Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-05-09
SANG At AN INDIANS GRAVE.



Under Peculiar Circumstances.
When the boundary line between
Tennessee and Georgia was established
It passed half mile south of the spring
Observation-Disclosures, among the foot.
hills Of the Cnakas, and as 1t crossed
one Of the principal Indian trails 1t be-
came a place Of much importance.
There had already grown up a strong
rivalry between the Tennessee tribes,
headed by Chief Ross, and the Georgia
tribes, headed by Ma;er Ridgc, both
ability as leaders. The establishment
81 the new boundary line liked the
limits Of their respective territories,
and to try and harmonixc as far az pos.
sible the contendine factions the gov.
eminent established trading post
there. John Howard Payne appeared
upon the scene and was accused Of
melting the Indians to nsubordination.
He was placed under arrest rs IN In.
ccndiary and carried to the council.
house. The name Of the place was
changed from the euphominous appel.
lation Of Tuck.a.lee-c hee-chee to the
ono more easily pronounced Of Red
Clay, 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
Ting Gcurd, q broken. hearted man. He
was moody and abstrac ted, and refused
all Invitations to the council-house and
would partake Of no festive enjoyments
whatsoever, but spent the most Of his
time at the graves Of his wife and
child farther up the valley. At last one
morning he was missed from his &C.
customcd place by the campfire and
an alarm was Immediately raised that
Rafting Gourd had escaped. The pa
troll 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. And there they found him.
weltering In his own blood. his body
lay between the little mounds that GOV.
cred his sQuaw and papoose. In some
way he had secreted bayOnet when
the Indians were being disarmcd, and,
brooding over his REMOVAL, he became
desperate, and seeking TINT lono 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 desire to DO
Ind for his last long sleep.
The affair caused great excitement
and Indignation. The malcontents took
advantage Of the distressing occurrence
to stir up strife and fears were enter.
tanned of mutiny. A grave was dug
on the spot where he lay and the chief
was buried by the soldiers. one Of the
Moravian missionaries officiating. After
the services were over John Howard
Payne. who had been silent witness
of the pathetic scene, began singing
softly to himself the song which has
since been echoed through every land
on tho earth. General Bishop, who had
kept close scrutiny on his actions,
heard the song and called Payne TO
him.
young man." snil tho stern old In.
dian fighter. where did you learn that
songF"
81 wrote that song myself" replied
Payne.
"And where did you get the tuner"
~ composed that. also"
"Would you let me have copy OF it?'
Certainly WILL"
'We!l. q man who can sing and write
like that Is no inccndiary. Appear.
ances may he against you, but I am 60.
ing to set you free. shall write out
your discharge Immediately and pass
to You anywhere you choose through
the nation"
Payne had been housed at the home
OF a family living near by, and on his
return there he exhibited his pass and
related tho circumstances. That was
the first time that "HOme, Sweet
Home" had ever been sung In public
Atlanta Constitution.