The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-03-01
severely from them.

severely from them.
The trails leading from the Ohio
East were well known to the early
settlers, and scouts were posted on them
near the Ohio to give notice to the set.
Elements ofthe approach OF war parties.
Whatever tribes, said to have been
the Hurons, occupied or claimed West
Virginia, were conquered and driven
out by the Six Nations, who had their
seat OF Government in Western New
York and the territory held by the
right Of conquest.
The Six Nations were composed Of
the Mohawks, Oneidss, 0nondagoes,
Csyugas, Senecas and Tuscaroras the
Tuscaroras being admitted to the Con-
federacy in 1712; before that time they
we're known as the Five Nations.
They conquered and claimed terri.
tory reaching from Massachusetts to
the Lakes and South to the Tennessee.
AT treaty held by Sir William John.
son with them at Fort Stanwix, now
Rome, New York, in 1868, they relin-
pushed title TO the King of all territory
lying East Of line commencing al the
mouth Of the Tennessee up the Ohio
and Allegheny rivers to Kittanning
Greek, thence N. E. to the Susquehan.
ma and Delaware Rivers.
The Shawnees, Delawares, Mingoes
and other small tribes living on and
West OF the Ohio laid claim 10 some OF
this territory, and continued to dispute
its possession with the whites until the
treaty Of Greenville by Wayne in 1895.
The occupation Of Fort Dnquesne by
he English followed by the treaty Of
Fort Stanwix extinguishing the Indian
title to West Virginia, emigration set in
and continued until the occupation Of
be state, Notwithstanding the hostility
f the Ohio Indians, and the War Of the
Revolution.
Whether the race known as Mound
Builders, whose works are scattered
over the state, were the ancestors Of
be Indians, or whether the latter de
siroyed them, must always remain in
ioubt.
Whoever they were, and what par
hey played on the stage Of human
vents, will never be known. The
gurtain has been rung down upon the
heatre Of their actions never TO be
raised again.
II is but little that can be said Of the
early Indian of West Virginia. As
,hild of the forest he worked out the
problem OF his simple life.
He left no written record as TO the
history OF his race, no monument com
memorating the deeds Of bis great men
no ruined palaces, no works or buildings
Of public nature. He simply lived
out his miserable existence in the
dreary forest to the end, with no higher
ambition in life than to triumph over
his enemies, and leaving nothing to
show TO others that he had ever lived
save few stone weapons and the ashes
Of bis fires.
The coming Of the white man was
an evil fay for the red one, and even in
his untutored mind he saw the dawn
of new era which was foreign 10 his
nature, and which he could not under
stand and would not accept, and there.
in be read the doom Of his race. .
The dark night of barbsrism that for
untold centuries had brooded over the
green hills and along the fair rivers OF
West Virginia, has been dispelled by
he bright light of new civilization,
and the courage and energy Of the p.
oneer has made the once savage wilder
ness blossom as the rose.
There is something pathetic in i'm
aging the red man standing on the
shores OF the Ohio, and seeing the
smoke Of the first white mans cabin
in the distance, the advance guard or
skirmish line of his race, and that his
thoughts might find expression with
Whittier"
~ hear the tread of pioneers,
Ofnations yet TO be
The first low wash Of waves,
Where soon shall roll human sea-"