New-York tribune., 1902-01-26

no n
If there is much delay the enterprising dealers in
real estate Will have this waste land cut un into
the forests back from the lake and deer hunting
was better last fall than it has been for number
4 suspicion that something or other is wrong
with the lake however sun turks in the minds Of
Tribune reporter learned the other day while walk
at Ronkonkoma TO Lakeviile S''''0
Yes it is beautiful lake, said old farmer
Indian was drowned there once and they found his
BODY nth in the ,-5 Great t.-;i,.n South Bay"
A young man walking briskly toward the station
stopped 10 admire the beauties Of the lake III
doesn't looh ireacherous with that covering OF ice
woman was drowned in the lake while bathing and
' The P LAKES baunted m Il '5 said PAN an Irish ssr.
who is taking Of one Of the Iakeyflle honses
f6ere and weT do You think Rs Tea5s f5swRss s
found? Away out In the ocean. shure."
There may be other variations bur these .bra.
will srve as an Introduction to the Indian legends
which were first poured into white ears about the
middle OF the seventeenth century, when the Dutch
pushed out their settlements eastward from Man
isrd and The FEes ana fIo So1tn shores Of Long
f0oth0ld on the eastern end.
At the time Of the first white settlements On the
Island there were thirteen Indian tribes Of which
the most important the Shinnecocks the Ca
narses and the royal tribe Of the Montauks. They
were in close and friendly alliance for protection
against the fierce Narragansetts OF Rhode Island
and the sneaking Pequots from the mainland
exalted degree-Manitou the Great Spirit whom
they called Caukluntoowut. signifying one DOS
sessed OF the highest power. and the powerful
spirit Of evil named MutChesumetook OF the
lesser gods there the spirits of the four cor
ners Of the earth. the spirits Of the four seasons
the god Of day and night and host of others hay-
ing particular charges.
Renkonkoma, the sacred lake, had always at
tracted their attention and called forth their re-
spect through its wonderful power TO rise and fall
in mysterious manner. They believed that Mani
tou the Great Spirit used the lake TO Indicate his
dsrleasure. and that If they neglected 70 pro-
ptiate bis anger the lake would continue to rise
nntii IL rushed over the tops of the surrounding
hills and flooded the whole island. They knew that
Ihe god was particularly dispeased when any one
was drowned in the lake He gave evidence of it
by casting out the bodies in the Pattersquash If
they could find these bodies before the lake began
10 rise and promptly sacrifice the beautiful
maiden on the island the god would be appeased
Il was for the purpose OF finding these bodies
clat tney assembled the shore of Great
the high ground back from the beach they built
signal fires at frequent intervals along the whole
burning while the searched the beach. AS the
tea@a: taaisas were great fishermen and the bay was
bodies al OF which charged to the treachery
Of Of Lake Ronkoukoma and the anger OF the Great
spirit As soon a body found the signal
hres were alternately extingushed and reIighted,
in the search that sacrce WAS WAS Necessary
One autumn. not many years before the whites
ing near tn shore in the bay. The signal fires
told the story the island, and the full
mere was great gathering Of the tribes for the
leas- OF Ma!ltCu. II was held at Manitou Hill,
IeE called Mlnnettohill, near the present village
OF Hicksvle and all of the tribes were represent
ca Every pretty maiden on the island was there
time their toilets as girls of to-day do before
gong 10 their first ball. They had an important
Fari In the ceremonies for the maiden who to
se sacrificed 10 Manitou would shortly be selected
Most OF them had seen sacrifices in the past and
sSch knew Just what her fate would De If the se
bear her in triumph from the hiIi 10 the lake and
curing the ceremonies which preceded the sacrifice
were ready she would step into a canoe. which
f9qr braves would paddle into the middle OF the
;s ,~he; Then they would stop and one Of them
would lie a heavy stone to her feet. She would
ilse N me canoe and with arms outstretched. ask
~, o-tssslis on her people TWO or the men would
~ her up gently and drop her into the bottomess
and ever afterward her life would be most happy.
Yet there hardly Of the many maidens
who did not hope that the great honor OF being the
sacrifce would come to her. Death under these cir
There was one maiden however who shuddered
when she thought of The rnurkv depths of the
sacred AXE She was the most beautiful of them
az and the other maidens were doubtful of their
Chances against her. The judges were supposed TO
select the most beautiful maiden, and the most vain
as Woonanit. 1t was fate that the one most likely
% 90 oe selected was the one who did not want to die
arranged with the father OF young Wyandanch for
become
Myandanch had become chief of his tribe and a
ngger brayer Indian did not live. Only a few
and the girl loved him with her very soul In
a sitae while Wyandanch was TO hold great feast,
, When darkness had fallen the chiefs gathered in
satbG-., G5fCle around a big hre. with their legs
woman was sent to tell the maidens that the chiefs
Carrying herself in the way which she thought best
Dfought out her beauty. Woonanit was in the pro-
decorating herself she seemed more beautiful thsa
sssner chiefs. and did not take his eyes from her
'she is beautiful cried a young chief pointing
n yh d slender girl who was not more than pretty.
oL ohe Young Indian knew that she would not be
eesslon eei but he saw chance 10 pay her a great
he ranks took her station apart from the other
eris, s, who continued their march around the fire.
81. ~ ehiefs pointing TO tall, well formed maiden.
She danced out of the line and stood beside the
Me- SPe OF the oldest men grunted at this selection
s e only one who is really beautiful enough for
0SMNhluntoowut." M And he pointed to Woonanit
settled on his face The other inaidens went back
h hsst stheir sr temporary wigwams and the three who
.israded before the chiefs. OF course the choice
After sitting for time in moody silence @ Wan
ai.en arose and addressed the chiefs. He made
making sacrifices to their greatest god Just be -
toiS s a lake rose In some mysterious manner. He
,sht na,h from the Great Spirit when they had done
lin hIg ns TO deserve H. He begged them not to rob
IN oi the woman he loved
coups. aps other chiefs amazed. They knew. OF
49, that Wyandanch intended TO marry
enoDS but they never dreamed that he cared
and NOT TOT her to ask the overthrow OF the ancient
Wa honorable practice OF sacrifice. II his head
were tarned by pair Of flashing eyes. their heads
He hoI TO- ana sis proposal was rejected.
fna Success depended on the fidelity Of the ifty
they ~ VINO mad accompanied him 10 the feast II
II. Eiled him Woonanit was lost.
shri sase we, the battle Of the Montauks in loud
Up came his warriors
f..@s me maiden and follow me-" he cried
0DeSed his command and soon the party