Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-15
WHY THE BASS WOULDN'T BITE.
An Indian Legend Told at Village Inn
in the Interior.
From The PAiladelD1ia Times

From the PHILADELPHIA Times.
MILLERsBURG, PA, March 11.-Travel-
ers up and down the Northern Central
railroad, while admiring the beautiful
scenery along the Susquehanna, are not
aware of the strange Indian legend con-
nected with this quiet little town, which
sits on the bluff overlooking the mouth of
the WiconiscO creek. Millersburg was
founded in 1907 by Daniel Miller. The
first settlers were Huguenots, many of
whom had resided for some time
at the quaint village Of Halifax, six
miles down the road, in the direction
OF Harrisburg. Daniel Miller and
his brother John came here from Lancas-
ter county about 1890 and took up 400
acres of land. 1t was covered with
heavy growth of pine. The valley Of the
Wiconisco was a wilderness, composed
of low underbrush aud vines. The Dor
Ough, which cannot fairly be seen from
the railroad, occupies a Drominen5 posi-
ton, from which a splendid View Of the
rocky river and the mountains IS had.
1t was incorporated in 1850. As Maban-
tango point IS rounded, on coming down
from Sunbury, the river appears like
lake nearly a mile wide. On the other
side are the green hills OF Perry county
and the mountains of the "Blue ,Iuniata"
in the distance. Turning to the left the
MahantangO proudly Tears its crest and
then sweeps away to the east. Looking
over the great raViGe through which the
WicOniscO rolls to the river the eye strikes
Berry's mountain, bearing of to the east
in a straight line. Further down and Op-
| pOsite the ancient borough OF Halifax,
/ which stands on the site of a pioneer fort
| Of this name, Simon Girty's Notch, named
after the famous outlaw. is pointed out.
/ But to the Indian legend. MahantaugO
/ is said to take its name from an Indian
1 chief who came here long before old John
/ Harris was tied to the elm in Harrisburg
/ to be burned. Traces of the legend are
/ found in musty records stored in the
garnet OF the State capitol. The chief,
Nahantango, pitched his wigwam on the
site now occupied by the depot and
/ engaged in hunting. The country was
filled with game. About this time
another chief, with few followers, came
| along, and a dispute arising with Ma
hantangO, the latter Oh dered him to leave
his wigwam. A great storm was CON-
ing up in the west as the chiet started
on the path leading to Shamokin.
When he arrived at what is now known
as Mahantango point the storm
hurst upon him with great fury. He seat
ed himself on rock underneath an oak.
Inc lightning was sharp and the heavy
thunder fairly shook the hills. A bolt de-
seconded and shivered the tree and the
IOck upon Wnlcn ne sat. Ot course he was
killed and his body rolled into the river
and was borne away by the current. The
tradition OF the Indians is that the shat
tered rock was regarded with awe when
they passed the spot. When the railroad
builders came along they found a pecu-
liarly shaped and riYen rock, which was
supposed 10 be the one upon which the
Inflated chieftain sat when the bolt Of
heaven descended and laid him low.
Nnyn pafa. a.al 4.
a venerable old settler to a number Of
listeners at the village inn, and among
the most interested was Simon S. Bow
man, the principal lawyer Of the place.
When the old man ceased talking Bow.
man remained silent for several minutes,
when he said; 81 never knew before why
The bass won't bite in the river
on MahantanRO point. / know II
now. can catch bass at any
other place below the point Of that noun
TAIN. won't spend time fishing there
any more. That old redskin is the cause
~ the trouble with the nah y