The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
MoSrAUx INDIAN LEG ENDS
whsspinE nsys' Spot uners TIE
Rhnrnoh ntea.

Sac HARpoR, y. V, Aug. lL-All OF this beau
tiful end OF Long Island. which the white man
has Appropriated rs his own and turned into
pleasure resorts and truck gardens, from which
the elements OF poetry and legend and romance
have been almost entirely eliminated, was once.
In the memory Of the oldest innabltant, the
happy hunting grounds Of the Montauk and
Shinnecock Indians. Nature made all the cuun-
try hereabout picturesque and romantic. Hills
and valleys and lakes and ocean and sky con-
tribute alike to make it one OF the most at
tractive stretches of country in this land. But
the white man has a way Of destroying the
poetry Of nature and the romance OF legend.
with his appliances OF civilization and a van
dal's contempt for what Is old and therefore
romantic. He does not seem TO possess the po-
etc faculty; he Is intensely materiAlistic. That
which Ia venerable Is valuable in so far as he
can turn 1t into dollars anG cents.
A { least these thoughts seemed Just to the writ.
or as he stood on the edge OF Whooplng Boys
Hollow, midway between Sag Harbor and East
Hampton. and noted the destruction OF the tim
Der. which was stacked high in cords on every
hand ready to be hauled away to feed the fur
mace, the sturdy choppers appearing all uncon-
scious that they we're desecratins the most ro-
mantle bit OF wood in all the Montauk country.
The echoes which the Hollow gave back 10 the
sound OF The axe or the accent OF the voice. told
them nothing OF the romance OF the weird fears
which a dying race had attributed to them.
WhoopinE Boys Hollow was regarded by the
Indians rs n haunted spot. The loud echo which
it returned to the most ordinary word was re-
garded by them as the voice of u departed spirit.
Whom passing it the lndians would become
silent and fearful. and IL one should forget MIN
self and speak loudly enough to wake the sleep
ing echoes he would become terrified. in later
years. it Ia said, Whooping Boys Hollow Possess
ed a remarkable restraining power over those In
freely in Dire water. Tie echoes seemed to
affect them more when they were in their cups
curbed his bibulous lesires until he got safely
on the south side o. the Hollow and we'll On his
way to Montauk. But the. whole tribe believed
that the Hollow was full Of Indian spirits who
must not be provoked.
Even at this late day, when there are but few
Indians TO walk on tip toe through the stretch
of woods in which the Hollow IS situated. the
native hcreabout always speaks OF the chastity
nature Of the PLACE; though he seldom does this
until after the Hollow has been passed. Inc
traditions OF the Hollow have come down 70
him from mis- parents, and control his action and
speech.
Just beyond whooping Bo7s' Hollow and a
short distance from Hardscratble. at the part
Ing NJ OF ,b the roads, Dads III there sysr w, No Gi,i5 " tn Ism ye %Ss
kept il sCrupnlousiy clean while vegetation
grew all around it. Every inLian who passed
the spot. as he must do in passing To and from
! the Monrauk country. took pains 70 see that no
blade OF grass or other vegetation sprouted
i there. It was An Indian shrine, and was treated
as such until the Mont,uk Indians became 40 few
! that one seldom passed that way. The romance
o. the spot remains. like chat OF Whooptng Boys
! pl.O OdN Iit wi y w ~ i've ~ Efi 49,
1t appears that a long tima ago Il Pharaoh
one OF the chief men OF The MOntauk tribe. 4
man exceedingly popular and beloved Of his
people. went on a visit TO the Sh nnetock coun
try, a distance of some thirty miles as the crow
flies from Montauk. and while there was taker
sick. He was verv desirious of getting home
before he should die. as the ludian everywhert
has a horror OF dying in a strange land. ,Ihi'
particular Pharaoh. who has Il few descendants
still living hereabouF. the survtv!ng ruler being
designated r. = Queen of Hontauk. urged upon
his attendants the importance OF getting hin
ont OF toe Shinnecock country into his OWL
before he should die. This they succeeded in
doing. out he never reached his beloved Mon
tank. When at Buckskill. between WhoopiTL
Bows Hollow and Hardscrabble. the old rhie'
with his faithful trihesmen about him. lay fowr
by the roadside and gave up the ghost. They
marked the spot where he expired and ther
bore his body to Montauk. where it was interre,
with the honors ~hefitting his rank and age anC
services to his people.
II was as a mark OF reverence and Zratitud,
that FOR years no Nontauk Indian passed III,
spot whore the old chief had died without stop
ping and bestowing upon It such attention as /
might need.