Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-11-17
LEGEND OF THE HoBoMAK.


Beautiful Indian Story That Tradition
Associates With Westboro, Mass.
Many are the interesting Indian le
gends told in CONGESTION with the early
settlement of Westboro. One of the
best is the legend of the ''lIobomak,
which was the name given by the In
dians TO Hochomocko, pond in the
western part of the town.
1t seems that a tribe of Indians had
its encampment IN the banks of the
pond,
The beauty of the tribe was the
maiden lano, who was engaged TIC
marry the chief Sassacus. She had
had several su,tors, but the chief had
been the successful one.
1t was her wedding night and the
wedding party had assembled. 1ano,
in a spirit of mischief, had ventured &c
play joke on the chief and so had
wandered away from the encampment
A warrior by the name of Wcquoash
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 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 canoe. Wequoash
was not long in deciding that the canoe
contained the Indian girl Iano He
had himself been sutton for the girls
hand, and thinking only of revenge he
plunged into the water and with 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 party, 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 Ianos death, he appeared
to be broken-hearted
The chief had fallen sick and
| Wequoash tried to console him. Look
ing for still greater revenge, he gave
the chief poison, and Sassacus soon af-
ter died, Wequoash now became the
chief, and was very popular because of
his bravery in war.
A year after these events had taken
place Wequoash 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 flame streamed up
from the water and a canoe arose and
floated 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 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
more.
When another year had passed,
Wequoash assembled his tribe near the
spot where he had committed the muir.
der and confessed that he had killed
both lano 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 it and go towards the
flame. Instead of the spirit of Iano
Wequoash this time saw the spirit OF
| SaSSacus.
This is my hour" the spirit said.
A dark cloud fell over the place 6
deafening peal of thunder, a flash o
lightning and the chief was seen ne
more.
Ever afterwards when members o
the tribe crossed lIobomak pond they
always dropped stone in the fata
spot, till at last the pile rose above the
water. 1t has since fallen partly
away, but even now may be seen wheI
the surface is tranquil. boston Globe