By Arnold H. Bellows in Catskill Examiner
Catskill Mountain News, 11 April 1947, Margaretville, NY
For
more than a century and a quarter many residents of the Catskills have been
interested without success in the solution of the mystery of a lead mine or
secret depository or lead ore in the Catskills, the knowledge of which died
with Teunis, the last Indian to live in the Catskills.
More
factual than legendary is the story of his life, which is interwoven with the
early history of the village of Margaretville, a thriving village in Delaware
county, located several miles below the Greene county line. Between that village and Arkville, two miles
farther up the Delaware is the site of a very large Indian village named
Pakatakan from whose many wigwams the curling smoke ascended during the first
half of the eighteenth century and possible before that time. A mountain named after the Indian village
rises like a giant fortress from the peaceful valley at its base where once the
Indians held their councils and doubtlessly discussed the momentous issues of
peace or war when danger threatened.
Pakatakan
means in Indian language “he makes it clear” or “the meeting of the three
rivers,” as it was located at the confluence of three streams. It was first discovered in 1762 by white
hunters from the settlement of Shandaken, but had been deserted by its Indian
occupants. It was probably a Mohican
encampment as that tribe was still numerous in Delaware county in the 17th
century, though after 1712 a considerable number of Tuscarora Indians located
in parts of Delaware county. Many very
valuable and interesting relics of Indian usuage have been discovered on the
site of the ancient village.
First
White Settlers
When
Pakatakan was discovered, a few miles below the deserted lodges, on the banks
of the Platte Kill stream stood the wigwam of Teunis, a brave and resourceful Mohican
brave.. As the first white settlers in
that region were of Dutch extraction and as the Indian name of Teunis was
difficult to pronounce, the name Teunis, evidently of Dutch origin was applied
to him. Margaretville was settled just
before the Revolutionary war, and Teunis, not wishing to leave his old hunting
ground, remained in the vicinity of the deserted village and became very
friendly with the white settlers, invited them to his wigwam, and doubtlessly
entertained them with much Indian lore.
During
the Revolution he warned the white settlers of an impending danger of Indian
massacres by a tribe who was aiding the British and so saved many lives Fearing vengeance from other Indians because
of this act of kindness, he retired to a secluded spot in the Catskills by a
little lake that bears his name today.
The
old Indian was often observed to possess quantities of lead, but refused to
tell where he obtained the precious ore.
Finally a resident of Andes, named Bassett who had saved his Indian
friend from serious injury or death at the hands of a drunken white man, was
promised by Teunis that he would be shown the place from whence came the leaden
riches upon condition that he would consent to be blindfolded and led to the
place and then blindfolded again before being conducted away.
Mr.
Bassett consented and was led along winding paths into this secret retreat in a
cave in a ledge of rocks where he saw considerable quantities of lead. Teunis promised to reveal its hiding place
before he died, but he passed away suddenly and with him the mystery which has
caused many to carefully search in vain for the lead deposits. It is said that the entire region around
Teunis lake was carefully examined.
Years
afterwards some miles from the lake a cave was discovered but contained no
signs of any lead deposits. Some have
supposed the lead was furnished by the British, but this seems unlikely in view
of all the other known facts. Teunis
lived a considerable time after the Revolutionary war and was the last native
Indian to live in Delaware county.
A
short distance from this site of Pakatakan back of Arkville village is a cave
which was explored a few years ago and very valuable relics dating back at
least five hundred years ago were unearthed.
The work was under the direction of Attorney R. S. Ives of Roxbury. Near Union Grove, several miles below the
site of Pakatakan, are the remains of earth works of Indian origin. In a few years these remains of the long ago
will be inundated by the waters of the big reservoir that will be constructed
at Downsville to help supply water for New York city.