Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-08-24

tim Tor the Piasa, which they must shoe
The instant that he pounced upon hi
prey. When the Chief awoke in IN,
morning. he thanked the Great Shirt
returned to his tribe, and told them hi,
dream. Ths warriors were quickly sel.c.
ted, and placed in ambush as directed. =
lie was willing to die for his tribe. PA
eng himself IN open view of the bluff
he soon saw the Piasa perched on tn.
cl'd cycling his prey. Oxa,osa drew TN
his manly form TO its utmost height. and
placing his feet firmly upon the earth
bryan to chaunt .he death song ola war
r'or. A momen, after, the Piasa rose in.
10 the air, and, swift as the thuuderbo,t
darted down upon the Chief. Scarcely
had he reached his victim, when every
bow was strung and every arrow sent to
the leather into his body. The Piasa
uttered wild. fearful scream, that re-
sounded Tar over the opposite side of the
river, and expired. Owatoga was safe !.
not an arrow. not even the talon. of the
bird had touched him. The Master of
Lie, in admiration oil the noble deed of
Owatoga, had held over him an invisible
shield. In memory of this event this
image OF the Piasa was engraved ia the
face of the bluff
Such is the Indian traditions: OF course
l don't vouch fer its truth. This much
however, is certain the figure OF a LARGE
ord. cut into the solid rock, is still there
and at height that is perfectly inacces
sIole. How and for what purpose il
was made, l leave il for others to deter.
mine. Even at this day all Indian new
er passes that spo, in his canoe without
firing his gun at the figure Of the bird.
Inc marks OF balls on the rocks are al
most innumerable. Not a great while
since was Induced 30 visit the bluff, be.
low the mouth Of the Illineis river and
above that of the Piasa. NV curiosity
was principally directed to the examina-
iion oil the cave connected with the a.
nove tradition as one Of those to which
the bird had carried its human victims.
Preceded by an intelligent guide who
carried a spade, Set out on my excursion.
Inc cave was extremely difficult of ac
cess aud at one point of our progress. I
stood al an elevation OF more than I50
ieet OH the face of the bluff; with barely
room to sustain one foot, the unbroken
wall lowered above ME, " lille below was
the river. After long and perilous
ciamberiDg we reached the cave. which
was about fifty feet above the surface of
the river. BY the aid OF a long pole,
placed on the projecting rock, and the
upper end touching the mouth Of the
cave, we succeeded in entering it. No
thing could be more impressive than the
view from the entrance OF the cavern.
The mississippi was rolling in silent
grandeur beneath us-high over our heads,
a single cedar hung its branches over the
clifton the blasted top of which, was
seated bald Eagle. No other sound or
sign OF life was near us-a Sabbath still
ness rested upon the scene-not a cloud
In the Heavens, not breath Of air was
stiFing-the broad Mississippi lay before
US. calm, and smooth as lake. The
landscape presented the same wild as.
pect as it did before it had yet met the
eye of the white man.
The roof Of the cavern was vaulted.
the top of which was hardly less than
twenty-five feet in height-the shape of
the cave was irregular. but so far as
could judge, the bottom would average
20 by 30 feet.-The floor of the cave
through its whole extent, was mass Of
human bones; skulls and other bones
were mingled together in the utmost cons
fusion. To what depth they extend, !
am unable to decide-but we dug to the
depth OF three or four feet in every quar-
ter Of the cavern, and still we fouad only
bones. The remains Of thousands must
have been deposited here. How, and
by whom, and for what purpose, it is
impossible to conjecture. G..
ALTON, It'll. May 3lst, 1887.