Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-08-12
The Legend of Nacoochee:

s'Nacoochee," ''The Evening STAR"
was the only daughter of noted Chero-
kee chief. She possessed remarkable
lovely maid Of the valley was wooed by
many gallant youth, but, unfortunate
ly, was won by brave young warrior of
| the Choctaw Nation, people at that
time bitter enemies of the Cherokees,
and frequently engaged in fierce war.
fare with them.
One dark night Nacoochee disappear
ed from her vine-clad wigwam-she had
eloped with Sautee, son Of Ohoctaw
chief. The father of Nacoochee sum-
moned hundred stout warriors to go
in pursuit OF his erring daughter. The
valleys and mountains echoed the terri
fic war-whoop as they were searching
every hill and dale.
Days and nights passed, but Sautee
and the bright eyed Indian girl could
nowhere be found. The enraged father
refused to eat or sleep. He believed
that the lovers had sought refuge under
the Great Bear (Yonah) of the valley.
Renewed and more diligent search was
| GtbACs OaubCO lhttO pOACCtOu u OIludl
chamber for his young princess (which
was amply supplied with venison and
wild turkey amid the rocky Businesses
of Mount Yonah. He regarded the
rugged cliffs rising in their native
grandeur around him as secure from
the intrusion of friend or foe. Nacoo.
chee's new home must have been q
second Eden. Before her stood out q
world of mountains rising one above
another until their lofty peaks we're lost
in the blue sky, while at her feet nestled
the lovely valleys of Nacoochee and
Sautee, covered with fragrant forest,
Towering trees and brilliant rhododen-
drons and azaleas. From the crevices
of her granite palace gushed forth pure
perennial streams which are joined by a
thousand mountain springs that consti-
tute the head-waters of the picturesque
ChattahOochee river, and which, lake
and rivers that run out of the garden of
Eden, abound in gold. The cries of the
wolf and the night hawk disturbed not
the slumbers of the youthful lovers.
But Nacoochee and Sautee could no
more successfully conceal themselves,
from the revengeful warriors than could
Adam and Eve hide from the presence
of their Creator after having listen ed to
the beguiling serpent and eaten of the
forbidden fruit, A savage shout of
victory announced the capture of the
foe, who had desired to rob the chief of
his daughter. Hasty Judgment was
pronounced. Sautee was to be thrown,
in the presence of Nacoochee, from the
highest precipice Of Mount Yonah.
Before the sentence was executed the
warriors engaged in a death song. and
dance around the strongly guarded
prisoner. This was kept up until the
setting sun had dropped behind the
western mountains, and the evening
star was looking down upon the tragic
scene. At signal from the old chief,
four strong warriors seized Sautee and
with one terrific yell hurled him head
long into the chasm beneath. Quick as
thought. Nacoochee sprang from the
strong embrace of her father, and shout
ing: ''Sauteei Sauteel" threw herself
from the overhanging precipice. Their
mapgled remains were found side by
side in the valley. The terrific shock
we'll nigh broke the heart of the aged
father. He directed that Nacoochee
and Sautee should be buried on the
banks Of the Ohattahoochee, in one
grave, and mound raised over them to
mark the spot; and so the cypress, ivy
and rhododendron cover the grave Of
Nacoochee and Sautee.- Savannah,
(Ga.,) News.