The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04

More fantastic stories and legends have
gathered around the carly history Of
Washington than any ether city IN the
United states. There are a number VI
Indian legends sun remembered by the
Old settlers along the river. and some Of
these are Of weird and unique interest.
especially that OF the naming OF tbs Po-
tomac and OF the cluster OF rocks near
the AqGeduct Bridge known as the Three
Sisters. There are other stories, the tale
OF the Braddock Rock the legend OF the
British drummer boy. and no end Cf fables
related by the darkies some of which
are quite remarkable They have never
yet been gathered into substantial form.
The average washingtonian is as ignorant
of the wealth Of romance and dramatic
story that clings 10 these old land
marks as he is OF the many other pic
turesque facts that are part OF the old
time days Of the Federal City"
The story OF the naming OF the Poto-
mac has been handed down in fragments.
Some old Georgetown residents state that
the Indians called the Potomac The
River Of Swans" because OF the hun
dreds. even thousands, Of swans and
Other wild game birds that made it their
feeding ground. Others maintain that It
was known as The Gray Swan" being
named after an Indian girl, a daughter
of the Manahoacs. who found tragic and
mysterious death in its waters. At any
rate, the latter story Is the more pic
turesque When the wind in November
means along the shores the old settlers
OF Virginia say 10 the children, THAT is
the voice Of the Indian girl singing her
death song" ...-
Legend of the Gray swan.
When Capt. John Smith first sailed up
the Potomac he found three tribes. Po-
tnwnacks, AnacCstians, and Manahoacs,
settled in Maryland. some of whose VIII
lagos and hunting grounds were located
in the forests along the Potomac. Al
though bad blood existed between these
three, they were leagued together as one
against the POwhatans. a fierce Virginia
tribe, which had stolen on their grounds.
There was an unusually beautiful young
squaw belonging to the Manahoac tribe,
who was known as Gray Swan" be-
cause of the swan feathers she was ac-
cutomed to wear and from the fact that
she had tanned a number of the wild
birds along the river. brave of the
POwhatans secretly became her lover.
This was discovered by the young squaw's
people, and plans made accordingly The
PoWhatan was tracked and burned 10 a
stake. The Indian girl found his charred
body. DisconsoIate, she sought refuge
in suicide, and just at sunset her death
chant fell upon the ears OF her people.
They reached the spot where the sound
came from. only in time to see the river
sweep over the body of the Indian girl.
while a large gray swan, repeating the
dying notes OF her song, rose up from
the waters and flew over the Virginia
hills directly toward the falling sun.
The following morning not a swan was
left on the river, all having flown away
with strange cries. The story goes that
they never again returned, and that from
that day the Manahoacs called the river
The Gray Swan. Almost all of these in
dian legends are cuTiOusly associated with
the sounds Of the wind, the ''voices'' OF
the water. and the colors of the sky.
The British Drummer Roy.
There is a most pathetic story connected
with the river just Off High Island where
the rapids run. II relates 10 a little
drummer boy in the service of ''his mai
esty King George" He was a member
of the Braddock expedition which camped
out near that part Of the city known as
Observatory Hill He went out on a FISH,
ing expedition with a number Of the SOL
ders, and just about the little falls. whis
attempting to step across the rocks. was
drowned and his body swept under by the
current and never recovered. The colOrcd
folks along the canal firmly believe that
the ghost of this little British drummer
boy haunts the rocks Of the Little Falls
every night just after sunset.
Some of those especially gifted with
''seeing things at night" have actually
given most accurate descriptions 81 HE
red coat, his mournful cry, and the hollow
echoes of his drum.
The Braddock rock is now inelGsed with
an iron railing, erected by the Colonial
Danes. 1t is not an impressive sight now
that the river has been flied up all around
IL, and ash piles and trash are dumped IN
its immediate neIghborhood. Here 1t was
that tradition says George Washington
first landed and surveyed what became the
future Capital.
The rock is located near the Easily
Point sewer. and Just at the base OF the
Naval Museum of Hygiene. formerly the
old observatory. When the water vas
around it and trees sheltered II there were
some artistic features about IT, Its his
D
actual fact. Nearly every local historian
has stated:
THE British troops sailed up the PotO-
mac I'm barges until they came nearly Op-
posite 20 what Is now the foot Of Twenty
fifth street. Here a big boulder. then
reaching out Of the water twelve or four
teen feet deep. stood out Ike u great
square buttress. The barges touched at
this rock and upon It all the troops were
landed. Thus It became known as Brad
dock Rock
The stsry OF shs Three sisters.
By far the most picturesque river a,gend
is the story Of the Three Sisters. just
before a drowning occurs on the river
they are believed to emit a sound ike the
slow Ginning OF a bell. which is supposed
10 De a warning call Its origin IL quite az
prehistoric as that Of the Gray Swan, and
rather similar. There were three women
OF the Anacostlan tribe who conspired 20
desert their people for the POwhstans.
The three dusky maidens. all OF them
daughters Of chief. as in stories they al
ways are. met tOgther one dark night and
stole out in their canoes. The medicine
man OF their tribe followed them along
shore, creeping under brush and woods
They padded slowly up current They
were 1EfEf0 out ~ Hft-lEa anu IedtEfEE.
and their hair streamed long In the wind
They kelt the center Of the stream, and
Just as they were about 10 veer and cross
the medicine man called ia a hollow voice
that their AouF Of death had come Curl
Gus Lights played about them. they were
caught IA the whirlpool which swired
round their canoes IN dizzy Ehlrl.
In fright and despair they flung them.
selves into the water, and were drowned
In the morning three rocks, gray ana bar
ren. had arisen from The water. sns were
supposed 20 be the spirits Of the Indian
sisters barre4 out from the Happy Hunt
inz Grounds.
story. Part OF u runs.
Swiftly thsy came and sSiftsr.
vita cssk eyes FsnrinE ros13.
With s1fl words riss sne eager
Fof tha tgzssz - ths PsEhstsn-