The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-05
A BLOODY TRAIL.
Strange Story OF Search for q Lost
Sister.

Ol5LGEs
TllrnerCIIe (GG) Cor. Athens Banner.
Just where the track Of the B. R. & A.
railroad leaves Turnervllle. passing through
deep cut. there once crossed dim trail
known as Hinckles' trail.
This Indian path led from the headwatsr
OF the Soquee river aud crossed Tallulah
river, going nearly due east to tue waters of
what is known as Brass town creek in South
Carolina, and this trail, yet TO be Gimly seen
and traced, has a bloody history with few
parallels in the history OF crime.
The facts. as gathered from an old citizen
now numbered with the dead, who was born
near the mouth Of Panther creek. are as
follows:
John Hinckle, who lived on the head
waters of Brasstown creek and who for
years passed to and from the SoQuee Indian
settlements, made and blazed out the trail,
and from that day until this il has been
known as Hinckle's trail and there are few
hunters and fishermen who have hunted
and fished on Tallulah river who do not
ow that solitary spot II Tallulah river
known as Hinckle's Hole and Hiackle's
Grave
This trail has history, and bloody one
Old citizens tell us that the Indians stole
II nckle's sister from her home on the head
waters of the Brasstown creek, and crossed
Hincke. then mere boy, followed the In
dams to the river. aud there he lost all
traces OF either his sister or the
Indians, but, crossing the river at
this spot, he followed on in the
direction of the Soquee river, the
Indian town, but failed ever to find a
trace OF the lovely sister, aud on his return
blazed out path and In his wrath swore
that on this path he would travel back and
bot h.
face TO face on the path should die unless he
found his lost sister, and it is said that this
path Is strewn with the dead victims of
Hlnckle's vengeance for for miles.
Travel this trail to-day, which can be seen
dim y traced, and on either side of the path
for miles now and then you will find the
grave Of some Indian or white man who
met his fate at the mouth of John Hinckle's
deadly rifle. Years after all this country
was settled up by the white man John
Hinckle would follow this bloody trail from
end to end in search OF the Lost sister, aud
after years OF oeaseless trial aud trouble he
married a wife, and still with her he made
his accustomed tramp over his trail. Years
passed on and to him were born two lovely
children-two girls. Still Hinckle would
keep up his regular tramp back and forth
on the bloody trail.
Being caught out one dreary night, with
river and dragging his wife and two chill
dren with him, night overlook them, d
on the south bank Of the terrible stream,
cold and hungry, the wife and two children
were found the next morning cold in the
icy arms Of death, with no one TO close their
eyes, only dsbasei, drunken husband and
father, who was so beaStlv drunk that he
did not know his wife and children were
dead. The good people of Brasstown re-
in 40
coffin laid to rest the mother and babies
Ever from that day, as long as John
Hinckle lived, he said two black dogs were
following him day and night. Six years
after the sad death of the III Ither and chill
dren Joha Hinckle was found in the river
near whore the children met their fate, dad,
and floating near where his bones now resi-.
The cit. zens took him from his watery
grave, dug hole near a large oak I'd laid
him to re,t, and on that oak tree near his
x ave there is the outline of dogs head,
as II 1t were keeping watch over lis bones.