The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11
STRANGE MIXTURE OF SENTIMENT AND
 FIERCENESS IN THE INDIAN CHARACTER

The American Indian, passing from the beautiful scenes of his earliest recollec- tion with their soft melodious names, said: Our names are written on your waters; you cannot wash them out" Some two hundred years later, Pichaco, that Apache renegade of surpassing cum ming. who wrote his name in blood across many a page of Arizona history; Pichaco, the fierce red devil whom the Grey Chief General Crook chased from crag to crag and from sage brush to chapar- ral boasted that he could trail the breath of a white man on the wind If he never touched foot to the ground.
 One of these romantic assertions repre- sents the sentiment and the other the flerceness of the redskin character. They take us away back to the colonial period in history and we discover two chieftains among the early aboriginees of the colo nies whose names are scarcely known to the reading public but who cast dramtic shadows along the landscape of that epic period. In Virginia. about the time of old Powhattan's death. there was among the Indians warrior named Nematta- now. who, for those virtues in highest estimation among the savages, as well as for the extravagance and eccentricity Of his conduct was peculiarly distinguished. He was possessed of uncommon bodily strength and activity, and of a courage in the highest degree daring and adventur- ous. Although engaged In multitude or battles with Indians and English, In all of which he was conspcious In the van and onset; prodgal of life, and fearless or danger he had invariably come off with out wound. A good fortune so sin gular. joined with bravery so rash and impetuous easily induced the belief among his tribesmen and their red foes that he was invunerable and immortal' an opinion which his vanity found less inclination to discourage than to sup port It is ever difficult to bear, in the rude and savage state especially, long and uninterrupted tide of good fortune with temper and moderation. Nen1atta- now, not content with his well-earned glory as warrior. affected gaudy peculiarty in his dress. ornamenting his gigantic person fantastically with with gorgeous feathers, on which account he was amongst his .countrymen and the English known by the name of Jack O the Feather This burly warrior had often committed depredations on the property of the English; but finally having de- liberately murdered an Englishman nam ed Morgan, he was seized by the serv- ants of the murdered man, and attempt- ing to escape was shot and killed.
 (Beverly D. 40). A singular story Is re- lated in all the old records cl the last moments of this mighty Nemattanow. When he discovered that the shadows of death were casting Its dark cloak around IL.
 mortality would soon vanish, forgetting his pains. he appeared anxious only about his reputation amongst his countrymen and with posterity. 1t Is curious to trace In the mind of this rude and unlettered savage, the operation of the same prin- ciples which actuate the poet. the his torian and the conqueror. With earnest ness and anxiety he besought his en- emies, with the solemnity of last dying request to conceal his grave, in hope that this evidence and monument of his mortality. might he kept from the sight of his countrymen' -(Beverly- Stith)
 After the death of the mighty Pow haitian, the empire which he erected by the force of an intellectually unsur- passed in aboriginal annals, descended to his inferior brother, Opitchapan. But daring and intrepid courage and invln- cible patience under pain and suffering were esteemed as the necessary attributes and principal virtues to crown the chief- tian who should succeed the old emperor and little concern was given to the ac- cidental merit of descent As l have be- fore stated, in these investigations of In- dian life, an Indian chieftafn must De the most renowned warrior of his tribe a tribe and nation which is always in arms and acknowledges no other deity than the god of war; hence, Opitchapan was little calculated to inspire respect. or enforce obedience. And, since Nematta- now had gone forever to the happy hunt ing ground beyond the stars. the most majestic and inspiring and picturesque figure that presented itself in the shad- ows in the forests of Virginia, was Opechancanough. He hated the English root and branch-a powerful recom- mendation. Never for a moment did he or could he forget the unjust invasion and the insoient aggressions of those strang-