The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-29
Legend of the OckIawaha.

This beautiful story, called the
Legend Of the Ocklawaha, " is from
the essay OH American Folk Lore, -
written by Miss Olive Thomas.
daughter of Walter Thomas of this
city, and read by the author at the
commencement exercises of the
Putnam High School this spring.
Miss Thomas was n member of the
graduating class. The News regrets
that lack of space prevents the pub
LEGATION of the entire essay, but that
part here given will have so much Of
local interest, and has already caused
50 much of favorable comment that
the editor was moved to apply to
Miss Thomas for permission to pub
fish. Following is the legend:
Not many legends may be given in
n short paper but it may interest you
to listen to one more, which is con-
mected with the beautiful river 50
many people visit every year. 1t is
called the Legend of the OCklawa-
ha.n
Long years ago when the lands of
Florida We're inhabited by the Red
Men, Osceola, a great chief Of the
Seminoles, lived with his daughter
Ocklawaha in their patriarchal vii
lage Pilatka. This lovely dark COM
plected maiden was very popular
Since she Was the daughter of a great
chief the young red skins were afraid
to seek her hand; so her father, de-
sirous that Ocklawaha should wed,
called cOusel of his people and told
them that Oh certain day there
would be contests for the young
braves, and to the one proving him.
self the most worthy he would give
the hand Of the beautiful OCklawaha.
At length the day Of the feasts ar
rived, and all the youths gathered ON
the plains. There was contest after
contest until only two young Semi
mole chiefs remained. the one hand
some Neogassi, and the other Chic
Hato, the greatest hunter of his tribe,
AS neither could defeat the other,
the old chief decided that on the
next day there would be a struggle
to the death in the river now known
as the st. Johns. Ocklawaha wish
ing to be a spectator, climbed a large
oak overhanging the rlppling waters
of this beautiful stream and looked
on unobserved. The two painted
braves, handsome Neogassi and
hardened Chic HatO, sprang at each
others throat and with their iron
arms graSping one anOhter in death
hug, leaped into the black, gurgling
waters. Little did they guess that
the one they were striving to win
was at that moment 50 near and
watching their death struggle. Neo-
gassi seeing that he was getting the
better of Chic Hato, very generously
permitted him to rise above the wa
ter for breath. At that moment a
shout on the shore caused NeOgassi
to turn his head and as he did so his
foe taking this advantage sprang on
his back and bore him under When
Ocklawaha saw this cowardly act
she quickly sprang from the limb
nearest the water to help the one she
loved. AS she jumped her long, flow
ing hair became entangled on the
| limb. but drawing her dagger she
severed it from her head. Ockla-
waha was just III time to save her
| lovers life. And then together on
| Bonded knees they received OSceolas 5
blessing After all the pomp and
ceremony of the wedding feast was
over the old chief took the young
couple and few friends to explore a
stream that they had never seen be-
/ fore, with aged oaks overhanging its
clear waters and in some places 50
narrow that the limbs touched. Dur
/ ing this journey Ocklawaha fell over
| board All the young braves hasten
/ ed to the rescue, but her young hus-
/ band reached her just as she was
sinking the third time, and brought
| her back to the boat. Then the aged
chief declared that the stream should
| henceforth be known as the Ockla-
| waha.
A later legend states that Ockla-
waha as she grew old and her glossy
| black tresses turned grey, the lock OF
| hair left hanging on the old watel
oak also changed its color, and when
at length the aged princess died in
a dungeon, all the trees went il
mourning for her and until this day
can be seen on the oaks around Pa
| Iatka, Ocklawaha'S enchanted hair
or as the Indians call it, Tilandsia, ol
the Spanish moss.