Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1893-12-27
LITTLE STAR EYES.

dams Otzinachson, and known to us as
the west branch of the Susquehanna, was
the last foothold in PENNSYLVANIA. east of
the Allegheny mountains, that the Indians
abandoned. Long after the outposts of
civilization had advanced far up the val
ley the red men tarried by the graves of
their ancestors. They were loath to leave
the clear waters of the river, incased in
the fruitful little valley that was hemmed
In by hills and mountains. Well they
knew that the time was drawing near
when ineXorable fate would compel them
to turn their backs ON their old homes and
trudge toward the setting sum- but they
dreaded to make the change.
The time came however, when the west
ward movement was almost imperative.
1t was decided that the tribe should mi
CRATE to the headquarters of the stream,
fully fifty miles beyond the limit of white
settlement. But few friendly Indians.
who were on the best of terms with the
whites, refused to heed the command of
the chiefs to move westward. This bred
vengeful feelings on the part of their kin
dred.
The advance line of civilization at this
time was the mouth of Lycoming creek,
now within the limits of Williamsport. AT
the base of the mountain lived young
friendly Indian named Fleet Foot, who
made fair living by hunting and fishing,
assisted by the handiwork of his young
squaw, who made handsome baskets that
were sold to the settlers.
Both Fleet Foot and his wife Minnawaaua
Sparkling Water) were remarkably fine
types of the Indian of those days, but they
had little papoose that was wonder and
a delight to all the whites in the sparse
settlements. Even the fondest mothers
admitted that he was just the sweetest
little thing they ever saw-with the excep-
tion of their own children of course. He
had great, big, laughing hazel eyes, half
rosy cheeks, nose that sculptor would
have adored and the cunningest little
mouth He was very appropriately named
Star Eyes.
Little Star Eyes was about two years
old when the tribe migrated to the new
location far up the river. Angry threats
had been made against Fleet Foot because
of his refusal to join them, but he was
happy and contented, and Minnawaqua
dreaded the thought of leaving her white
friends.
One day, shortly after the migration,
Fleet Foot was hunting in the mountains.
Minnawaqua left her wigwam, solid
structure of logs which the whites had
helped to build, to go to spring for
water. She had left Star Eyes playing on
the floor, but when she returned in few
minutes the child had disappeared. She
hastily looked about, called him and then
hurried out Of the house TO renew the
search.
She had hardly passed the door when she
stopped, turned pale and pressed her hands
to her heart. Her keen native instinct de-
tected strange moccasin tracks on the
ground. They indicated the presence of
four individuals. Her mind comprehended
it all as she sunk fainting to the ground.
Star Eyes had been kidnapped by his kin
dred in revenge for Fleet Foot's refusal to
join them, that was evident
There was great commotion among the
settlers when they heard of the dastardly
act. Many of them were eager for imme-
diate pursuit of the captors, but Fleet Foot
dissuaded them by saying that the Indians
would surely kill the papoose if they found
that they were followed, and besides, there
would be danger of ambush by a large
party of Indians.
About ten days after this episode, just
before daylight in the morning, Fleet Foot
and Minnawaqua were suddenly awakened
by the voice of Star Eyes ut the door, cry
ing bitterly. In trice the child was in
the arms of his overjoyed parents, but they
We're surprised to find him tremblingly
feeling their faces with his hands. What
was the matter? He always spoke in Eng
lish.
"Star Eyes tant see."
True enough, he was totally blind, al
though the big, lustrous eyes looked just
as natural as on the day when he was alb
Quoted. Fleet Foot understood it all The
tribe had wreaked their vengeance by
binding the innocent child, and had then
stealthily returned him.
The settlers were wild with rage when
they heard of it. Some of them were eager
for an expedition against the Indians, but
cooler counsels prevailed.
Among the settlers was Quaker fam
lily from Philadelphia who had taken a
special interest in Fleet Foot's little fam
lily. Part of the Quaker family, including
the mother, were about to make journey
to the city to visit their friends, and it was
suggested that Minnawaqua and her blind
child should accompany them, in order that
the latter's eyes might be examined by an
oculist and treated, if there was any pros
pect of restoring the sight.
1t was tedious journey in those days,
on horseback all the way to Harrisburg,
and thence by primitive stagecoach, but
it was accomplished, and the little blind
papoose was taken to an eminent oculist.
Examination showed that the eyes had
been blinded by holding close to them,
with the lids opened, a very hot object,
probably either red hot iron or n super
heated stone. 1t was not the first case
known of such Indian atrocity.
The oculist did his best to repair the
vision, but all he could accomplish was to
restore just sufficient sight for the child to
distinguish between light and shade. lie
could distinguish persons only by their
voices.
Ten years passed, and the line of settle
ment reached farther up the valley. The
kind Quaker family moved dozen miles
above to the mouth of Pine creek, and
Fleet Foot, with three children in addi-
tion to the nearly blind boy, determined to
move westward with them. 1t was diff
cult for the Indian, even with the help of
Minnawaqua in basket making, to earn a
living for his little family. There were
white hunters in the woods now, and game