Year: 1873

ROMANCE OF AN AMERICAN QUEEN.


In 1878, the settlement of Georgia was COM
menced by number of English people, who
were brought over by Gen. Oglethrope and
pitched their tents on the very spot now occu-
pied by the city of Savannah.


In his intercourse with the Indians, he was
greatly assisted by an Indian woman, whom
he found in Savannah, by the name of Mary
Musgroye. She had resided among the En-
glish, in another part Of the country, and was
well acquainted with their language. She
was of great use, therefore, to Gen. Oglethrope,
in interpreting what he said to the Indians,
and what they said to him. For this service,
he gave her a hundred pounds year. d


Among those who came over with Gen.
Oglethrope was a man by the name of Thomas
Bosomworth, who was the chaplain, or minis
ter, of the colony. Soon after his arrival he
married the aforementioned Indian woman,
Mary Musgrove Unhappily, Bosomworth
was at heart bad man, although by profess
sion he was minister of the gospel. He was
distinguished for his pride, and love of riches
and influence. At the same time he was very
artful. Yet, on account of his profession, he
was, for time, much respected by the In
dians.


AT one Of the great councils of the Indians,
this artful man induced some of the chiefs to
crown Malatche, one of the greatest among
them, and to declare him prince and emperor
of all the Creeks. After this, he made his
wife call herself the eldest sister of Malatche,
and she told the Indians that one of her grand
fathers had been made king by the Great
Spirit over all the Greeks. The Indians be-
lieved what Mary told them for since Gen.
Oglethrope had been so kind to her, they had
become very proud of her. They called
great meeting of the chiefs together, and Mary
made them a long talk She told them that
they had been injured by the whites-that
they were getting away the lands of the In
dians, and would soon drive them from their
possessions. Said she : eve must assert
our rights-we must arm ourselves against
them--we must drive them from our territories
let us call forth our warriors-I will head
them. Stand by me, and the houses which
they have erected shall smoke in ruins"


The spirit of Queen Mary was contagious.
Every chief present declared himself ready to
defend her to the last drop Of his blood.


After due preparation, the warriors were
called forth. They had painted themselves
afresh, and sharpened anew their tomahawks
for the battle. The march was now COM
menced. Queen Mary, attended by her in
famous husband, the real author of all their
discomfort, headed the savage throng


Before they reached Savannah their ap-
proach was announced The people were
justly alarmed. They were few in number,
and, though they had fertilization and can
non, they had no good reason to hope that
they should be able to ward off the deadly
blow which was aimed against them.


BY this time the savages were in sight of
Savannah. At this critical moment an En-
glishman by the name of Noble Jones, bold
and daring man, rode forth, with few spirited
men ON horseback, to meet.them. AS he ap-
preached them, he exclaimed, in a voice like
thunder:


"Ground your arms ground your arms
Not an armed Indian shall set his foot in this |
town!''


Awe-struck by his lofty tone, and perceiving
him and his companions ready to dash in
among them, they paused, and soon after laid
down their arms. Bosomworth and his queen
were now summoned to march into the city, |
and it was permitted the chiefs and other In
dians to follow--but without their arms.


On reaching the parade-ground the thunder
of fifteen cannon, fred at the same moment,
told them what they might expect should they |
persist in their hostile designs. The Indians
were now marched to the house of the presi-
dent of the council in Savannah. Bosomworth |
was required to leave the Indians, while the
president had q friendly talk with them.
In his address to them he assured them of
the kindness of the English, and demanded
what they meant by coming in this warlike
manner. In reply they told the president
"that they had heard that Mary was to be
sent over the great waters, and they had come
to learn why they were to lose their queen


Finding that the Indians had been deceived,
and that Bosomworth was the author Of all
the trouble--that he had even intended to get
possession of the magazine, and to destroy the
whites, the council directed him to be seized,
and to be thrown into prison.


This step Mary resented with great spirit.
Rushing forth among the Indians, she openly
cursed Geu. Oglethrope, although he had
raised her from poverty and distress, and de-
clared that the whole world should know that
the ground she trod upon was her own.