New-York tribune., 1903-07-26
PICTURESQUE EARLY DAYS OF WOODBURY.
FIRST SETTLERS IN THIS PRETTY CONNECTICUT
TOWN-STORY OF Il DEVOTED INDIAN.

became more circuitous in its route as it threaded
the ever increasing number of hills The hills rose
higher and higher either side, and Captain
Minor at last decided strike ofStoward the east
them. Climbing YEARLY over one hill after
another, they at last reached one from whose top
they could look across the valley which they had
sought. There doubt in their minds that
the land lying down there in the deep silence was
the site Of their future habitation There we're the
island of rock and the river which they shnHld
have followed. It fitted the Indians descriptinn
exactly.
The Indians, who had cultivated the valley long
before the white men appeared. continued to live
there with the newcomers for number of years.
They were vel disposed toward the latter, and as
the settlers faithfully paid the Indians for the land
they took theys had little trouble with them One
old sycamore, WomoQu. he watched the alena
ton of the Indians territory, became sorrowful.
When the white asked him to part with his
lands he could not be persuaded to sign the deed
which to ALLEVIATE the forests that he had
ranged In his younger days. His home was at the
;est of a beautiful cascade OF water more than
hundred feet in height. Surrounded with cliffs
clothed in ferns and other greenery and crowned
with lofty pines. the neighborhood Of the cascade
was a beautiful spot The other Indians of the
village were in favor of turning over their
the white men. They would listen TO the
prayers of the old Womoqui took this very
much to heart He could not bear the thought of
living in his old home at the sufferance Of the
white men, So one day he crawed forth from his
cabin and went the table rock at head of the
falls. Here he sang his requiem and then cast
himself over into the pool below.
In the stiffness of the sabbath morning in the
summer months might have the settlers
forsakng their log houses and vending their way
around the south end of Orenaug Rocks. by which
name the ledge of rock bounding the valley the
side called. Here in a beautiful and
tired spot between the cliffs they held their
ligious services. protected from unexpected attack
from the Indians by sentincls posted on the cliffs
above In rude pulpit of stone In that lovely
dell the fathers and mothers and sons and daugh-
ters listened to the teachings of Pastor Walker.
Appropriately they named the rock Bethel Rock.
a which has clung to 1t to this day. Here
week days the villagers would come to this
sacred and restful spot for quiet meditation and
private devotion
Early in the summer Of 1887 there came to visit
in the home OF Pastor" Walker a niece. She was,
according 70 tradition the possessor Of great
beauty personal charm. Aged seventeen,
she the type Of innocence and purity. Trained
in her youth in the religious teachings OF the
fathers she the possessor OF unaffected piety.
She remained in Woodbury. throughout the summer.
II her delight 10 wander in the quiet retreats
about the village especially to Bethel Rock which
she could reach by ascending the south end OF
Orenaug Rocks Immediately behind her uncles
house
The sachem Of the Pootatuck Indians at that
time was young brave named waramaukeag.
the possessor of a graceful figure. His limbs
1.-THE and finely moulded. He was especially intell-
gent and ias. friend of the settlers. He adopted
many Of the customs OF the white men, building
himself a cabin of uncommon elegance not great
distance awav from the settlement. Pastor"
Walker he cornted of his most valued friends.
From him he learned much OF the doctrines OF
Christianity.
Soon after the niece OF the minister to his
home Waramaukeag made him one OF mis- frequent
visits When Waramaukeag went away he carried
the young woman He could not rid himself OF it.
and soon was madly in love with the white maiden
With a womans intuition the maiden in a tactful
manner declined TO receive the presents which
Waramaukeag laid at her feet. after the manner
Of his people in the endeavor win her affections
Meeting with encouragement from the young
woman the brave pressed his suit upon the atten-
ton of her uncle In broken English he bssought
the clergyman to iutercede in his behalf This the
old clergyman said he could not do. striving to
make clear u him the Improperly of such mar
riage and the hopeessness Of the attainment Of his
desires
Waramaukeag came more to the clergyman's
home. He had not forgotten the maiden's custom
of visiting Bethel Rock from time to time One
evening in September the young woman set out
for Bethel Rock The was just setting over
Good HILL lighting up the westerly side of Orenaug
Rocks, she left the house and climbed up and
over them to tne rock or the other side She had