The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-01-10
MI i s @ @ la N Q O N 9.
For The Agis d Iatelligencer.
The Last King and Queen of the Rocks of
Deer Creek.


On the right bank of Deer Creek. nearly
opposite the present residence of E. s.
Rogers, Esq, was, two centuries ago, a
village of the Susquehannock Indians
Five miles above on the same stream. fifty
yards below where the mill of James STAINS
bury, Esq, is located was another village
of the same Indians. Two and one half
miles southeast of the Rocks, on the land
now in the occupancy of Bennett Grafton,
ESQ, was third village. Each of these
villages had its own chief, but for mutual
protection and aid were confederate, ac-
knowledging the supremacy of the chief
whose location was in the vicinity of the
Rocks. This chief bore the not uncom-
mon Indian name of Bald Eagle The
chief of the upper village was Great Bear;
of the lower Lone Wolf
In the autumn of the year Lone Wolf,
accompanied by several of his braves, WIS.,
tied the Iroquois, then living in the north
eastern part of what is now the State of
New York. While there he became ena.
incurred with an Ojibway maiden, who had
been captured by the Iroquois in her infan-
cy; and adopted by their chief, was brought
up in his wgwam as his own daughter
The stay of the visitors was protracted un-
til the snow began to whiten the earth and
the ice to cover the waters; and Lone Wolf
would fain have tarried until the snow and
ice were melted again. In the charms of
the Fern Shaken blythe Wind" as she
had been named by her captors, he had
found an attraction stronger than that he
felt for his own people in the South country.
But failing in his efforts to win the affec
tions of the Fern, he resorted to diplo-
macy, hoping that time, with assiduity of
attention, would soften the maiden's heart,
and she would ultimately became his wife.
The time Of his departure having come, he
besought the lroquois chief to allow his
adopted daughter and her brother to ac-
company him to his distant home, promis-
ing to return them safely, and laden with
valuable presents, when the trees put forth
their leaves again. This request was
granted.
The Fern and her brother accompanied
Lone Wolf to his home. Two moons after
their arrival the braves of the three con-
federate villages were summoned to attend
great council, to be held at the Rocks
At the time appointed Bald Eagle and his
wife, as was their custom on such occasions,
took their places in the seats on the Rocks
known as the King and Queen seats, the
braves of the tribe and their confederates
sitting upon the ground beneath or leaning
against the interspersed trees. AT short
distance beyond the circle of the assembled
warriors sat the women and children of the
tribes and their Iroquois visitors. The
Fern. and her brother listened attentive
| Nv to the speeches of the different orators.
| N"r W. re they unobserved. the maiden par
| ticularlv. She could not fail to attract NJ
tentirn for to perfection of form and great
| symmetry of features was added n dignity
of manner rarely eqnnlled. Among the
braves most attracted by the charms of the
| Fern was "Thp- Bird that. Flies High -
eldest son Of Bald Eagle, and prospective
heir to the supreme chieftainship, or king.
ship. as it was sometimes designated This
young brave. taking advantage of short
recess had bv the council, approached the
Fern, and offered her present trinket OF
exceeding brilliancy and apparently OF
great value. which she gracionsly accepted
This was observed NY Lone Wolf who un.
der the influence of an unconcealed jeal.
ousy, rushed to the spot where the maiden
and her admirer were standing, and seizing
the trinket, violently wrenched it from her
hands, and throwing it upon the ground
trampled it under his feet. Ordinarily such
an act would have been promptly resented
but the Bird had too much regard for the
dignity of the occasion, and too much re.
spect for the character and authority OF
his father, the confederate chief, to notice
it by immediate and violent resentment
He quietly withdrew from the presence Of
the maiden, entertaining. however, the pur.
pose to avenge the insult when the fitting
opportunity arrived. That opportunity
was not long delayed.
Ten days after the close of the council
there was gathering of the tribes at the
lower village, to participate in the ceremon
ial connected with the rite of publication
a rite imperative in the case of every male
infant of the tribe at its eighth day. From
Il grove of stately oaks, one of which may
be seen, at this present time, one hundred
yards east of the spot on which now stands
the house of Mr.. Grafton, a procession NOV
ed toward Deer Creek, in the waters o
which the child was immersed By the ven
cradle priest of the lower village. The rit,
performed, the procession returned in tn,
order in which 1t came. The remaining
portion of the day was spent in feastinl
and dancing, in which the Bird participa
ted with seeming enjoyment, and forgetfu
apparently of his purpose to revenge til,
insult perpetrated by Lone Wolf True
however, to the instincts of his race, tina
purpose was still cherished, and only await
ed the opportunity of its accomplishment
When about to leave for his village, h
challenged Lone Wolf to trial of skil
Tsd arrow to take place a
the morning of. tha.anc