The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-22
WARNING PHANToMs.
A Spectral Scene That Is Supposed
Foreten Indian Troubles.

A Spectral Scene That Is Supposed to
Foreten Indian Troubles.
Tfshomin0o Dispatch to Philadelphia Press
Indians OF this part of the country
! are predicting a disaster Of some
kind. They say that something ter
rible is about to happen to their
tribes or to the invading white men. The
phantom tribe has been seen and beard Ia
deadly conflict, and this is q sure indica-
ton that many dead men will lie on the
fields.
For years there has been a legend among
the indians OF this territory OF phantom
tribe which was supposed to be the ghostly
remnant OF a once powerful nation, which
was completely annihilated by an opposing
tribe. The occurrence was so far back that
1t is now one Of the traditions that has
grown misty with age, and IL has been
many years since there has been indication
that there was a foundation of truth for the
legend, which attaches to a certain valley in
the western part of this territory. In this
valley, which is always Stunned by the In
dams OF all tribes, are many mounds. indi-
eating where hundreds Of people lie buried.
In this valley, long ages ago. great battle
is said to have been fought, and in this
battle one whole nation OF redmeu was
wiped from the face of the earth by the
victorious invader, who thereafter possessed
the land.
The traditions OF the Indians are 80 strong
that ages do not wipe out the legends,
and where one or more Indians have seen
uncanny things and tell Of it, it becomes a
part OF the nations history, and where a
spot is found TO be possessed with spirits the
Indians never afterward question the truth
OF the story, but forever abandon the place.
Such is the history of the little valley whore
it is said that the great fight occurred long
years ago.
In this valley, full of those little mounds,
the Indians claim they have. on several oc-
casions, seen the warning tribes in deadly
combat, and closely following the ghostly
battle came trouble to the indians Either
pestilence. famine, or war has invariably
followed the apparition. and while the In
dams have not heard of the phantom tribe
for many years, the legend is vivid in their
minds and now they believe they are again
TO be visited with the trouble.
John Willis, deputy United States mar
shall, is now responsible.for the scare among
the Indians, for he IL the man who heard
the deadly conflict between the phantom
tribes. Willis did not know it at the time,
and, while he Is a brave man, be heard
su III sounds one night recently that he Law
perfectly sill. Willis was on the trail of q
band OF horse thieves, and was belated one
night just as he entered into little valley
covered with small mounds. He had never
heard or the phantom tribe nor OF the battle
which was fought In the valley. He was
far from q house. and picketed his horse
and made his camp. He had been asleep
for some time when he was aroused by his
horse, which was snorting and jumping
about In terror. Willis jumped to his feet,
thinking he was attacked by band T OUT
laws from the noise which was made. IL
was bright moonlight, but he could see
nothing.
All around him there seemed to be an iu-
visible host of men, some ON horseback and
some on foot, and these men appeared to be
in deadly conflict. The noise OF the tramp
ling hoofs aud rushing men could be plainly
| distinguished. while blows were struck so
! forcihly that the sound could be distinctly
heard. Backward and forward the battle
| OF ghosts seemed to rage Tor over an hour
| yet all the while rot thing could be seen
in the valley. aud Willis was almost con
WINGED that the sounds were the results of a
dream. His horse continued its frantic
efforts to escape, and at last Willis was
compelled to saddle the animal aud get
away from the valley. Just as he got
| beyond the confines OF the valley all sounds
ceased, and he was tempted to turn back
but just as he again entered the valley the
war began again. He told the story TO the
Indians, and then the story of the phantom
tribe came out, and the Indians told of the
disaster which was sure to follow the APP
pearance of the phantom warning redmen.