The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-05-09
THE MYSTERIOUS MUSIC OF
PASCAGOUIA,
Traditions Of the Last Fields OF the
BiIOXi-SIuSlCaI Sounds thai ISSUE
from the Placid Waters.

The following account OF lhe or
ioin Of that weird music heard at
all times on lhe Pascagouia R'V-
ers, may be OF interest to our read
ers. There arelwo traditions. we
give them both:
1.-The Bay of Pascagoula j. a love
" and rellred spot, lying at nearly
equal travelling distances between
lie cities Of New Orleans and
Mobile. II has long been famous
among persons Of taste III those
cities for its quiet beauties but
more so on account of a very SIN
rular and sweet superstition Whcn
ncrtains to il. A remarkable, ana
most spiritual kind Of music, Is
hoard above and around lis wa
lers. from which il is supposed
tn issue. The sound is liIluI oG-
/ curing by day and night, at an
hnurs sometimes with mole or
loss strength ami fullness, but al
WAYS very sweet and touching N
lis strains. Some compare II TO
1 lhe wind harp, which, indeed, 1t
sometimes most wonderfully re-
sembles. Others liken 1t to The
lbnmmlng oil an insect of great and
curious bowers. The Indian ira
dilion explanatory Of ti,is music,
which no philosophical speculation
has vet ventured To dislurb,-ls one
of i beauty not ollen surpassed
The story goesthatthe wholeSouth-
west was once controlled, and IN
tha possession OF a people calleu
The BILOXI, that they had attained
a very high, if not a periec' clVlii'
zation-lhat they were versed u
various arts, profound lovers oi
mnsic, and were finally enerVateu
by the arts which they possessed
They we're oyerrun and conquered
bv the fierce tribe coming from ne
West. They made last stand OF
The bordeTs of the sea, by Pasca
ponla, when driven from all ONE
positions. Here they erected
iortress, the ruins OF winch arr
still said TO be seen; though IN
work said TO be theirs was prooa
: blv erected by some of the r0vln;
bands Of Spanish and French wh'
+. first brought European clvillzallo'
, into the country. The last strn2
rles of the Biloxi were prolra5cteO
IS became the efforts ot a bra7'
nation fighting for life and liberty
But they fought in vain. Famln
came 10 the assistance OF lhelr el
emies. and unconditional su0ihl'
e. 3, sion or death were the only ave
natives. They chose the last; an
men. women and children proceed
= ed 10 The sacrificc-which was
8, solemn. and perhaps more toncl
ing than that of the citizens of M
mania under like circumstance
Throwing open the gates OF the
torlress. at a moment when the a
.ailants were Withdrawn, the
marched down to the water oil u
y bav. singing their last song
death and defiance. WIN unsha
en- resolution they pressed lorwa
s, until the waters finally engn u
them all. None survived. 1
strange spiritual music OF the %
= of Pascagou'a is said 10 be I
J, haunting echo Of the last meia
" cbolv strain. Such is one OF |
traditions respecting the myste
IS. e',,, ,,nsic. and one which we m'
prefer.
"a Another legend is agreeablN,
poried by Mr.. Gayarre' IN ms j
y work ON the picturesque ami
&c mantle in the history OF Loelsla
srp T II IS due to the reader that
should be put in possession oi
n other version OF the story.
- yarre describes the music as
curIine mostly at The mouth OF
Pascaeoula River, and as seem
?. 10 aoal upon the waters, part
larlv in a calm moonlight
seems 10 issue from caverns
Is, proltoes in the bed Of The river
Vel. Sometimes onzes up through
{ in watei. under The very keel OF
and beat which contains the inqulsi