The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-12-27
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yOuTb. q 1 obey. VIII
trust the English before I will trust
mine own people. The Indian that
Stays an Engllshman Shall die by my
hand"
The man who made this speech OF
loyalty to a group OF grim.visSged Pu-
ritans was uncas. sachem and hero.
Nor were dis words mere idle boast
Ing. He had already proved their
truth, and was yet to prove It in .
far more dramatic way.
Uncas was born about 1858. He was
n sub-chlef OF the Pequot nation, and
up TO middle age had had no adven-
lures especially well worth relating.
But In 1885 he headed a party Of NAL
contents against the Pequot sachem
s%assacus. In the fierce little war that
followed Uncas was expelled from his
nation" But he took with him 4
band Of loyal followers and formed 4
new tribe which he called the "Mohe-
gans" ian ancient name OF the Pc
quots). He made himself chief OF the
Mohegans. and conquered for them a
fine stretch OF land near wKIee Lyme,
Conn.,, now stands. Then he turned
his attention to avenging himself on
his old enemies, the Pequots.
A Deed Of Vengeance.
The Mohegans were not strong
enough to tackle them single-handed.
SO he signed a peace treaty with the
English settlers OF New England, and
in 1887 Joined the colonists in their
expedition against the 'Pequot nation.
Uncas guided the soldiers 10 the Pc
quots' chief stronghold, a village forth
fed by high wooden palisades. So
fiercely did the English and Mohegana
assault this town that all but four.
teen OF its Pequot inhabitants were
slain. Then up and down through tho
Pequot country Uncas led the attack.
until the whole nation" that once had
cast him out was subdued. In reward
Uncas received a large slice OF tho
Pequot lands. When the war was &C
tually over he threw himself heart and
soul into an effort to save the sur
yivors OF his crushed enemies from
punishment at the hands OF the Eng
lish. So eagerly did he interfere to
rescue tho Pequots that the English
declared him a traitor and he narrow
ly escaped with his life. But Uncas
quickly proved his fidelity TO the Eng
lish. and did so In such emphatic
fashion that the Pequots deemed him
a double traitor and plotted to murder
him.
Uncas swiftly avenged this murder
plot by swooping down upon Sequas.
son, the Connecticut river sachem, and
laying waste his villages. Next he
found himself involved in a quarrel
with Miantonomoh, sachem OF the
mighty Narragansett nation. Mianto-
nomoh had been accused Of conspir.
Ing to massacre the white settlers. In
1910 and again In 1912 the Narragan.
sett sachem had been arrested and
brought before the Massachusetts,
magistrates on this charge and had
had much trouble In clearing himself.
Miantonomoh dared not attack the
white men. but wreaked his spite by
invading the country OF their allies.
the Mohegans. The Narragansetta.
1000 strong. marched into Uncas )
territory, destroying all in their path.
Uncas could scrape together barely
500 men to meet the invaders. The
two forces met neaS the Yantic river
falls. Uncas strobe forth between the
two little armies and shouted to All.
autonomous:
1--WE both have many brave men at
Il backs. Why should many OF them
die In DUR private quarrel? Stand for
ward, oh Miantonomoh, and fight Inc.
hand to hand. And let the batt>e's
issue rest on our combat"
Miantonomoh answered: "My men
have come hither 10 fight. And they
shall fght!" Then he gave the zig.
nal for battle.
! Battle and Victory.
| 4 terrific conflict followed. BY mar.
tial Skill and utter reckless courage
UnCas defeated the Narragansetts-
double the number OF his own force
and captured M"iantonomoh. Instead
OF dealing with his fallen foe in usual
fashion. he carried Miantonomoh be.
fore a coun:ll OF Massachusetts elders,
who promptly condemned the captive
to die. OIcas's " brother was per.
mitted to strike the death blow. All
the local tribes now combined against
the Mohesans. and but for the MD
sent him by the English Uncas must
have been overwhelmed. As It was,
he fought for years like a tiger against
his allied foes. and held his own
against theln. ThomaS Lcfingweli. a
settler, Struggled provisions to him
once, when in 1866 he was bcsleged
by the Narragansetts. UnCa2, In graf.
ltude, gave LefinSwell tbs tract OF
land now occupied by Norwich, Conn.
Uncas lived on until 1882. dying at
the age OF ninety-four. TO the end
he refused to embrace his white nj.
lies religion. and was described by
Massachusetts clergymen In 1874 ms
ian old and wicked, wilfuI man." I'm.
cas- had all the true indian cunning
and cruelty: but he was honest, loyal
a~l f.n. a.