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Show GRAVE OF FAMOUS INDIAN Rifling of Burial Place of Chief Massa. soit Is Denounced Was Great Friend of Pilgrims. Americans have, by discovering lately late-ly the neglected remains of Governor Oglethorpe, shamed the English Into taking steps to honor the burial place of a leading founder of an American state. This is well. Oglethorpe lived and died an Englishman, but his part In the establishment of Georgia was Important in American history and as Americans. But it now appears that lately we had burled upon New England Eng-land soil a great original American, and that we have not only disinterred his dust, but presented to a New York museum such remains of his apparel and relics as were found In his grave. The American whose burial place was thus dishonored was no other than the original friend and benefactor benefac-tor of the Pilgrim Fathers, Chief Mas-sasoit Mas-sasoit of the Wampanoag nation. He it was who sent his henchman Samoet to the spot of shore now known aa Plymouth to bid the Englishmen of the Mayflower welcome when they arrived. ar-rived. With every reason to be suspicious of them, Massasoit received them with honor, favor and confidence. He was a kingly man grave, noble of bearing, wise, liberal, just and truthful. He made a treaty of peace and friendship with the English settlers, and faithfully faith-fully kept his part of its terms as long as he lived. Under his directions the Englishmen' were taught how to raise the American crops and how to utilize the resources of the forest. He did much to put upon its feet the Infant colony which was destined to play so large a part In the history of the world. Massasoit died at Warren, now In Rhode Island, and was burled there burled In a gold-laced gold-laced coat that Governor Wlnslow had presented to him, and with the brass-barreled brass-barreled pistol which was also the Pilgrim Pil-grim governor's gift. In the Indian fashion, the grave was unmarked, but it was rifled, and in It were found crumbling bones, and also the shreds of gold lore of Governor Winslow's coat, the brass barrel of the pistol and also a medallion with a bust of the prince of Orange which must also have been Mass.isoit's profr-erty. profr-erty. The ldenlificatinn appears to have been complete and also the despoiling despoil-ing of the kingly Indian's grave. And now the question is: Why should not Massasoit's bones, if any trace of them now remains, lie left to ret In peace? Does a great American of 3'K) years ago become merely a mnfceum ruri-osity ruri-osity because he was an Inilhui? Boston Bos-ton Transcript. |