Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-08-13
Lake Mokoma the Beautiful.
How 1t Derived the Name.
Locality Has Historic Fame.

LuCdlNy l1dS llISlOIIC ollIc.
AS there has been some discussion
as to the meaning of the word Moko-
ma, we have made careful search of
the authorities. including Meginess'
West Branch Valley, the Grove and
Brady manuscripts and Tyler/s Indi-
an Derivation and are in position to
state authoritively that the name
Mokon@ was given by the Indians
to the spring which is one of the
chief sources OF our present lake, the
spring now being generally known
as the Cold Spring. The spring was
we'll known to the Indian and white
warriors being located not far from
the Wyalusing path leading from
MuEcy to the North Branch The
meaning of the word is pure water,
cold water, fresh water" all three
definitions being included in the
terse Indian word MokOma.
WAHALLAC
On the west shore of Lake Moko-
ma sharp bluff rises from the wat.
er. This hill is named Mount Wa
hallac in honor of the Indian chief
of that name who was shot and
killed on that point by Captain Sam
Brady. Wahallac was "A Seneca
chief Of the first rank and was prom
ihent in the Indian raids on the
West Branch Valley. These eNpe-
ditions started from Tioga (now Ath-
ens) and followed either the Sheshc-
quin or Wyalusing paths. Wahal
lac was head of the party which
killed lieutenant James Brady, Sam
Brady's brother and Captain John
Brady, his father James Brady
was killed near Montoursville and
John Brady near Halls station
where he was fired upon from am
bush. A fugitive from this skir-
mish ran to Muncy Fort and upon
being asked about Captain Brady
| replied that he was Sin Heaven or
Hell or on his way to Tioga,' mean
ing of course that he had been killed
or captured.
In Peter Groves interesting mar
rative, partly published in the year
1850 in the Blairsviiie' Appaiachian,.
he gives a full account of the chase
and death of WahalIac. Only two
whites were in the party, Sam Brady
and Peter Grove, while Wahall lac
had party of twelve warriors and
several squaws. Among his party
were Wamp, Muncy, Snow, Great
Shot, Blacksnake, Blackhawk and
Eagle. In the manuscript Grove
often calls Wahallac "the Panther
Grove says that he and Captain Bra
dy prepared an ambush for the party
at Mokoma Spring and when the
Indians arrived they fred, killing
Wamp and BiacksnaKe. Brady had
intended to shoot Wahallac but a
squaw stepped in between them.
In the chase that followed Brady
and Grove ran to the West proba-
bly, as far As Eagles Mere, before the
Indians gave up their pursuit. Bra
dy told Grove that the Indians
would pass the night in dense pine
grove that - taads on the hills above
the pond which lies below the Spring
Mokoma." By midnight Brady
had crossed the lake and hid him.
self among the trees. Just as the
sun was rising Wahallac came out OF
, the clump of pines looking toward
the East and facing Brady, who
drew bead and killed him instant
ly When pursued Brady and Grove
/ ran down Elk Lick ana soon out rar
} their pursuers. Sam Brady was the
, swiftest runner of his day among
either whites or reds.
Wahallac was too we'll known and
powerful chief to be buried where
. he had fallen. 1t is probable also
that his companions feared that Bra
dy might return to seek the scalp o
his fallen foe. At all events his
body was removed to Tioga Point
lSayre, Athens) and there buried
, with all the barbaric honors an(
| savage ceremonies. 1t is said tha
his grave is now contained in the
: incosure of the Keystone Park, neal
Sayre, Pa.