The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-26
The "inJun's Fate. /"

One Of the oldest landmarks in the
village of Delhi, N. Y, was a large
hollow chestnut tree, which stood in
Main street. 1t had grown to such huge
dimensions as to occupy at least one-half
of the sidewalk. During the last three
or fouryears the tree has been dying, and
as many of its dead branches hung over
the walk, the authorities feared that
some one might be injured by them in
falling, so gave an order that the tree be
removed. The work was begun by saw
ing off the limbs. When this was done
workmen began to saw the trunk off
about three feet above ground. They
had sawed only one.third through when
the saw struck hard, metallic sub
stance, and the men had to stop. Axes
were secured and the tree cut open. To
the surprise Of everybody the obstruc-
ton to the saw was found to be an old
pistol of French design, bearing the date
of 1749. 1t was covered with rust, and
the date was almost undiscernlble. Inn
medlately below the ancient weapon lay
hum IN skull, in the centre of the fore
head of which was round hole evident
ly>made by a bullet. The news spread
like wildire through the village, but no
one ventured an explanation Of the
strange find. There has for long time
been tradition regarding the tree, but
it was not until recently that CORES
pondent learned the true story, when he
called upon Abram johnson, who lives
about mile outside the village, and who
is now in his ninety-third year. T.
johnson had not heard of the discovery,
but readily recalled the story of the tree
which he had heard from his grand
father, who was an officer of the Revo-
luton. "That tree," said Mr.. Johnson,
''must be nigh onto two hundred years
old. Why, my grandfather used to tell
us boys about playing around that tree
when he was lad, an that is over
hundred yeals ago, an twas an old tree
then. Lemme see," and he reflected
moment; "Oh yes, can remember what
he used to tell usabout that tree. When
he was young they called it the 'Injun's
fate, from the fact that an mjun was
once hanged there for murderin' a poor
white girl in cold blood. She war a
pretty thing, an the Indian who war a
sort o. chief in his tribe-I forget what
tribe it war wanted her to become his
wife. She refused, an he met her one
night Just about dusk an quarreled with
her under that tree. There was no
settlement here then, only a few scat
terin' cabins Of the hunters. Mex
mornin' arter they were seen under that
tree the poor girl was missing. Under
the tree thar was pool o. blood found.
All efforts to trace the crime failed, but
it was deemed certain that the Iniun had
killed her, ana the few white men that
lived about here made sort of vigilance
committee and swore vengeance on him.
They captured him one day an took
HIM to the tree an prepared to hang
him. He begged piteously to be allow
ed to live, but they were unrelenting,
an then he grew sullen and would not
speak. Even when lie had the rope
around his neck he wouldn't tell what
he had done with the girl. No doubt
this explains it all. The tree must have
been hollow, and he dropped her and
the pistol he did the shootin' with in
there and thought to conceal his crime.
1h' affair made a good deal OF excite
ment in them times"