The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-03
WATSEKA.
IN Indian Legend now Published for
the First Time.
a n Authentic History of the Naming Of
an Illinois Town.

Tuesday morning last to meet business en-
gagement Of Milwaukee, Wis, and, alter
being detained several hours by snow drift
near the town OF Covington, this State,
reached the Danville, H.. Junction st 2
O'Clock in the afternoon. Here the Sentinel
man learned that tram for Chicago would
be along sometime during the evening,
but as ell trains were several hours
1sie en- approximate time OF arrival
only could be given. The expected train
rolled in, drawn by two engines, at O'CLOCK
tnd was boarded By the waiting passengers
With the prospect OF reaching Chicago soms.
frre during the night. Ansr travelling
sno1t forty miles the passengers were notified
A. st toe train men had received orders TO
stsnGon the road st Watsesa and whea
that place was reached they we're compelled
40 leave the train. being informed that ths
next train for Chicago would reach Wstseks
between that time and daylight next morn
ing and, as it was the regular express would
doubtless attempt TO reach it's destination
regardless OF disadvantages FROM snow
drifts
This was not al encouraging prospect, but
there wss no help for it. Inquiry OF the
train dispatcher at Wstseka failed to elicit
anything definite as to the time when the
expected train would arrive. He said it
was somewhere on the track Of the Chicago
and Eastern Illinois Road and was coming
as fas SIS the combined power OF three en-
gines could bring It, but whether it would
reach that point before morning was Ques-
1ion which be could not pretend to decide.
With view OF getting the earliest possible
train for Chicago; the reporter determined to
Iemain in the deDot til II arrived, and pre-.
sIed to make himself as comfortable as pos
Sible while be waited for that event. He had
Just seated himself by the stove. when az old
grsy-haiTed resident entered the depo. and
1Cok seat beside him. The two entered
into conversation, and the reporter learned
that the town of Watseka contained about
: Geo inhabitants, aud was situated seventy
seven miles from Chicago, az the crossing of
The Wabash and the Chicago and Eastern
liIinSis rosds having sprung up since the
latter road vas built. Referring to the name
which the town bore, and ex pressing desire
10 know how 1t originated, the reporter was
informed that the name was connected
with an Indian legend. which is as strange
Ia come OF It's parts as tits pathetic ia Others"
; bis naturally excited the eports curiosity,
snd he begged that the story be told. Re-
filing his pipe and seating himself more
comfortably on the wooden bench OF the
depot, the grey.haired stranger gave the
legend substantially as follows:
This place is called Waiseka in honor OF
an Indian maiden who lived here more tnan
two hundred years ago and whose history is
not only interesting in a rare degree but re-
msTkably pathetic as well. Watseka was an
1rcquois maiden, the daughter of power
full chief, and very much beloved by her
tribe, which inhabited the prairie regions OF
Il. 10 II
remarkable for her beauty and graceful
manners and her kindness and condescs1
son made her general fagorite. As con-
sequence her hand was sought by all the
young chiefs for many leagues around and
the young braves were never more happy
than when permitted to snow thsiE pro Eess
In the presence OF the fair ma den. At the
age OF fifteen Watseka expressed her prefer
euce Tor young chief of one of the tribes
across the Wabash, and tue love OF the young
couple was loeked upon with favor by the
father OF each. The young chief
would come TO see Watseka every
Sunday evening, and when they went
buggy riding or sleigh-riGiRg, according to
Ire ~tatber, they were the envy of all the
braves and mAidcns of the tribe Things
went on smoothly for some time, and the
two tribes began to prepare for the M ptials,
when, unfortunately for loves young dream,
Watseka went to drug store one day to get
some creosote Tor her tooth and the druggist
q paleface, gave her love potion. After
this she seemed TO fall completely under his
Influence. and, though her father gave her a
ser OF false teeth, che still commended that
they ached, and went each day to the drug
slst TO get creoscte. Her father blinded py
Jcve for his daughter, made no attempt to
restrain her, and the more she took the love
pOtioDs the more her manner changed
towards the young chief acrOss the Wabash,
who, Ia time saw the change, and, being
naturally proud and naughty. CEASED HE
ylsits TO Watseka and sooa married maiden
{ bis own trice
''Watseka's father who did not kaow that
tie arrangement was brought ao0ut by the
acts Of his daughter, regarded the marriage
Of the young chief to another insult
WaiseEa, and called upon his tribe II
sTeDge It. council OF war Was held an1
The Iroquois unanimously resolved TO
sveEge the insult to their tribe. Watsska
eIpostulsted, declared that she alone was
10 blame for the estrangement but fearing
10 declare her love for the druggist, assigned
no reason for her treatment OF the young
brave. Her father thought that the love of
his daughter for the young Indisu
prompted her to the declaration in
order TO shield him from the just anger
OF Der tribe, and this msde the old chief
more than ever determined on revenge The
two tribes went to war, and. after number
of fierce battles the young Indian was
taken captive by Watseka's tribe and con-
demned TO death. Watseka was compelled
10 Join IN the death dance on the night be-
fore the execution, and you may well i'm
sgi1e that she did so with heavy heart.
The yonng brave was shot to death the next
day and Watseka, along with the other
Blaidens OF the tribe, was forced TO taste the
life blood which had been spilled to satisfy
the wounded honor OF her tribe.
From the moment that Watseka's lips
touched the blood of the young chief she
became a changed being. The color left her
cheeks. the light faded from her eyes, her
step was no longer elastic. she mingled no
more n the sports OF the tribe aud
e 2 esdfssty refused TO eat or drink
Her father saw this change with dismay,
bpt no matter bow tempting the morsel,
v siseka refused TO take it, and every day