Year: 1875

About the year 1870, there resided
upon the Croton river, i'll Putnam coun-
ty, New York, an Indian of peculiar
character, known by the name of
Screaming Moses. At that time New
York was but II village in size; and the
country above it-now so highly cultiva-
ted and so profusely studded with villas
and mansions almost suburban-was one
vast forest, through which the red man
roamed free, while the black bear, the
wolf, and the deer were TO be found i'll
large numbers. But the white man
had penetrated these wilds, and the echo
of the woodman's ax 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 vagabond
life, hanging around the homes of the
pale faces. He derived his name from
the fact that he frequently gave utter
ances 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 white man,
the heirs of whom now claim undisputed
title to the same.


There were few who understood or ap-
preciated this Indian. As rule, his
manner was that of light-hearted man ;
but often, when ne 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.


1t was terrible night in the month of
February. The snow was lying upon
the ground to great depth, and it had
been thicxly crusted over by the freezing
of the rain, which had been falling for
the previous twenty-four hours. Great
icicles hung from every branch of the
huge forest trees, while their trunks
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 or
dinary sound would not have been no
ticed by any but a practical ear.


1t was after midnight when a form
moved along rapidly among the trees
It was that of Screaming Moses, although
no DeTSOu WOulOl ItNe SupDOSeu uUuJ Ille
figure belonged to human being, save
from the fact that it walked erect. The
Indian was encased in ice, which cracked
at every moment, as he sped onward
Once large quantity of the frozen mass
es fell from n 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 moan.
But 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 q 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
attacked but such was not the case.
Something behind in the forest riveted
the attention Of the animal, for he turned