New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-11
THE WHITE DEER.
AN INDIAN LEGEND OF THE DELAWARE
VALLEY.

AN INDIAN LEGEND OF THE DELA"AhH
VALLEY.
Iron Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF the iAiio''l
NARRowsBUKG, n. Y, Jan. 3l.-lhe SUPER
.tition as to the fatal consequences o' hl'-"s ,t
deer the belief in which seems to be deeply rooo =, -"
,rd mo-, only ~ the unelucatcd backwoodsnen OUT Vi
~ .ors NJ HIGH intelligence throughout inc bc'
,-arc river counties Of Ncw-York ana fehhsy l"ln
iurstradon OF which given IN tue sl"iy VI "io
,o,rhocber case printed in THE TRIBUNE "l !eS'euaF-
=, indian origin and received from the irlDes the
puIatin the valley by the early white settlers Fhose
have inherited 1t. and fOstered II even 10 tiS
,otodav The Indians believed that white deer rare
oven I'm those primitive days was sacred ana poi' "
charmed life Among the legends that have been
handed down from ancient Indian times Is one tha'
espeoally impressed the pioneer jewellers along tne
Delaware and which Is still solcmny told to curious
inourers by crcdulous guides. and Is regarded ~ an
especial favorc in the voluminous repertory Of Tie
valleys folklore.
As the legend goes Young Indian loved the daughter
of his chief whose tribe was powerful and whose
prowcss was the great theme Of aboriginal song ana
story The young Indian one Of the bravest OF all
braves and the hero OF many battles. He was beloved
beyond the chief OF the tribe and his popularity had
aroused a feeling OF bitter enmty toward him IN the
breast of the Indian But the daughter loved the
Young warrior and deeply the affections oI tne
peope fixed upon their idol that the chief dared not DO
that which he fain would have dOneOrder the removal
the tribe by the tomahawk The young Indian had sued
for the chiefs sanction OF his union with the princess
again and again. but in vain. But his popularity grew
greater I'm the tribe and each day added some dee oil
courage 10 the record OF his achievements, un the
chiefs hatred OF him merged into alarm; Tor he
feared the day rapidly approaching when his own
great name would be held naught, as compared Win
that OF the youth That the this youth must be
checked the chief plainly and one day the CRAFTY
r1Ier be,houcbt him OF plan whereby tEat END might
not only be secured but the destruction OF Dis rival DE-
encumpa 4sed as well He sent for the young WARRIOR
and caused the lovers heart to leap with Joy by tens
him that paternal pride bad reented and that the great
chief would consent the union OF his daughter To MS
humble subject But he instantly added the condition
that the union could not contaminated until the lover
shoud Law at the door his chiefs wgwam the BODY OF
a white deer Until this done, the subject OF the
marriage must never again be mentioned under pam oil
death or banisment In this condition the lhdlh lover
read his doom for said he. was 10 not easier TO pierce
the hunters moon with arrow than to bury fatal
s1a-t iu the sacred white deers hearth Ind he
lowered no more about the wgwam Of his dn7ky mis-
tress but yOoed with than wonted ador the peru
Of the path and tho chase adding lustle TO his
name ana TO his tribe greater glory.
But the chiefs hatred and Jealousy grew apace
Feeling that tho young braves love for the Indian
,.rincess would suur him to any deed OF daring or
sacrifice. the chief summoned him once again to his
yi ,yam The great sorcercr Of the tribe was present
Nature had no mysteries that were not 10 linn as an open
book No talisman could prevail against te INA &c o
daughter vi his chief whom the Young brave loved. SIC
nd rspulsed his suit and her father bad rebked the
.orccrrr for his Presumption. And the magellan MAO
AZ The econi conference the chief repeated tie con-
.Iitinp upou which would give ll- daughter 10 thc
vOuug warrior and beCkoned the sorccrer o ma SIDE
the soreerer placed In the lovers band an arro" made
from the long. straight stalk OF the swamp nag ana
tipped with barb Of silver. mis- ne sdl, sltellne
from the bow courageous enough To single out
white deer for MS nj would prevail against lhe cdirn
that made all other shafts ran harmless ana hIu tc
sacred hart as Vulnerable - thht OF ne eoioh,'' ~
thc hcla. The lover placed the brow IN Ms pnNrI
greater than TIC charm THAT 5HalHSa th. me {"
the white deer be said he would lay the pl%c al thc lcc
of hi, chief and clam MS royal bride r.
High The hills overlooking ii' Ndi'y ol o i-'CN
waNeu q lake clear as cJ stat In 'he ihln ui ~
now IL w.s resort Tor deer. IAc lnddh lover
launched his bIrh cal"S Oh gi'5 iaa,i uI h1 ~
awaited the c0mlig ~ deer at hlsuu'I no'iI- va. s
among them might he one OF the ch lea mel 'oFS %
the herd; lis hopes were rea1ed Id'' a. 'e a,e aa
herd Of deer stole woods ana stood Kee-ueep III
Quick -htnm- flash the silver tipped artoW Iealeu
from the warriors how. 10 CLEANED for am instant ~ me
cry that res0untcd the hills the white deer
fell dead aud it, companions fled IN terror 10 tue Wo"
the yonny braves arms fc p0weress by bis side. Hs
tongue give voice to the cry which came 10 hs
muscle For days he drifed about the lake. parched
end not until moons had come ana gone MAS MS
acad and wasted body found, upright III his canoe n"
arrow was followed not alone by the young warriors
fearful doom At sunset OF the day the arrow sousi inc
heart Of the sacred deer the r 1t chief was lound d,d
i'm nj, WgWaln with arrow, bir1ed with silver IN ms
heart The Indian maiden 6erett OF iDver ana Pren
sought the lake lover had met Ms tate, anu
found "A grave beneath its waters Tue S0rceIer niI
AVENGED nimsclL The tribe, once great and powerful
was never afcrwar able 20 cope with IT'S GntmG'' ana
was gradually swept out OF existence Inc lthe vas
,iyp the name Of White Deer Lake by the settlers WhO
first listened 90 It's Indian tradition and 1t Is known Oy
tint still ... -, --,--
non mi. legend Is based the superstition that remains
intact In the valley to-day and 10 the lying In the
face of which many ind, dual misiortdnes ana
casualties are Cha Scd