The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-17

LEGEND OF THE HoeOMAK.

Beautiful Indian story That Tradition
Associates with Westboro, Mass.
Many are The interesting Indian le-
Gepds told IN connection with the early
settlement of Westboro. One of the
best is the legend of the ''Hobomak. .
which was the name given by the In
dams to HochomocKo, a pond IN the
western part of the town.
1t seems that a tribe of Indians had
3ts encampment on the banks of the
pond.
The beauty of the tribe was the
maiden Iano, who was engaged to
marry the chief Sassacus. She had
had several suitors. but the chief had
been the successful one.
It was her wedding night and the
wedding party had assembled lano,
in spirit of mischief. had ventured to
play joke on the chief and SO had
wandered away from the encampment
A warrior by the name Of Wequoash
had gone hunting in the afternoon, de-
sirous of appearing at the wedding with
some large game to show his bravery
and skill. On what is now Boston hill
he found a cave in which panther
was hiding killing the animal, he
started for the wedding.
On his way home he happened to pass
near the pond. and looking out from
the shore he saw 4 canoe. WequOasn
was not long in deciding that the canoe
contained the Indian girl Iano. He
had himself been suitor for the girls
hand, and thinking only of revenge he
plunged into the water and with a few
strokes was at The bow of the boat.
Then Selling the unsuspecting maiden
he pulled her down into the water.
Then putting large stone in the canoe
TO sink it. he took his game and started
homeward.
A pa rty, headed by Sassacus had al
ready gone in search of Iano After
two days Wequoash appeared in camp
and was received with rejoicing.
Learning of Iano's death, he appeared
TO be broken-hearted.
The chief had fallen sick and
NVequoash tried to console him. Look
ing for still greater revenge, he gave
the chief poison. and Sassacus soon af-
ter died. WcquOash now became the
chief, and was very popular because Of
his bravery in war
A year after these events had taken
place Nequoash happened to be re-
turning from hunting expedition, and
had seated himself near the spot where
year before he had murdered Iano.
As he sat there a fame streamed up
from the water, and canoe arose and
iioated toward him. Unable to resist.
he entered the canoe and was carried
toward the flame. The form of the
murdered Indian girl appeared. Then,
uttering a piercing Shrek, it vanished
from sight.
Exactly one year afterward the same
performance again took place, and the
spirit, on disappearing beneath the
waves, said to the chief, ''Only once
uaore"
When another year had passed,
Wequoash assembled his tribe near the
spot where he had committed the MUIR
dor and confessed that he had killed
both iano and Sassacus. He told them
of his two adventures in the canoe, and
of the fate which awaited him
Presently a flame arose from the
water, a canoe appeared and came to-
wards the shore. The warriors saw
their chief enter il and go towards the
tiame. Instead of the spirit of Iano,
Weqnoash this time saw the spirit of
Sassacus.
This is my hour" the spirit said.
A dark cloud fell over the place,
Ieafening peal of thunder, fash of
Lightning and the chief was seen no
more.
Ever afterwards when members of
the tribe crossed Hobomak pond they
always dropped a stone in the fatal
spot. till at last the pile rose above the
water. 1t has since fallen partly
away, but even now may be seen when
gne surface is tranGuil -ROStOn Globe