Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-07-04
SAVED BH A SONG.
Sweet Home" Liberated John
Howard Payne From Captivity.

When the boundary line between rem
nessee and Georgia was established, IL
passed half a mile south OF n spring
Tuck-a-lee-chee- ctee, among h foot
hills of the Cnakas, and, as 1t crossed
one of the principal ndian trails, II be-
came a place of much importance, says
the Atlanta Constitution. There nau al
ready grown up a strong rlVairy De-
tween the Tennessee tribes, headed py
Chief Ross. the Georgia tribes.
headed by Major Ridge, both half
breeds n men of extraordinary abiilty
as leaders. The establishment of a new
boundary lire fixed the limits OF their
respective territories, n 10 try ana
harmonic as far as possible the con-
tending factions, the government es-
tablishcd a trading post there. John
Howard Payne appeared upon the scene
md was accused Of melting the Indians
to characterization. He was placed UNI
der arrest as an incendiary and carried
to the council house. The name or the
place was changed from the
appellation Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to
the one more easily pronounced OF ited
City, because of the color OF the SOIL In
that vicinity.
While Payne was held there one OF the
first bands arrived, and among the IN
dams was the chief Oo-chee. or Rafting
Gourd. a broken hearted man. He was
moody and distracted and refused all
invitations to the council house, and
would partake OF no festive enjoyments
whatsoever, but spent the most or nus
time at the graves of his wife and child,
further up the valley. At last one morn
ing he was missing from his accustomed
place by the campfire n an alarm was
Immediately raised hat Rafting Gourd
had escaped. The patrol, scattered !
every direction in search OF MN. ana
some of them bethought them OF MS
rA. thA Gnnf xuhara his lOVP0
ones slept and went In search or him
there. They found him. Weltering In
his own blood. his body lay between the
little mounds that covered his squaw
and papoose.
In some way he had secreted a bayo-
net when the Indians were being dis
! armed, and, brooding over his removal,
he became desperate and, seeking that
lone spot, he chanted his death song.
fell upon the point of his bayonet,
which pierced his heart, and died on he
spot where he had often expressed a de-
sire to be laid for his last long sleep.
The affair caused great excitement
and Indignation. The malcontents TOOK
advantage of the distressing occurrence
10 stir up strife. and fears were enter
tanned Of a mutiny. A grave was dug on
the spot where he lay and the chief was
buried by the soldiers, one OF the Mo-
ravian missionaries officiating. After
the services were over John HOWARD
Payne. who had been a silent witness OF
the pathetic scene. began singing softly
to himself the song which has since been
echoed through every land on the earth.
General Bishop. who had kept a close
scrutiny on his actions. heard the song
and called Payne TO him.
young man." said the stern old In
dian fighter, where did you learn that
song?"
II wrote that song myself" replied
Payne.
"And where did you get the tune
II composed that also"
would you let me have a copy of it?'
Certainly ] WILL"
well, a man who can sing and write
like that Is no incendiavy. Appearances
may be against you. but I am going to
set you free. 1 shall write o. your dis
charge Immediately. and a pass to you
anywhere you may choose through the
nation
Payne had been housed at the home
OF q family living near by, n on his
return there he exhibited his pass and
related the circumstances This was the
nrst time that Home. Sweet Home"
had sver been sung In public.