
le ball ground was abandoned, and the
,ene left to the silent solitude that HIS of
tie been broken by the axe OF the settler. c
n few years, perhaps, the plow will pass !
yer his grave, and his place and his men, Z
ry be alike unknown. b. 1