Gowongo Mohawk facts for kids

Gowongo Mohawk (born August 11, 1860 – died February 7, 1924) was a talented Seneca playwright and actor. She was born in Gowanda, New York. Her father, Ga-Na-Gua, was also known as Dr. Alan Mohawk. He was a chief medicine man for the Seneca Nation. Her mother, Lydia, was called "The Angle" on the Cattaraugus Reservation.

Gowongo's stage name, Gowongo, means "I fear no one." Her English name was Carrie A. Mohawk. In an interview, she once said her name meant 'Majestic Palm'. She even signed a photograph with this translation.

As a child, Gowongo went to a boarding school in Ohio, which she did not like. Later, she studied at the University of Ohio. Before she started writing plays, she was an actor. She performed with Louise Pomeroy and at the Windsor Theatre.

Gowongo started her acting career in America. Her fame as an actor and playwright soon spread to the United Kingdom. She toured her plays there, becoming very popular. She passed away in 1924 at the age of 63. She is buried in Edgewater Cemetery, New Jersey. Her husband, Charles W. Charles, an army captain, is buried with her. He had served with General Custer.

The Play: Wep-ton-no-mah, The Indian Mail Carrier

Gowongo's most famous work was a play called Wep-ton-no-mah, The Indian Mail Carrier. This play became very popular with audiences in America and Britain. Gowongo herself played the main character, Wep-ton-no-mah, who was a Native American man. By doing this, she challenged common ideas about Native Americans, race, and gender.

The play also explored the popular idea of the frontier. This was a big topic at the time, especially with popular shows like Buffalo Bill's Wild West Shows, which Gowongo also performed in. Wep-ton-no-mah, The Indian Mail Carrier was first shown in the UK in Liverpool in April 1893. It quickly became a huge hit. Today, only one copy of the play's script still exists. It is kept safe in the archives of the British Library.

Meet the Characters

Wep-ton-no-mah

Wep-ton-no-mah is the main hero of the play and the "mail carrier." He is the son of Chief Ga-ne-gua. The play describes him as the "noblest, bravest, most gentlemanly" of men. Gowongo Mohawk herself played this important role.

Chief Ga-ne-gua

Chief Ga-ne-gua is Wep-ton-no-mah's father and the leader of his tribe. He is shown as a very wise and kind man. The real-life Chief Ga-ne-gua played this character in the play.

Colonel Stockton

Colonel Stockton is a wealthy man and a local landowner. He earned his money from his time in the army. He has a good relationship with the local Native American tribe and with his servants. Gowongo Mohawk's husband, Charles W. Charles, played Colonel Stockton.

Nellie Stockton

Nellie Stockton is Colonel Stockton's daughter. The play suggests that she and Wep-ton-no-mah have romantic feelings for each other.

Captain Franklin

Captain Franklin is Colonel Stockton's nephew. He is an army captain who often needs money for his adventures. He also needs money because someone is trying to get him to pay them for something he did wrong.

Spanish Joe

Spanish Joe is the bad guy of the story. He is a murderer, a thief, and he tries to get money from people by threatening them. He pretends to be Captain Franklin's friend, no matter what disguise he wears. However, he is not a good friend at all. George De Laclaire played Spanish Joe during the British tour.

Sam, Matilda, and Garry

Sam, Matilda, and Garry are servants who work for Colonel Stockton and Nellie. Sam and Matilda were always played by black actors. They speak in a special way called AAVE. All three characters provide funny moments in the play.

Wongy and Buckskin

Wongy and Buckskin are Wep-ton-no-mah's beloved horses. They are considered the true heroes of the story. Gowongo Mohawk herself trained the two horses used in the performances.

What Happens in the Play?

The play starts with Captain Franklin and Spanish Joe arriving at Colonel Stockton's home. Captain Franklin needs to ask his uncle for more money. He has run out and is being blackmailed because he did something bad that his boss cannot find out about. He also plans to introduce Joe, his friend, to his uncle and family. Colonel Stockton first refuses to give his nephew more money, as his servants suggest. But he soon decides to give him some the next time he asks.

During a wild stampede, Wep-ton-no-mah bravely saves Nellie Stockton's life. Because of this, Colonel Stockton offers him the job of mail carrier.

Spanish Joe then makes a plan with Captain Franklin to kidnap Nellie and marry her. But Wep-ton-no-mah stops their plan. Nellie has already said she is in love with Wep-ton-no-mah. This makes Joe so jealous and angry that he plans to kill Wep-ton-no-mah. He fires his gun, thinking it is aimed at Wep-ton-no-mah. However, he accidentally hits Wep-ton-no-mah's father, Chief Ga-ne-gua, who dies instead. Wep-ton-no-mah promises to get revenge on the person who killed his father, and Spanish Joe runs away.

Several years later, Wep-ton-no-mah returns after chasing down bandits. He finally agrees, though a bit unwillingly, to take the mail carrier job Colonel Stockton offered him. Around the same time, Spanish Joe also returns. He is still planning to kill Wep-ton-no-mah. Before that, he enters Colonel Stockton's house, disguised as another friend of Captain Franklin's. He tries to steal some money from the desk. Wep-ton-no-mah stops him, but Spanish Joe manages to escape.

Wep-ton-no-mah has been given an important mail carrying task. Spanish Joe's newest plan is to ambush him. He plans to take advantage of Wep-ton-no-mah's trusting nature by poisoning his drink. Then, he will steal the mail and kill Wep-ton-no-mah. At first, this plan goes well. Wep-ton-no-mah is poisoned, and he gives the mail to his horse, Wongy, to keep it safe. However, Spanish Joe's helper has secretly changed sides. So, Garry and Sam (two of Colonel Stockton's servants) find out that Wep-ton-no-mah is in trouble and go to find him. Wongy fights off Spanish Joe, who briefly runs away before he can be caught. Sam and Garry help Wep-ton-no-mah get home. Later that evening, there is a final fight between Wep-ton-no-mah and Spanish Joe. This scene includes a fire on stage, many explosions, and a knife fight. In the end, Spanish Joe is defeated.