Gadsden High School - Crucible Yearbook (Gadsden, AL)

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Stealing from his tent in wonder. Then she called out o'er the water, “Fare thee well, O brave Aineego, Thus it is you learn the secret Of the Falls of Noccalula!” Then she vanished o’er the precipice Like the white foam on the torrent. Then within the rushing water Did he see her snow-white spirit Beckoning to him from the white mist Of the Falls of Noccalula. Long the red men had their wigwams Underneath the murmuring pine-trees. Till the grey-haired Chief Kewano Passed into the world of spirits, To the land of souls beyond us. And the warrior, young Ameego, Was the chieftain old and hoary. When the white man journeying westward. Seeking gold and lands of promise. Passed the Falls of Noccalula, Broke the stillness of the forest With his shouts and ringing axes, Then he tought his Indian brothers Of the great white God in Heaven, Of the Father of all mortals. But at last the great white brothers Journeying later toward the westward Drove the red men from their forests, By the Falls of Noccalula, Drove them westward toward the sunset. O’er the plains and cross the rivers. But the brave old chief Ameego. Bearing ever in his bosom His fond love for Noccalula Could not leave her lonely spirit. Bidding farewell to his people, Back he turned his weary footsteps Till his dim eyes gladly rested On the murmuring, sobbing pine trees By the Falls of Noccalula. Now no trace of red men lingers ’Neath the pine trees by the torrent. There no brave and noble warriors Smoke the calumet, the peace-pipe. But the warm sun shines as brightly And the birds sing on as sweetly As the days when Noccalula Wandered in the silent forests. When the sun in fiery splendor Gleams ere setting, on the water. Bright within the foam a rainbow Dances in its painted beauty. Symbol of a love undying Token of two souls united By the Falls of Noccalula.

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In the wedding games and contests In the dancing and the shooting. And the fears of Noccaluia All were vanquished by her secret. On the day before the wedding When the braves and chief assembled By the Falls of Noccaluia, In the games and in the shooting Young Ameego proved the victor, Vanquished even great Nobasko, Proved himself a worthy suitor For the hand of Noccaluia. In her eyes he was the noblest, Handsomest of all the warriors. But her father. Chief Kewano, Marveled that she treated coldly Great Nebasko, Chief of Chieftains. “Thus it is,” he said, “with daughters, When they do their heart’s own choosing. When at night the stars like fireflies Gleamed but palely in the moonlight, And the men around the campfire Smoked and told of deeds of valor, Silently did Noccaluia Glide within her bridal chamber Fashioned from the softest deerskin, Filled with skins like sofest velvet, And she donned her snow-white raiment And her moccasins of doe-skin, Trimmed with beads and decked with feathers. Then she waited in her wigwam Till no sound of voice or laughter Broke the stillness of the forest But the laughing of the water. Forth she stepped into the moonlight Gleaming, glittering like the water Pouring o’er the rocks before her In a sheen of silver radiance. Long she gazed upon the forest, On the torrent, on the wigwams. But her soft eyes rested longest On the wigwam of her lover. Softly did she call. “Ameego, But no answer to her whisper Save the rustle of the night wind In the pine trees by the water. Then she sought with careful footsteps One tall rock that rose uprightly From the foaming, boiling basin ’Neath the Falls of Noccaluia. For an instant did she stand there Like a phantom in the moonlight When she sow her startled lover. Wakened by her one soft whisper,

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Early Settlers Qeneral Daniel C. Turrentine Born in Virginia in 1807, died 1883. Af-fectionatelg called by the earlier settlers “Uncle 77' ZN 1843 migrated south and settled in Gadsden, then known as Lafferty’s Landing. General Turrentine built Gadsden’s first hotel. This hotel, known as Turrentine Hotel, was located at the corner of First and Broad streets. Being on the stage line from Koine to Tuscaloosa, it proved successful as a business enterprise and was the center of much social activity. General Turrentine was a man of much note and influence. He was aggressive and progressive, acquiring large acreage in the suburban section of the town. It was on these holdings that he built a fine home. He planted the grand old oaks now seen on Turrentine avenue. “The City Beautiful’’ was one of his slogans. General Turrentine organized the first Sunday School ever known in Etowah county. For nine years he was justice of the peace and performed practically all the marriage ceremonies in the county. He was a leader in business, religious, social, and political circles and was one of the most distinguished of Southerners. Mr. John S. Moraqne Born of French Huguenot parents at Abbeville District, S. C., February 17, 1814. Died March 22, 1881. HE subject of this sketch was one of the founders of Gadsden. The town was laid out in 1846 by Gabriel Hughes, Joseph Hughes, and John S. Moragne. The city of Gadsden was named for General James H. Gadsden of the “Gadsden Purchase” fame. Mr. Moragne with his associates, Gabriel and Joseph Hughes, owned practically all the land now embraced in the business section of Gadsden. It was through their efforts that railroad and boat transportation connected at this point. The first steamboat to ply the Coosa was built at St. Louis, brought to YVe- Puyc Twenty