The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-29
GLre GatelIigetfter,
PAIL OF a caIErrAIN.

Death OF BlRck snahs, n Venerable To-
dian Of the Allegheny Rcservation-A
Descendant OF He'd Jacket.
Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette.
Those who are identified with the lam
Der trade in this vicinity, and who have
had occasion to visit the lumber regions
up the Allegheny river, will perhaps re
member Blacksnake, q Seneca chiettaini
who welded great influence among the
Indian lumbermen in that region,
who semi.annually float their timber
down to this city for disposal.
Last Friday morning Owen Blaeksnakei
one Of the Oldest Indians on the Allegheny
Reservation, died very suddenly at Red
House, surrounded by the Councillors oil
the Seneca Nation. Blacksnake lived on
Quaker Run, in the town OF Coldspring,
but had gone over 10 Red House, whers
the Council was In session. II was bis
custom every year to visit the Council, In
which he was considered an oracle, and
his words OF counsel, warning or admoni-
ton had great weight among the Seneca
Legislators. On Friday morning before the
Council convened and the Councillors had
gathered at their boarding place, the
old man, who was apparently as
well as ever, was imparting some
words OF advice to the young men
around him. Rising up in his seat as II to
make his words more emphatic, he sud.
denly, and without the slightest Fremont.
ton, fell back dead. His body was taken
up tenderly, almost reverently by the
councillors, who felt SUDDEN and terrible
bereavement in his disease. The council
at once convened and passed resolutions
OF respect and regret, and ordered the
funeral to be conducted under the direc'
ton. OF the council. The treasurer Of the
nation and the marshal was instructed to
take charge Of the burial, which was or
dered for Sunday afternoon.
Owen Blscksnake was seventy.dye years
old, and was held in the highest respect
by bis people. He was preacher Of the
old Pagan doctrines, in which capacity he
had within few years visited the various
Indian reservations in the State and In
Canada. Through these Indian preachers
the history OF the earlier times Is kept
alive In the minds OF the people, and
when one OF them dies link Is broken
which binds the present 10 the past.
Though preacher OF the old doctrine, as
1t Is called, Blacksnake was not unpro.
gressiye and did not stand in the way Of
the advancement OF his people, but he
sought 10 always have them remember the
past greatness OF the tribe when
the senecas were the ruling faction
of the Iroquois Confederacy. When
the new government was adopted
by the Senecas in 1913 and the old
regime OF the chiefs was superseded by the
Republic, Blacksnake was favorable to the
change, and did much TO bring it about.
He always urged his people to acquire the
virtues Of civilization, and not It's vices.
Backsnake has been for number OF
terms member OF the Council, and was
during his Councillorship leader in that
body, and his opinions always had great
weight. He was son OF Governor"
Blacksnake, one of the old chiefs OF the
nation, who was somewhat famous in the
history Of the tribe. "Governor" Black.
snake, 1t will be remembered, was some.
times known in history as "The Nephew"
being nephew OF the celebrated "Red
Jacket" He was also friend and associ.
ate Of Cornplanter.
The funeral Of Owen Blacksnake was
conducted according to the Indian rites at
Red House, and the body was taken to
Cold Spring for interment. The funeral
was largely attended by the Nation, who
feel deep sense Of bereavement in the
old mans demise. There was u number
of whites at the funeral, among whom
Blacksnake was also highly esteemed.