The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-13
LEGEND OF THE SPREAD EAGLE.
Origin of a Strange Prehistoric Mon
ument In Georgia.

ument In Georgia.
''Tn your paper few DAYS ago" said a
wen-kn0wn gentleman from Georgia. To
q Washington Post REPRESENTATIVE II
noticed a story OF shooting OF a large
eagle by a farmer named Lloyd. living
near Cedarhnrst, l. l.. Just as the bird
of prey was csreiing down to capture the
genSlemans little son. who was at play
near By. This story brought TO my mind
the wonderful spread-eagle' monument IN
Putnam county, Georgia not many miles
from the home Of ex-C5ngressnnan Law
son. ana in the district now represented
by Hon William Howard, who, By the
way. is hrother-in-Iaw Of the late la
mented Henry w. Grady"
The gentleman was asked to give the
Post the facts about 'spread-eagge'' mon
ument. and his reply was.
We'll. IL. Is. perhaps one OF the great
est curiosities in the world, and was made
no doubt before the discovery of our land
by Columbus. The monument is on the
plantation OF Goodwin Scott, and il rep
resents huge bird outstretched upon its
hack. with wings and tail spread out. 1t
Is constructed of various sized stones, and
with such systematic precision that even
the member of the prehistoric race who
designed 1t must be regarded as an art
ist Of no mean ability. This mass of
stones extends over nearly an acre of
ground. the highest point-the breast of
the b.Hd-being about twenty feet. Some
geOlogist, whose name do not recall, es-
umated that 1t would have required 800
men at constant work three years to
gather and arrange the stones The last
time / saw the monument the work was
intact, save portion of the highest point,
the breast which had been torn away
perhaps by fortune-hunters seeking hid
den treasures 1t is no small task to walk
~. IL
ton.
.'of course. like all unique and ancient
curiosiries. this spread eagle monument
has a story or legend connected with It's
origin AS you know, il has not been very
many years since Georgia had within her
borders quite number of Indians and
even now there are numbers of half
breeds living there. The story Of this
monument has been handed down from
generation to generation, and is to the ef-
feet that many years ago, long before the
feet OF white man trod these lands, there
dwSir near the point where the mon
ument now stands a tribe of Indians gov
erned BY an old chief VINO loved peace
better than he did war. The tribe was
small and their. peaceful disposition
caused the more powerful tribes to leave
them alone In secinsion. After years of
quiet and contentment cloud came and
lowered over them. This cloud was IN
the shape Of an enormous bird, and its
food was human beings AS easily as a
hawk could carry off bird, this eagle
would dart down on an unsuspecting saw
age. seize him in its enormous claws. and
bear him away. Some Of the bravest
warriors and hunters Were carried off.
and the great eagle became reigning
terror. On the top Of a tan mountain is
supposed to be Stone mountain, near At
ianta, one Of the largest rocks In the
world. Expeditions were formed to kill
the eagle, but this was not accomplished
until a tall, powerful, handsome young
Indian, named Maneeco had his young
wife, Eulahaha, taken away by the mon
ster bird, when he followed it to It's noun
tain home and sent an arrow through its
heart
The story Is that Maneeco loved his
Wife dearly, and one day as he returned
lrm a hunt with deer thrown across
his shoulder. he haloed to Eulahaha
Laughing Bird. on entering the village.
and she. all glowing with pride at her
husbands success, ran out to meet him.
When only short distance from the wig
wan there was great rushing sound
like the roaring of mighty wind and
the eagle darted down upon her, ana,
seizing her with his great talons. bore her
away. AS IL turned TO stone, the Indian
stood for moment. :hen. recovering HIM
self, with a hoarse cry. he threw the deer
from his shoulder and dashed of into
the wigwam. Collecting a fun CULVER Of
his best arrows and snatching up his war
bow. he rushed out into the forest. taking
the direction Of the fight of the bird.
The other Indians said they would never
see Maneeco again, and they moved about
the village. terror and dependency de-
plcted on every face. Just as the sun was
rising on the fourth day OF the appear
~ h. eFa nj
ure tho natives were startled by a loud
war-whcop on the outskirts of the viii
lage. On gathering there a strange
sight met their gaze.
AN Indian warrior stood facing them.
but in such a pitiable plight that at first
he was not recognized as Manecco Great
masses of flesh had been stripped from
ali parts OF his body. his face and neck
We're Scared with many long and ugly
gashes. while the bail Of his left eye had
been completely torn from it's socket At
his feet with his right foot resting ON tts
body. lay the great eagle. rigid IN death.
The poor fellow was almost dead and
only lived long enough TO tell his people
how he had followed and slain the eagle,
and asked them 10 so 10 the mountain.
find the bones of his E.ulahaha and bury
them with him. so that they could jour
ney through the spirit land together.
Thousands of Indians gathered when the
news spread. and TIE hfeless body Of
Maneeco was betlecked in all the habili-
rnents OF a chieftatn and stretched out in
the center of the village with the great
eagle at his feet. The summit OF the
ereat rock mountain vas secured by a
score Of Indians. and the bones OF the
hAnEess Eulahaha ware found and taken
hack 10 the village. and buried In the
same grave with Maneeco. A council OF
sill the tribes vas held. and the Indians
greed 10 build the monumental perfect
resemblance OF 3 huge bird stretched out
upon irs back
That's the story. I can't vouch for all
its details but | do know the monument
s. there