The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-20
A REDSKIN LOCHINVAR.
IN the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
When the white man first explored
che Connecticut valley there were few
Indians settled between the White
mountains and the Canadian border,
there lived an old hermit Indian on
the very spot where the relics were re-
Gently discovered.
! He traded furs with his new neigh
bors, and it was from his lips that the
story of the battle originated. He was
known to the whites as Old Joe. Old
Joe was the sole survivor of the en-
| gagement. In his youth he was the
heir to the chieftainship of the Coos
branch of the Passaconaways, whose
headquarters were in the extreme apex
of the Granite state around the Con
necticut lakes.
Old Joe, or, as he was then, Young
Joe, like youths of other races, longed
to see more of the world than was
afforded by one days hunt from his
native lodge. Therefore, one day, at
the close of beautiful summer, dressed
in his gayest trappings and accom-
panied by score of the most stalwart
young bucks of the Coos village, he set
forth on an expedition. Their destina-
ton was the home of the St. Francis
tribe of Canadian Indians, on the
shores of the St Francis lakes, in the
heart of which is now the province of
Quebec.
Reaching the St. Francis nation they
were cordially welcomed by the head
men of that country. whose chief, Mai
tou, although several years the senior
of Joe, was still man in the prime of
life
There were many comely young
squaws among the st. Francis people,
but the belle of the tribe was dark
skinned Prioux, the daughter of one of
the foremost warriors and the be-
trothed bride OF Chief Maitou-
Upon this damsel Joe often cast ad-
niring glances, which, the story says,
were clandestinely reciprocated- This
Irritation did not escape the notice
of Maitou, who, while suppressing his
jealousy, urged Prioux's father 10
hasten the marriage between the lat
ter's daughter and himself
An understanding was finally reached
that banquet should be given, eclips-
ing all its predecessors in splendor, at
which the nuptials of Nation should
be celebrated, and that thereupon the
southerners should depart.
: All was gayety upon the morn of the
wedding day. Weapons were sup
posed TO be discarded, but the willy
Passaconaways and their treacherous
st. Francis friends had concealed in
their leggings stout tornahawks ready
for instant use.
All were assembled around the fes-
tive board. when, az signal from Joe.
his followers fell upon their unarned
entertainers The terrified ST. Francis
people in their surprise were driven
from the village to the lake shore, and
thence took refuge in canoes
At the outset of the melee The not
unwilling Prioux was seized by two Of
Joe's men and hurried southwark TO
the mountains by path previously
agreed upon.
Joe aud the rest kept the s. Francis
warriors at bay. looted the camp. seiz-
ing all the best weapons destroying
others, and loading themselves with
the corn and meat of the nuptial feast
Joe and his friends reached the Con-
nectieut lakes before being oyertakea-
bat his own tribe refused 10 receive
them. fearing the superior numbers OF
the s. Francis tribe and the bloody
war which would result