Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-09-07
SAVED BY A SONG.
'sHome, Sweet Home Liberated Its Al
tl,n1. Holm Ho1uard Pauna

CLONE, Sweet HOme'' Liberated ITS Au-
thor, John Howard Payne.
When the boundary line between Ten
nessee and Georgia was established it
passed half mile south of the spring
Observation-Disclosures, among the foothills
of the Unakas and, as it crossed one OF
the principal Indian trails, it became a
place of much Importance. There had
already grown up a strong rivalry be-
tween the Tennessee tribes, headed by
Chief Ross and the Georgia tribes head,
ed by Maj. Ridge, both half-breeds and
men of extraordinary ability as leaders.
The establishment of a new boundary
line fixed the limits of their respective
territories, and to try and harmonic as
far as possible the contending factions
the government established a trading
post there. John Howard Payne APP
peared upon the scene, and was accused
of melting the Indians to insubordina-
ton. He was placed under arrest as an
incendiary and carried to the council
house. The name of the place was
changed from the euphonious appellation
of -a-lee-chee-chee to the one more
easily pronounced of Red 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
Indians was the Chief Oo-Chee, or Rat
thing Gourd, a broken-hearted man. He
was moody and distracted, and refused
would partake of no festive enjoyments
whatsoever, but spent the most of his
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 and an alarm was
Immediately raised that Rafting Gourd
had escaped. The patrol scattered in
every direction in search OF him, and
some Of them bethought them of his
fondness for the spot where his loved
ones slept, and went in search of 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 bayonet
when the Indians were being disarmed,
and, brooding over his removal, he be-
came desperate, and seeking that lone
spot, he chanted his death song, fell upon
the point of the bayonet, which pierced
his heart, and died on the spot where
he had often expressed q desire to be
laid for his last long sleep.
The affair caused great excitement and
indignation. The malcontents took ad-
vantage of the distressing occurrence to
stir up strife, and fears were entertained
of a mutiny. A grave was dug on the
spot where he lay, and the chief was
buried by the soldiers. one Of the Mora
Wan 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.
Gen. Bishop, who had kept close scru-
tiny 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?"
Il wrote that song myself" replied
Payne.
and where did YOU get the tune?"
81 composed that Also"
"Would you let me have a copy of it 2"
Certainly, [ will"
''Well a man who can sing and write
like that is no incendiary. Appearances
may be against you, but I am going to
set you free. / shall write out your
discharge Immediately, and pass to you
anywhere you choose through the ma
ton"
Payne had been housed at the home
Of a family living near by, and on his re-
turn there he exhibited his pass and re-
lated the circumstances. This was the
first time that "Home, Sweet Home"
had ever been sung in public.-Atlanta
Constitution.