Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-11-03
LEGEND OF THE HoBoMAk.
Beautiful Indian Story That Tradition
Associates with Xyestboro, Mass

Beautiful Indian Story That Tradition
Associates With Westboro, Mass.
Many are the interesting Indian lc.
gends told in connection with the early
settlement of Westboro. One of the
best is the legend of the "lIobomal1,'
which was the name given by the In
dians to liochonocko, a pond in the
western part of the town.
II seems that tribe of Indians had
its encampment on the banks of the
pond.
The beauty of the tribe was the
maiden lano, who was engaged &c
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. Iano,
in spirit of mischief, had ventured tc
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 a 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 Iano's death, he appeared
to be brolSen-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
a year before he had murdered Iano.
AS he sat there flame streamed ur
from the water, aud canoe arose and
| tioated 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
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 then
of his two adventures in the canoe, ant
of the fate which awaited him
Presently flame arose from the
water, canoe appeared and came to
wards the shore. The warriors saw
their chief enter it aud go towards tn,
flame. Instead of the spirit of Iano
Wequoash this time saw the spirit o
Sassacus.
This is my hour" the spirit said.
A dark cloud fell over the place, ;
deafening peal of thunder, flash o
lightning and the chief was seen n,
more.
Ever afterwards when members o
the tribe crossed Hobomak pond the,
always dropped stone in the fata
spot, till at last the pile rose above tn,
water. 1t has since fallen partl,
away, but even now may be seen whel
the surface is tranquil. Boston Globe