USA > Georgia > Jackson County > The early history of Jackson county, Georgia. "The writings of the late G.J.N. Wilson, embracing some of the early history of Jackson county". The first settlers, 1784; formation and boundaries to the present time; records of the Talasee colony > Part 14
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CHAPTER XI.
THE COLD WINTER AND A VISIT BY GOVERNOR MATTHEWS-THE ORGANIZATION FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION.
It was now January 1795. Except the efforts made to kidnap one of their best-loved citizens, the Talasee Colony and the in- habitants of Beadland had been free from any immediate danger, and were eminently prosperous and well contented.
They knew that the Lower Creeks were giving the citizens of Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, and other adjacent counties serious trouble; but as the whites under Col. Josiah Tatnall, uncle of our Josiah Strong, and for whom he was named, were constantly vic- torious, they had little fear that the disturbance would reach so far into the wilderness as Talasee and Snodon. Nevertheless they whetted their knives, picked their flints, kept their powder dry, and Tata Nyxter and Ocean Scupeen patrolled the country day and night. Anything that escaped the eyes of those two boys was hard to see, indeed. The people knew that "eternal vigi- lance is the price of liberty."
The winter was intensely cold-colder, the oldest natives said, than they had ever known before. The ground had been covered with alternate layers of frozen rain and snow for six weeks with no prospect of an early change. Animals and birds became raven- ously hungry. Panthers and wolves, troublesome at any time, were more dangerous than ever before. Hundreds of them were shot in the yards around the cabins during the day, and at night they were kept at a respectful distance by roaring fires in the chimneys and by burning pine knots outsides the houses. Some- times even these precautions did not effect their purpose.
One night a gang of wolves being made ravenous by smelling the blood of a deer that Mr. Draper had dressed that day, broke over, to them, the mysterious circle, and rushing between the fires, besieged the house itself.
Most of them were shot through port holes made for the pur- pose; but two bolder than the others, attacked the door. One of
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them tore away enough of the shutter with his strong teeth to ad- mit its head, and while struggling to get its body through the opening Lion tore its throat open-his favorite way of dealing with an enemy.
The living wolves outside soon began to devour the dead ones, and when they came to the one fast in the door shutter they pulled it away and still another poked his head through the opening. Helen, whose rifle had just been discharged, split its head open with an axe. That, eventually, ended the battle as the wolves still living being gorged with the slain, retired from the field.
The cracking of bones, the lapping of blood, and the fierce growls of the monsters outside all intermingled with the sharp crack of those rifles inside and one at an unknown place, created a horrid din that words can not describe.
It was afterwards found that the firing of the unknown rifle came from the spreading branches of a tree whither Ocean Scu- peen, seeing the danger to which his friends were exposed, had, at the risk of his life, climbed to help defend those he loved. At a time of great need the boy did heroic service that dreadful night.
As the body of the large wolf whose head Helen cut open was not eaten, he was supposed to be the leader of the pack, which also helps to explain the sudden termination of the attack. Had he gotten through the door others would have made desperate efforts to follow.
Such hunting droves of half-starved wolves became so common that work and travel were almost suspended and the people were compelled to give exclusive attention to their destruction. The natives throughout the country suffered more than the whites be- cause their means of defense were not so good. Soon after the at- tack on the Draper home an Indian, accompanied by his squaw who was carrying her papoose, as native children were called, were followed by several wolves to Snodon. As dark came on the animals became bolder and pressed the natives so closely they were compelled to climb a tree to save themselves.
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The weather was so cold that the mother's numb fingers re- fused to obey her will, and the child fell to the ground where it was instantly devoured. When relief reached them sometime afterwards, they were no nearly frozen they could not walk.
In 1837, when Snodon was well known as Jug Tavern, a scrubby blackjack was pointed out by an old native called Jolly Jumper, as the tree from which the Indian child fell. It stood on the north side of Hog Mountain road opposite the present residence of Mr. Wiley Bush of Winder.
From the time of the first settlement of the country to some- time about the thirties of the last century, Beech creek, because of the dense canebrakes which grew upon its margins, was called the panther's stronghold. Hence its name, Taurulaboole, which means "screaming panther." The excessively cold winter drove these animals from the canebrakes to the hills where they became dangerous.
Early one morning Loyd Upson, a little boy whose father, Jabin Upson, was a newcomer living near Mr. Draper, was seized by a panther and carried to the woods. Helen Draper, hearing the cries of the boy, took her father's heavy rifle and in her usual headlong way, hastily pursued the animal. When within from thirty to forty yards of it she gave a loud scream. The brute, doubtless thinking that another panther was following, turned to investigate the matter. As it turned an ounce ball entered its body a little behind the right shoulder and passing through im- bedded itself in an oak tree which stood a few yards distant. Leaping high the animal gave a dying scream which released the boy and they fell together on the ground.
The boy scrambled away on his hands and one leg, the other being so badly torn that he could not use it. Such was Helen Draper, the touch of whose hand had been characterized as being "as soft and gentle as the whisper of an angel." And so it was when gentleness was required.
"Mother," said the boy, after he had been carried home, "she wrapped her apron around my leg while the smoke was slowly coming out of the muzzle of her gun."
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The boy's wound finally healed, but he was a cripple for life. His mother afterwards made him "a-round-about" coat of the panther's skin, and one of his greatest joys was to wear it in Helen's presence and rest his head upon her knee, while she patted his red, plump cheek with her "soft and gentle hand."
In 1813, when Capt. Carnes was in Jefferson, beating for vol- unteers to meet the British on the Atlantic coast, Loyd Upson, then a good-looking young man, was the first to offer his ser- vices.
Being rejected because of his lameness, he took a battered bul- let from his pocket, and turning it with his fingers said thought- fully : "Perhaps it is for the best. I intended to remould this bullet and kill some redcoat with it. When Nancy Jane [mean- ing his rifle] speaks, she always means death. As it once saved my life it seems, after all, wrong for me to kill another with it."
The disappointed young man returned the bullet to his pocket and limped away with tears in his eyes. Two years later he was accepted as a volunteer and did valiant service in the battle of New Orleans. On the 8th of January 1815, when the battle was raging all along the lines, Gen. Jackson noticed a soldier several steps in rear of his command. He was loading and shooting as deliberately as if at a country shooting match. He wore a broad- brimmed wool hat, and every time he took aim he turned up the front part of the brim, and a man fell. When this had been re- peated several times, Jackson, overcome with admiration, ap- proached the soldier and asked: "My brave boy, what are you doing here by yourself?"
"Well, you see, General" was the answer, "I am lame and can not keep up with the boys. So I am out here fighting on my own hook." "What is your name and where from?"
"Loyd Upson of Georgia, sir, and it's Nancy Jane that is speaking to the fellows over yonder."
"Tell her to speak on," said Jackson as he himself plunged into the fight.
The foregoing incidents are given, not as all of the kind that occurred in the country; but to illustrate the prevailing con- ditions under which the pioneers of Beadland labored. Helen
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Draper and Loyd Upson were typical of the men and women among whom the former lived, and the latter grew to manhood.
Several more weeks passed after the dangerous animals had been mainly subdued by the rifle and starvation before the in- tense cold abated. Those which withstood the vigor of the winter best, were deer, rabbits and squirrels. This was of great benefit to the people, for though lean, they were eatable. Dear subsisted largely on moss which was found near the roots of large trees, on decaying timber and on rocks. It was said to be interesting to see them cutting ice from rocks with their sharp hoofs. Rabbits (hares) or Molly Cotton Tails, as the people called them, lived on bark, chiefly of the sassafras, laurel and alder. Squirrels
dined on hickory nuts, chestnuts and acorns which they had wisely stored away during the previous autumn-a custom which they still pursue. Tell who can how a squirrel finds the proper place to dig a hole through the snow to unearth a nut which he had buried there months before.
Of all the small pests to which the people were subjected, the ground rat was the most troublesome. These little stubby-tailed rodents were very numerous, and being driven into houses in search of something to eat, made them almost unin- habitable. They even gnawed on the feet and noses of people when asleep. One which Ocean Scupeen said "had a sweet tooth in its head," took a snip from Helen Draper's lip, and the boy was wicked enough to say that he did not "blame the rat, but commended it for its good taste."
So many birds starved and froze to death that the great num- ber then existing was never afterwards attained, some species becoming almost extinct, and a few entirely so. Turkeys and par- tridges, the most valuable of all, were too lean for table use, and boys sometimes killed them with sticks. A drove consisting of ten or twelve turkeys became so gentle that Helen and Mera fed and sheltered them through the winter. When warm weather came they refused to leave their kind friends and followed the girls like a shadow, and this was the beginning of domestic tur- key raising in northeast Georgia.
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During the coming summer, when Gov. George Matthews was making a tour of the country with a view to the organization of the then much-talked new County of Jackson, he stopped at Sno- don for dinner and dined upon one of Helen and Mera's tamed turkeys because others were thought to be too poor to set before a governor.
It was so toothsome that his Excellency asked the girls to sell him a pair. They did not want to sell their pets; but being such an august purchaser, they finally consented to let him have a pair for fifteen shillings (English coin)-a very good price.
Having divided the shillings equally, Mera looked curiously at the first money she ever possessed, and really not knowing its value, at once gave it to the still suffering Loyd Upson who, as she said by way of justifying her action "was not able to help him- self."
From whence came such a sentiment from a young girl of the wilderness? Her association, though brief, with Banna, Marzee and Helen, had, perhaps unconsciously implanted it in her naturally noble heart.
When the governor was ready to leave he turned to Mera, and doubtless because of her beauty and elegant figure, looked at her a long time. The girl blushed and he broke the silence by say- ing : "You are certainly a beautiful girl and I intend to send you a handsome sweetheart. As I am traveling on horseback I can not carry the turkeys with me; but I will send for them before long. Mino will come for them, perhaps next week. He is a very handsome young brave and has an excellent character. He is as fleet as the wind and as quick as an arrow. Should you and Mino love each other, and I think you should because you are very much alike, the Governor of Georgia will come all the way here to perform the marriage ceremony."
At the mention of "marriage ceremony" Mera suddenly ran to Helen and threw both arms around her neck, "No, sir, Mr. Gov- ernor, I'll never leave such a friend as this for any one," an- swered back the girl, patting Helen on the shoulder, and sealing her vow with a kiss.
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"You'll think better of that when you see Mino," answered the Governor, as he rode away.
Governor Matthews* then lived at the Goose Pond on Broad river in Oglethorpe County which had been recently organized.
The anxiously awaited "next week" came, and the handsome young brave came with it, as provided by the Governor. Hand- some he was, sure enough, and sure enough he and Mera were so much alike that they would have passed anywhere as twin brother and sister. It was amusing to see them looking at each other. Mino evidently fell in love at first sight, and on the second day of his visit he resolved to ask Mera to become his wife and go with him to the silently flowing water of Salwigee (Broad) river, from whence he came. But the girl was shy and provokingly distant, always retreating to Helen like a child to its mother when among strangers. Neither Miss Draper nor her friends were willing to part with their pet without a struggle. Still her lover was so handsome and pleasant in his manners, talked English even bet- ter than Mera herself, and showed so many traits of civilization, that Helen wanted her to treat him at least with respect.
At last when the young brave had almost despaired of bring- ing the girl to terms of either acceptance or rejection, he sat down and leaned against a tree that grew in the Charmed Circle to brood over his condition. While sitting there Hoochlechoopah, Mera's father chanced to pass near. The young brave looked up, the man stopped, and their eyes met. Having looked at each other for a short time, the passing Indian turned suddenly and without speaking a word, retraced his steps hastily.
The young brave was astonished, and thinking the big stranger meant some harm, was at a loss to know what course to pursue, finally deciding that as the turkeys had to be carried to Gov. Matthews, it would be best for him to leave the country, at least for the present and return at some future time. Arising to carry out his resolutions, he naturally looked in the direction
*For a complete record of the settlements on Broad River, in what is now Oglethorpe and Elbert Counties, see Gov. Gilmer's "Early Settlers of Upper Georgia."-Ed.
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taken by the retreating stranger. To his astonishment he saw the same man who was closely followed by a woman, approaching at a brisk run. Though a little flustered he returned to his seat and awaited the result calmly. "Look and see, Nyrulyn," said the man, as he came near. "I think," he continued with some excitement, "that the man sitting by the tree is your long-lost brother !"
Nyrulyn went nearer, intently gazed into the eyes of the stranger, and going still nearer, turned up a sort of cap which he wore and passed her hand over his forehead slowly. Then she took one step backward, stood trembling for a moment, advanced, and, throwing her arms around the bewildered man, exclaimed exultingly :
"O my long lost brother, little Adra Axter. I am your sister Ny- rulyn. I know you because you are so much like our mother, and by the three-cornered scar on your forehead. I have described it many times over when trying to find you. At last ! At last ! Thank the Great Spirit! At last! At last !"
The emotions experienced that evening were strange indeed. The newly found brother at once realized that his love for Mera must take a different direction to that for which he had so ar- dently hoped for a few hours before; while she was utterly aston- ished to find that her relations to the handsome boy were to be about the same as if he were her brother, and that she must call him uncle. Nyrulyn was so greatly elated that she sent for her only other brother, Notha Neva, who, it will be remembered, lived on the lower waters of Sandy Creek. Tata Nyxter was the messenger, to whom that distance seemed as nothing.
Mino, whose real name was Adra Axter, was stolen from his parents when nearly three years old by a roving band of Chero- kees, who, not knowing his name, called him Mino. They kept him a slave until nearly grown and sometimes used him very roughly. Finally, his proud spirit rebelled, and finding an oppor- tunity to escape, he made good use of it. Though followed, his wonderful fleetness enabled him to escape his pursuers. While wandering over the country aimlessly, he fortunately fell into the
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hands of Gov. Matthews, who, appreciating his good qualities, treated him so kindly that the boy refused to leave him.
Adra Axter remembered nothing of his home life and from early boyhood had thought himself an orphan Cherokee, born to slavery and hardship.
Tata Nyxter accompanied by his former friend, Notha Neva, soon returned to Snodon. The meeting of the brothers was very affecting, and though the resemblance was not so great as that of Nyrulyn and her daughter, they would have passed for broth- ers anywhere.
Although the sending of Tata Nyxter after Notha Neva was it- self of no historical importance, still "thereby hangs a tale."
A short distance above the mouth of Sandy Creek there was a small lagoon or shallow lake, surrounded by a dense growth of cane, briers and other small swamp growth. On its north side was a slightly elevated plot of dry land on which stood a little hut made of poles and covered with canes and clay mortar. As a Bo- huron Tata Nyxter was well acquainted with the ground, knew the purposes of the hut and the exact location of the only path that led to it. When passing on his way to Notha Neva's home in the almost interminable wilderness which lay a short distance east of the creek, he noticed that the path had been traveled recently. At first he thought it only a common occurrence and passed on. But knowing that the path led to the "Secret Coun- cil Chamber" of the Bohurons, the further he went the more he became convinced that in all probability something unusual was on hand. Hastening on he told his host of the discovery made, and was informed that strangers had been recently seen going towards the swamp beyond the creek on several different oc- casions.
Even against the advice of his friends, he resolved to investi- gate the matter that very night. He knew that if the strangers were Bohuron leaders, they would sleep in the hut until about midnight, and broil their meat and talk over their plans before daylight. Resolving that if discovered he would claim the rights of the clan himself (for the use he had made of the King Phil- lip's arrow was still unknown to any besides the few who knew
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the secret even before the deed was done), the boy reached the path leading to the hut awhile before midnight.
Judging that the coast was clear, he crawled upon his hands and knees near the hut and concealed himself in a cluster of scrubby laurel that grew near the lake and between it and the hut, wisely thinking that no one would be likely to come or go in that direc- tion.
By and by some one was heard snoring in the hut and the spy knew it was inhabited. He thought it the loudest snoring he had ever heard, and presently another, evidently annoyed at the dis- cordant sound said snappishly : "Huh ! Huh ! Huh ! Up wake! you the country alarm !"
A long-drawn yawn was heard, and the snoring ceased. A long talk followed of which the spy barely heard enough to convince him that his suspicions were well founded. Soon, however, a light appeared in the hut, and the boy knew that meant broiling meat, and maybe, roasting an ash cake. Silently stealing near, he looked through a small opening in the wall and saw two men sitting near the fire broiling bear meat. The odor was delightful, yet he dared do nothing but look and listen.
One of the men was Wokolog, a well-known Bohuron leader, who, of all Indians, Tata Nyxter and his father most hated. The other was a stranger dressed in skin decorated with bear and eagle claws. On his head was a sort of skullcap from which pro- truded quite an array of fine feathers (Ostrich), of a kind the spy had never seen before. This indicated that the stranger was from a distance. Really he was a fine-looking fellow of medium size, whose features, form, dress and movements strongly re- minded one of Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco.
Few words were spoken while the meat was cooking; but soon as it was taken off the coals the men engaged in conversation.
From all that was said the stealthy listener learned that the stranger's name was Bonoaguartah, brother of the slain Bohuron chief, and that his presence in the country was to reorganize that clan and avenge the death of his brother. That as the curious ar- row that killed the chief must have been furnished or used by some pale-face, any white man or woman, not even excepting the
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royal blooded Banna, or any Indian friendly to the whites, should be the object of their vengeance, and that they would be ready to start upon the war path at half of this moon.
As the new moon went down a little after dark that night, "at half of this moon" meant about thirteen days hence. As was afterwards learned nearly two weeks were allowed so as to give recruits expected from the low country time to arrive.
Having gained this startling information, Tata looked at the stars, and finding that daybreak was near, hastened away as he had come. Soon he and Notha Neva was on a brisk run for Sno- don, which accounts for their early arrival there.
Arrangements were at once made to inform all the citizens of Beadland and of the Talasee, Fort Yargo, Thomocoggan, Yamacu- tah and Groaning Rock colonies of the impending danger. The bearer of the news to each place carried a written message of which the following is a copy :
"Georgia, Franklin Co.
"Snodon, Aug. 8th, 1795.
"To the Colonies of Yamacutah.
"Dear Friends :
"Danger threatens. We have lots of dry powder. If necessary come help us burn it. Bearer will give particulars. Hurrah for success.
Devotedly, "Helen Draper."
As the time for Mino's departure was at hand, he took affec- tionate leave of his relatives and their friends saying : "If danger comes Mino will be with you. He too knows how to use the cracking rifle as well as the twanging bow."
Accompanied by Notha Neva, each carrying a turkey, the brothers left Snodon with some sadness. As messengers of the people of Beadland, they went by the way of Thomocoggan, Yama- cutah and Groaning Rock.
The colonists being already well provided with arms and am- munition, the next thing deemed necessary was an effective or- ganization. They could, all told, muster a force of 98 fighting white men, and about half that number of women, many of them,
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perhaps all, being as heroic in case of necessity as Helen Draper herself. Besides all of them, including Nyrulyn and Mera, were dead shots, and as effective at the port hole and sometimes in the open field as any man.
After an absence of a few days which Umausauga had spent among his personal friends, he returned with 17 loyal followers, which, when added to the proscribed Indians, Umausauga, Eto- hautee, Tata Nyxter, Hoochlechoopah and Notha Neva made a fighting contingent of 22 friendly natives, making a total of 120 available men. Besides, if the fight continued to be a local one as was supposed, they expected valuable aid from their sister col- onies.
About ten days before the expected outbreak an organization was effected which proved to be satisfactory to all.
Johnson Josiah Strong was elected Commander-in-Chief, and the white men, being divided into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd companies, Joe Lavender, Ed Damron and Abe Trent were their commanders, with the rank of Captain. Ocean Scupeen was quickly selected patrolling scout.
Umausauga was placed over the natives with Tata Nyxter patrolling scout. To complete the organization Helen Draper was elected viva voce to lead the women, with rank of Captain.
To show the spirit of that girl more fully it may be said that after her election she stepped in front and said, "All command- ers-in-chief have aides. I therefore appoint Banna Mar de Vedo Strong, Marzee Marcum, and Mera Hoochlechoopah my aides-de- camp. Comrades, take due notice thereof and govern yourselves accordingly, though I don't know just what that means. Hurrah for success."
"Hurrah for success," shouted all the men, and each one felt that a true Joan of Arc was among them. So far as doing any- thing the girl commander thought little of her shout, and less of her appointments at the time, but "Hurrah for success," became the battle cry of the colonists, and her aid did as much to achieve "success" as any other three soldiers in the field.
Note: This closes the record of the Talasee Colony, just as the "Old General" left it. Evidently, he intended following the progress of this
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