Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-08-04
INTERESTING MISCELLANY:
Fran The Na'ioaaI Era
LEGEND OF TIE STARVED ROCK

11OAg anu HcrcCIE Hdu savage warfare
been waged between two hostile tribes in
the Far West. From the shores of Lake
Michigan to the banks of the Illinois, step
by step, the invaded tribe had commended for
the homes of their wives and children, and
the burial places of their fathers; and as the
triumphant invaders sped onward in their
wild career, leaving behind them the smoul
derng ashes OF the Wlgwam and the man.
gled forms of helpless infancy and feeble
old age, fainter grew the hopes of that fee
bic but gallant band of successful resistance.
Already had the last village been assailed and
what was once the peaceful home of many
happy hearts was near pile of smoking
ruins; the dismal howl of the wolf alone
bro e the fearful stiffness of the dark forest
which had SO late resounded with the hap
py sounds of life.
The Illinois, once a numerous and pow
erful tribe, claimed as their hunting grounds
the beautiful praries, and gently sloping
hills crowned with majestic forests, that
stretch in rich luXurlance from the shores of
Lake Michigan to the banks of the Mlssis-
sppi. In an evil hour, the Pottawotames
tribe inhabiting the eastern shores oflake
-ltNIilSdll, SulIth up ny lidN NploI lOC VI
the red man, Fire WATER" for imagined
wrongs or to glut savage thirst for blood,
Waged war of determination against the
Illinois.
Driven backward, stillforccly contcnding
for each foot of soil they claimed as the
gift of the Great Spirit, the feeble band of
the Illinois, vanquished in battle, yet dis
daine1 TO surrender meekly to their foes,
Ike a stag at bay stood beneath the tower
erlng bluff of their own river, glarlng upon
their surrounding foes, in all the impotence
of rcvengeful despair. Suddenly with a
wild cry, they spring forward, scale the
cliff, and far above their foes rings out the
shrlll war cry of defiance and death.--
Alas short is their triumph. The willy en-
envy sees and at once secures his prey; the
cliff stands insulated on the banks of the
river, rising full hundred feet above the
surface of the water, and towards the land
1t is inaccessible save at one point. On
every side were the besiegers, with the
deadly arrow pointed and the tomahawk
upllitcd. Close beneath the cliff lurked the
canoe, with its murderous occupant, ready
10 impaIe the desperate wretch who, mad
should ling himself headIong into the cool
waters beneath.
Night came on. Weary and exhausted,
the bcsicged lay down on the barren rock.
The twilight dew fell softly on their burn
ing brows, and the cool breeze played amid
the dark locks. Many an eve was turned
upward in thr silent watches Of that night
and faith leebIv slrove to lift the dark pail
that shawoWcd the future. Somewhere
beyond those stars lay the happy hunting
grounds which their fathers, trod, and TO
which their wiycsand little ones were beck
oNiug Them. Fierce memories of the dlrll
st.ilr, even the deep burning for revenge
were forgotten in the cool quiet o, lha at
tumnal night. Life as a dream had passed..
lis wild hopes, lis burning desires. Its deeds
of daring, were remembered no more
Slowly from their midst aros an aged chief.
His white hair cleaned in the wan star
! CHI, like the mist on the brow OF the d}rN
IuIs. Every eye was enchajnra; the d'cp
breathing of the warrior alone broN" The
stiffness. MOurmtui rs the sound Ut the
mulllad drum, or The waiing OF the autnmn
wind, rose the chant of the death song
The owl answered from her lonely retreat,
and from the cchoing cliffs toe sad wall re-
Ner0eratcd along the shores OF the river
The aged warrior sang; and, as memory
retraced the wears of his life, with kindimF
eve he rccounJed the deeds OF daring he had
done: When the Illinois, numerous rs the
buffalo ON the plain, held all the nrj-hyor-
Ing tribes in awe--When the.r warriors
were swift Of foot and sure of holu--auj
while the deer and panther and bear wee
an easy prey, their war cry echoed through
the forest, and the scalpS Of their enemies
were in every wigwam. Irmmphanily
rang the song of the chieilaIn, and quick as
through the yanquishcd warriors sprang to
their feet, iicrcely brandishmg the battlc-aXe
above their heads, and yelling the war
whoop.
As the last faint echo sighed across the
bosom of the waters, plalntiye moan. like
that of the turtle dove, was heard from the
depths of the ncighboring wood. \ noble
brave, who after Joining in the cNuItmg
war whoop, had thrown himself despairlng-
" upon the ground, rose, and, bending ca
gcrly forward, listened to the faint cry
Again il was heard. The warrior sprang
forward, and had no. his intention been
seen, and strong arm prevented, he had
thrown himself headlong from the cliff,
to find death or deliycrancc in the waters
beneath.
In the wild uproar and confusion of the
attack upon the last village of the Illinois,
a young matron had escaped with her child
from the horrid massacre. and concealIns
herselfin the forest. had followed for days
on the trail of the pursuers and the pursued,
subsisting upon wild fruits and nuts, hear
ing her child in her arms, and living only
in the hope that her warrior would yet TIL
umph, or that she should share his fate
She had traced them 10 the fatal rock, and
with woman's love in her her heart, nerving
her feeble arm, she resolved TO attempt his
rescue.
Silently as the autumn leaf on the bosom
of the wave, light canoe gides within the
A shadow of the opposite bluff. The moth
er sat with her child, cautiously moving
the lrail bark. and as, favored by an over
hanging tree, it shot out partly across the
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