The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-01-02

ALHER 81 TERtidht
49, se@Sss9s. ~ Sees,sis.
uRcAs.
UNcAs.

YOURS. MY DraVeb are HOI niue put
yours. Command, and l obey. will
trust the English before ] win trust
mine own people. The Indian that
Stays an Englishmal shall die by my
hand"
The man who made this speech OF
loyalty to a group Of grlm.yisaged Pu,
rItans was Uncas, sachem and hero.
Nor were his words mere idle boast
ing, He had already proved their
truth, and was yet to prove 1t in q
far more dramatic way.
uncas was born about 1888. He was
a sub.chief of the Pequot nation, and
up to middle age had had no adyen-
lures especially well worth relating.
But in 1885 he headed a party Of NAL.
contents against the Pequot sachem
Sassacus. In the fierce little war that
followed Uncas was expelled from his
nation" But he took with him q
band Of loyal followers and formed a
new tribe which he called the "Mohe.
gans" Gan ancient name Of the Pc
quots). He made himself chief of the
Mohegans, and conquered for them a
fine stretch Of land SCar where Lyme,
Conn, now stands. Then he turned
his attention 40 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 to the Pc
quots' chief stronghold, Village forti'
fed by high wooden palisades. so
fiercely did the English and Mohegans
assault this town that all but four
teen OF its Pequot Inhabitants We're
Slain, Then up and down through the
Pequot country UHcas led the attack,
until the whole nation" that once had
cast him out was subdued. In reward
Uneas received a large slice OF the
Pequot lands. When the war was &C
tSally over he threw himself heart and
soul into an effort to save the sur
vivors of his crushed enemies from
punishment at the hands OF the Eng
lish. So eagerly did he interfere to
rescue the 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
fish, and did So in such emphatic
fashion that the Pequots deemed HIM
q 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. Mia1to.
nomoh' had been, accused Of conspir-
ing to massacre the white settlers. In
1910 and again in 1912 the NarraEan-
sett sachem had been arrested and
brought before the Massachusetts
on this charge and mad
had much trouble IN clearing hlmself.
Miantonomoi dared not attack me
white men, but wreaKed MS spite py
invading the country q their alhes'
the Mohegans. The Narragansetts'
1000 strong, marched INTO oncass
territory, destroying'ail IN tnelr pain.
Uncas could serape togetner Dareiy
900 men TO meet the invaders me
two forces met near me iahtlc fiser
falls. uncas STROBE tortn between me
two little armies ana shouted 70 MI
we both nave many brave men at AZ!
our backs. Why should many OF mem
die in our private quarrel! STAND lot
ward, oh Miantonomoh' ana ngnt me-
hand to hand, And let the pattles
issue rest on our combat!
Miantonomoh answered: MY men
have come hither to night And they
shall fight" Then he gave the sig
nal for battle.
Battle and Victory.
A terrific conflict followed. By mar.
tial skill and utter reckless courage
Uncas defeated the Narragansetts-
jouh1a tha numhar If Lis Own force