Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-04-13
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As might be inferred, these assem-.
blies resulted in numerous barters.
betrothals and 80 on. Their love
affairs, like those Of our own in which
bigoted, aristocratic or mercenary pa.
rents are concerned, were consumma.
ted with little regard to the BRIDES
choice; but the aborigines possessed
less hypocrisy and more honesty than
these, and the chap who would give
the most, instead Of the one who had
the most wealth, got the girl.
Among the visitors on this occasion
was Te-caugh-re-ta.ne-go, q young
sub-chief. He was handsome, "feet
as an arrow. sly as fox, and strong
as bear;;" but he was insolent,
naughty, tyrannicsl. He saw Mime.
wa.wa. became ensmored, paid her
father his price and decided to take
his new wife to his distant lodge
when camp dispersed. 1t was de-
sirable match. The young brave was
heir apparant to the chieftancy of the
tribe, and it was considered as fine
stroke of diplomacy by the BRIDES
father.
Minne-wa-war received the intelli-
gence with horror-the captive with
dismay. This is the beginning of the
end.
When the time for the ceremony
had arrived, the gayety of the camp
was transformed into, an awful 81.
lence, and the bands collected on the
banks of the creek A dam had been
constructed 80 as to collect the hub
bles of petroleum which rose to the sur
face, and also the little streams which
occasional run from the banks, and
hence the water was covered with
thick scum. Imagine the sublimity
of the scene and the grandeur of that
temple. Gigantic hills, clothed with
majestic forest, rise on every side as
walls; the velvet sod forms . beauti-
ful carpet; the altar is q CLASSY
stream bearing . golden
sacrifice; the pulpit is
a messy rock; the music, the song of
cascade, and the heavens. an arched
roof. In that temple hundreds of
gayly decked and painted savages
stood motionless during the mysteri-
GUS incantations of their high priest,
the medicine man, and the speech of
their chief, as he recited the con-
quests and victories of his people and
their valorous ancestors. Then q
torch was applied TO the scum. The
surface of the stream burst into q
complete con6agration, The magni-
fcent flames leaped, one higher than
the other-vied with each other
longed to kiss the skies with their
tongues of fire! Every savage jump
ed into the cir and, amid the widest
gesticulations, gave forth 9 shout
that made the hills and valleys echo,
and re.echo again and again. Here,
then, were the children of the Sun in
the depths OF the Western forest
here W as revived the worship of the
East.
THE writer firmly believes that
the ethnologist can discover in the
customs and ceremonies of the Seneca
Indians traces that might ultimately
reveal the origin of the American ab.
originese. The fire deity halls from
the Orient, and it is said the symbols
and hieroglyphics are almost similar
to those Of the ancient Egyptians and
Persians.
When the excitement was highest
the captive and Minne.wa-wa escap-
ed, Now, all was over and the
bands were about to depart. Te-
caugh.re.ta.ne.go searched in vain
for Minne.wa-wa. When the cap.
tive's absence was discovered the
true situation flashed upon his mind.
Wild with rage he organized q party
and went in pursuit. The trail took
to the south.
We catch our first glance of the
fugitives as they emerge from thick
ct with pursuers close in the rear. A
shot is fred after them. Another
and yet another. whizzes by-but the
lovers are beyond gunshot. Uphill,
down. hill, through underbrush, over
stony ground, through swamps-they
speed like arrows. An occasional
pheasant whirs from their path or a
frightened deer darts past.
They continue their speed without
the least abatement and perspiration
streams from their brows. They in
crease ssthe distance between them.
selves and their pursuers, who follow
in hot chase. Ten, fifteen miles are
accomplished and there is still no cyl
dence of their slackening pace. 1t is
race for life. They maintain their
terrific speed, reach the Connoquen-
essing creek and lose sight of their
pursuers. Have they given up the
chase ? God knowsl The lovers
continue their speed down the stream
Their faces and necks are swollen
and their veins seem ready to burst.
On they bound. Mile after mile is
laid behind. They arrive at the rock
before described. and there ia still no
evidence of the followers. They
pause moment-nature revolts.
Their breasts heave convulsively and
they tremble in every limb. They
run out on the rock, which offers Q
commanding view, to ascertain it
pursuit has really ceased. Hush
slight rustic among the leaves. The
glimmer of o gun bsrrel-a sharp re-
portland the fugitive falls and rolls
into the chasm. A scream-a leap
and Minne-wa-wa is with her affi-
anced.
Anguish did its work. When the
red devils crept steathily to the edge
of the rock and looked over, it was
only to find her dead; both dead
dead in each others arms. They had
run the race for life to meet death at
the end.
The Indians then repaired, to the
spring on the hillside, for: they were
hot and exhausted. Moreover, the
spring was the most famous in the
country and pleasant to the taste.
"But," says the diary, "the Great
Spirit was displessed with the acts
of Te-caugh.re. ia. .ne.go; he was angry
at the death of Minne-wa-wa, the belle
of the Senecas, the pride of the forest;
and when the lips of the chief touched
the water of the spring, it was curst