Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1886-01-28
PRICE 5 CENTS
DAN-A-PA-HA-HA.
THE GREAT CHIEFTAIN OF THE
SAIRRAS.
From Whom the Dan River Derives
It's Name. A Page of Unwritten His
BY HAWK EYE.
For Tie Sentinel.


How our minds wonderl Tonight
| have been thinking how slender is
the thread of our history and how
many interesting things never get into
print and how many noble lives are
never heard Olive and pass away
and only a rough stone marks their
tomb. Men and women who helped
to make earth paradise, who courted
net public favor. Nor were they ele-
lated in 1aef. our GssA ~ Hend-
ericks. But after all their reward
shall be greater than the praise of
| men.
Fools can ask questions that a
wise man cannot answer" for a fine
scholar in our State history was ask
ed, "How did Dan River get its
name % He was mute, he had never
thought of it before. He had forded
our old Dan hundreds of times and
was raised near its banks. But he
gave it up. Just so, our histories and
biographies skip over little things and
leave us no clue to many of our riv-
ers and mountains from whence they
got their curious names. But here is
bit of history which may prove in
teresting to the curious.
Near where Dan River crosses
the Stokes line in to Rock
ingham is the site of an an
cient Indian village, only bones, hints,
broken pottery, piles of rock &c,
marks the place where once the proud
warriors stepped with stately steps.
Unfortunate race; History. will new
er give thy wrongs justice. This viii
lage was one of the tribe known as
Sauras and FROM the name we get
Sauratowa mountains. The great
chief Of this tribe was Dan-a-pa-ha h;sf
Hli -;'sld was said closely related, to Pow
haitian, of Virginia, Now from the
name of this chief is undoubtedly
where our river got its name, Dan"
Near the site Of the above mention
ed Indian village is shoal in the
river known as Granny Angels Fish
Trap" Even while the Indians pad
died their boats UP the Dan, came
Charles Angel and his wife Siby from
Virginia and charmed with the bcaut-
iful valley they built q rude hut and
began life in the wilderness. They
raised a large family and 4 history of
this noble man and woman, Of their
adventures with the Indians and their
faithful love for their home and child
ren would make an interesting book.
But the curious part Is yet to come.
Siby Angel before her marriage was
Shy Washington, and a first cousin
| 10. = y, D4
Washington. From her descended
large generatian of children. And
TO this day large number of Angels
are scattered through this section.
Here in this secluded corner Of the
world are a people who for sobriety and
industry are worthy models and
through their veins flow blood which
the greatest men on earth would be
proud of, that of the Washingtons.
But the decendents of Siby Washing
ton may all fade away and sleep in
unknown tombs But to-day, as of
old, the Old Dan roars and dashes
over the shoals that bears her name
and will as long as the waters roll
down TO the sea. A curious monu-
ment to her name are these foaming
waters. But such lives will be remem-
bered on earth and not forgot in
Heaven, we trust,
| will further add that she had a
brother Lawrence. So did the great
George, which shows Lawrence to
have been family name. with the
Washingtons.
Rocky Springs, ". c.