The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-02-21
MI i sc ollan @ O u q.
For Tile -Egis Dc Mtelligencer.
The. Last Indian of Deer Creek.

Mingo Park is the name of the estate of
our well-known and respected fellow citi-
zen, James Stansbury, Esq. This place is
most appropriately named. 1t is derived
from Mingo Hill, an abrupt eminence i'm
mediately opposite the residence of that
gentleman, at the base of which runs and
ripples the waters of the far-famed Deer
Creek. The hill itself takes its name from
Mingo-one of the Mingoes-whose wig
wan was located on the lowlands, an hun
dred yards or more above the position now
occupied by the mill of Mr.. Stansbury, and
on the right bank of the stream.
The Mingoes have become celebrated in
Indian history. They originally occupied
large part Of the territory now included
in the State of New York. They were
known by several names. The English
called them the Five Nations,n because
they constituted a confederacy of that
number of distinct nations, increased to six
by the accession of the Tuscaroras of Car
DINA. The French called them Iroouois:
the Dutch, Maquas; and the Virginia In.
dians gave them the name of Massawomikes
At home they were known by the name of
Mingoes. At first their habits had been
rather agricultural than warlike, but un.
happily for their peace and the we'll BEING
of others of their race, they were attacked
by the powerful tribe of the Adirondacks
then occupying the country three hundred
miles above Trois. Rivieres in Canada
Necessity drove them to war, and by their
proves and success they earned the proud
title of the Romans of the West. Nearly
exterminating the Adirondacks and proud
ly exalting themselves on their overthrow.
the Iroquois or Mingocs grew rapidly to be
the leading tribe of the North, and finally
of the whole continent. But like many of
the mighty nations of the earth, they have
yielded to superior force, and there now
remains only an handful to recount
mournfully the mighty deeds of their val
orous fathers. Another race with its tenn
ing millions occupy their hunting grounds
and control their waters. Their fate is the
melancholy recollection of greatness never
to be recovered, and the agonizing antici-
patton of the better extinction of their
race.
The Mingo whose history we record had,
as we have seen, his home among the wild
weird scenes of the upper Deer Creek
His wigwam at first was one of MANY, for
in the locality designated there was con.
siderable village of his tribe. The coming
of the white man drove them from their
homes, and they migrated westward and
southwark, resting for while on the fertile
plains of Ohio, and in the forests of Caro-.
lima. Mingo alone remained, occupying
his wigwam with his wife and children,
and finding his support in the waters of
Deer Creek and in the wooded hills that
bordered it. The reason of this seemingly
singular procedure is, as will appear, but
another illustration ofthe mysterious nature
of man and the power of a sentiment.
The Mingoes of Deer Creek made fire.
quent forays upon the Indians living on the
waters of the lower Patapsco, and occa-
sionally extended their incursions into
eastern Maryland and Virginia. In one of
their adventures they penetrated the COUP
try as far south as the eastern shore of the
Chesapeake bay, opposite the mouth of the
Potomac, and attacking suddenly and I'M
expectedly, surprised and captured large
village, with much booty and some prison
ers. Among the captives was Watumpka,
the laughter Of Piskaret, in his day the
most celebrated chieftain of the Wicomicos.
Brought by her captors to the Rocks of
Deer Creek" which at the period referred
to was the general rendezvous of the Mingo
warriors Of the vicinity, and from which
they conducted their warlike expeditions,
and to which they returned to make distri-
button of the common spoils. Happily for
Watumpka, in the allotment of the prison
ers she fell to the share of Mingo, who had
participated in the expedition. This
youthful warrior had seen twenty summers.
He had already at that age developed into
the noblest type of manhood. Six feet in
height, Of corresponding weight, straight
as the arrow he let go from his bow, of
perfect features, rather Roman than Indian,
and OF dignified mien, he was the admira-
tion of his tribe. Added to these physical
attractions was mind and heart intellec-
tual, sympathetic and loving. The artist
would have selected him as his ideal, and
the female heart chosen him as it's possession
forever OF Watumpka it might have been
said, Indian though she was, what the i'm
mortal Bard said of the gentle Desdemona:
"a maiden never bold
OF spirit SO still and quiet that her motion
Blushed at itselt'
And of the attraction of her person what
Michael Cassie said of the gentle maiden
"Tempests themselves, high seas, and bowling
winds, y
AS having sense of beauty, do omit
| Their mortal natures, letting safe 90 by
The divine" Watumpka.
Mingo saw and was conquered. His
| captive was the captor. Watumpka sub