Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-17
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
THE GOOD INDIAN MAssAsoIT

THE GOOD INDIAN MASSASoIT
 Generally the colonists of thin country were able to protect themselves only through the greatest vigilance, against the treacheTy of the Indians, but there was one exception, the fidelity of Massasoit in his dealings with the Ply mouth colony.
 Shortly after the founding of this col ny, Massasoit sent a representation to the Pilgrims assuring them of his pro lection and the treaty concluded be- tween is the oldest. act of diplomacy re- corded in New England. It was sa- credly kept for ffty-four years, the friendly disposition of Massasoit never F''n65nS 46e residence of this distinguished chief was within the limits of what is now the beautiful village of Warren, R. I. In the western part of the village, near the river Warren may be seen the spring from which he received his water and which still bears his name. His dwelling was located within a few rods 1 of the spring in which he often enter tained distinguished guests. A short time after AIassasoit's visit to | Plymouth and the treaty of peace, a deputation from the colony was sent by 1 Governor Winslow to pay him a visit
 
 were informed that the Indian chief had died, but to their surprise upon reaching Massa3oit's residerfee they found him alive but seriously i'll. l Says Mir Winslow: When we came 1 thither we found the house so full of men that we could scarcely get in, and they were making hellish noise that greatly disturbed us a s well as the sick man" The white men admin istered to him and he soon recovered under their treatment. Many of his tribesmen had come more than hundred miles to see him.
 When the deputation of Pilgrims ar rived he said: Now I see that the English are my friends and love me and whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have shown me" Massd- soft was not only friendly to the Ply mouth colony but kept them advised ot any warllle designs toward them by other tribes.
 The family of Massasoit consisted of his wife. two brothers, three sons two sons wives and a grandson. His two older sons wer named Mooanum and Pometcom. Soon after the death ot their father they went to Plymouth and requested that English names be giTer them and the court named them Alex ander and Philip. The former became chief sachem on the death of his father but soon died, and was succeeded in the sachemship by Philip. This noted chief was well known in history, and his war. called King Philips War" has i'm j mortalized his name. Unhappily he did not possess the peaceful disposition of his father
 Massasoit possessed many nobia traits of character that would have
 
 NJ Fessenden. Esq. in writing of this chief said: ''Ie never had full justice done to his character. Tn all of th6 memorials of Indian character which have come down to us, Massasoit's ) character stands above reDroaeh. 9th CT Indian chiefs appear on the pages o history for some great act or disting uishing quality, mostly of a warlike, bu occasionally of an amiable and benevo lent character, yet often berayed into some act of weakness or guilty of cruel ty or want of fdelity.'
 From the tima that Massasoit re paired to Plymouth to welcome tht l Pilgrims and to tender to them hi l friendship, till the time of his deatl when the Pilgrims were weak and de fenseless, encountering want, sicknes and death-when at almost any monen s he could have exterminated them il no one instance did he depart from thos plain engagements of treaty which h : made when he Dlighted his faith to tn strangers
 It was well that Massasoit lived be tween the Pilgrims and the powerful I triba of the Narragansetts under Canon $ icut who early showed a determinatio n to attack and dispel them, ad were pre- . vented only by Nassasoit. : TrumbuH in his work on 'Tndial Wars pays a most laudable tribute t Massasoits character: ''He seems t a have been a most estimable man. II Y was just, humane, benefcent, true to hi = word and in every respect on homes :, war" His persona; appearance mus S have been noble and majestic, and hi bearing exceedingly dignff1ed Physical ly he was large, strong and well pro portioned
 e Massasoit died in the autumn of 1es J. and must have been at the time of h # death, about 80 years of age. All wi
 knew him mourned for his death. fee 'o ing that they had lost a true and wall II ed friend. He is to be honored as or
 Who contributed largely toward u
 settlement and prosperity of this gre V republic
 ,- Tomorrow-How England Receive -t Cornwallis' Surrender.
 
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