Year: 1875

About the year 1730, there resided
upon the Croton River, in Putnam Coun-
ty, New York, an Indian of peculiar
character, known by the name of Scream
ming Moses. At that time, New York
was but village in size and the coun-
try above it now so highly cultivated
and so profusely studded with villas
and mansions almost suburban-was
one vast forest, through which the red
man roamed free, where the black bear,
the wolf, and the deer were to be found
in large numbers. But the white man
had penetrated these wilds, and the
echo of the woodman's ak rang out in
chorus with the hunters rifle.


Moses was a strange person. He had
been chief of his tribe, but had volun-
tarily left them, and now led a vaga-
bond life, hanging around the homes of
the pale faces. He derived his name
from the TACT that he frequently gave
utterances to wild shrieks and when
night came on, he nearly always made
his bed among the rushes growing upon
the banks of the Croton. And yet this
man was said to own half the territory
for miles around, which, after his death,
was seized upon and occupied by the
white man, the heirs of whom now claim
undisputed title to the same.


There were very few who understood
or appreciated this Indian. AS rule,
his manner was that OF ight-hearted
man but often, when he supposed
himself to be alone, he would weep like
child. This became known but
none were able to look into his crushed
and vacant heart, and read there its
agonies and struggles. He was con-
sidered a maniac.


1t was a terrible night, in the month
of February. The snow was lying up
on the ground to a great depth, and it
had been thickly crusted over by the
freezing of the rain, which had been
falling for the previous twentyfour
hours. Great ioeciles hung from every
branch of the huge forest trees, while
the trunks of those were clasped by the
glittering substance Occasionally the
masses would come tumbling down !;
and the thunder caused from this would
roll through the forest, dying out in
the distance. Thus an ordinary sound
would not have been noticed by any but
practical ear.


1t was after midnight when form
moved along rapidly among the trees.
It was that of Screaming Moses, al
though no person would have supposed
that the figure belonged to a human
being, save from the fact that it walked
erect. The Indian was encased in ice,
while cracked at every moment, as he
sped onward. Once a large quantity of
frozen masses fell from tree upon him,
nearly throwing him from his feet but
he only uttered the savage "Ugh," and
then proceeded on his way.


Presently he arrived at the bank of
the Croton River but as it was frozen
over, it could only be distinguished as
such from the regular, open space, as it
wound its way onward. BY the side of
this stream the Indian seated himself.
For long time he remained motionless,
his face buried in his hands. Then he
sank back upon his crusted bed, while
he gave utterance to an agonized m oan.
Bat he became silent and motionless al
most Immediately, and for an hour he
remained thus, even in the pelting
storm, without exhibiting the least signs
of life.


Presently he leaped to his feet, for q
crashing through the crusted snow
aroused him. Then huge black bear
sprang to his side. Moses drew his
knife, and was about to strike the beast
as he supposed he was about to be at
tackled; but such was not the case.
Something behind in the forest riveted
the attention of the animal, for he turn
ed in that direction, growled fercely,
and then took position ready for
spring. At this instant stream of fire
blazed out, and the report of a rife
rang clear above the blast. while the
bear uttered terrible bowl, and then
sank upon the snow, with moans almost
human in their tones.


The Indian threw himself fiat upon
the STOW by the side of the beast, and
awaited further developments. In a
| moment after, 6. man strobe up to the
spot, and bent over the bear. Life was
not yet extinct, and so knife was driven
deep into his heart. AS the man gazed
upon the red blood as it gushed fsrth,
he muttered, 81 would that crimson
| came from the heart of Whirlwind or
Screaming Moses, as he is called here
abouts. But it shall be the same with
him. Once I have caught sight Of him
to-day, and was on the point OF sending
bullet crashing through his brain but
| I would not do it. He must know by
whose hand he dies, and that death
4 L f,-1I Of fnr.fr,,sc