The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-13
PRANToMo' FIERCs FIGHT.
a Deputy Marshal Hears an Awful
Battle Between Indian Ghosts.
From The PhiladeIphia Press,

from the Philadelphia Press.
TIsHoMINGo, l. T.. June 4.-Indians Of
this part of the country are predicting a
disaster OF some kind. They say something
terrible is about to happen to their tribes or
TO The invading white men. The phantom
tribe has boon seen aud heard in deadly CON-
nlct, ana this is a sure indication 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 or once powerful nation which
was completely annihilated by an opposing
tribe. Tha occurrence was so far back that
IL Is now one OF the traditions that has
grown misty with age, and it has been many
years since there has been any 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
olans OF all tribes, are many mounds, indi-
eating where hundreds of people lie buried.
In TINS valley, long ages ago, a great battle
is said to have been fought, and IN this bat
tie one whole natiodof red men was wiped
from the face Of the earth by a victorious
invader. who thereafter possessed the land.
ABANDONED BY THE RED MEN.
The traditions OF the Indians are SO strong
that ages do not wipe out the legends, and
where one or more Indians have seen un-
canny things and tell of it. it becomes n
part OF the nations history. and where a
SPOT Is found b be possessed with spirits.
the Indians never arterward question the
truth OF the story, but forever abandon the
place. Such is the history of the little val
ley where 1t is said the great fight occurred
long years ago.
In this valley. full of those little mounds
tne indians claim they have on several oc-
OASOns. SeAl fha warning krihaa in -
combat. and closely following the ghostly
battle came trouble to the Indians Either
pestilence, famine or war has invariably
Loilo"eo the apparation, and while the In
dams have not heard of the phantom tribe
Tor many years, the legend Is vivid in their
tnl1os ana now they believe they are again
TO be visited with trouble.
John Willis, a deputy United States mar
sinai, Is now responsible for the scare among
the Indians, for he Ia the man who heard
the deadly conflict between the phantom
tribes. Willis did not know 1t at the tirue,
and While he is brave man he heard such
sounds one night recently that he lay per-
iectiy still Willis was on the trail of q
pano OF horse thieves and was belated one
night Just as he entered into little valley
covered with small mounds. He had never
heard OF the phantom tribe, nor of the bat
tie which was fought In the valley. He was
Tar from house and picketed his horse and
haoe MS camp. be had been asleep for
some time when be was aroused by his horse,
which was snorting and jumping about in
terror. Willis jumped to his feet, thinking
ne was attacked by band Of outlaws from
the noise which was made. 1t was bright
moonlight but he could see nothing.
BATTLE OF THE PHANroMs.
All around him there seemed to be an in
Visiole 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 and rushing men could be plainly
distinguished. while blows were struck 80
forcioly that the sound could be distinctly
heard. Backward and forward the battle
OF ghosts seemed to rage for an hour, yet
oil the while not q thing could be
seen in the valley, and Willis was
almost convinced that the sounds were the
results of dream. His horse continued its
frantic efforts to escape, and at last Willis
was compelled to saddle the animal ana get
away from the valley. Just as be got be-
yond 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 bis story to the
Indians, aud then the story of the phafftom
| tribe came out, and the Indians told of the
disaster which was sure to follow the APP
pearance of the phantom warning redmen.