The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-10-02
Miscellaneous,
From the National Era.
Legend of the Starved Rock.

! West. From the shores Of Lake Michignl
to the banks Of the Illinois, step by step, the
| invaded tribe had contcndcd for the homes
Of their wives snd children, aud tho burial
| places Oftheir fathers; aud us the triumphant
| invaders sped onward in their wild career,
! leaving behind them the smouldcring ashes
of the wigwam and the mangled forms of
helpless infancy and feeble old age, fainter
grew the hopes Of that feeble but gallant
band, Of successful resistance. Already lIud
the last village been assaicd; and what was
once the peaceful home of many happy
hearts was now pile of smoking ruins; the
dismal howl ofthc wolfulone broke the fear
fu Stiffness Of the dark forest which had so
lntcly resounded with the happy sounds Of
life.
The Illinois, once numerous and power
lul tribe, claimed MS their hunting grounds
the beautiful praircs,and gently slopng hills
crowned with majestic forests, that stretch
in rich luNurancc from the shores of Lake
Michigan To the banks of the Missssippi In
AN evil hour, the Pouawatonics, II tribc in
habiling the eastern shores of Michigan stir
ed up by that worst foe OF the red man, Fire
Water for imagined wrongs or to glut say
age thirst for blood, wagcd war Of eXlcr-
minaiion against the Illinois.
Driven backward, still fercely condcnding
for each foot Of soil they claimed us .hc gilt
20 ''' N''"' ,P'''S '.' ittp'' pli'u VI NV III
inois, vanqushed in battle, Yet disdaining to
surrender mcekly TO their foes, like n stag NJ
bay stood beneath the towering bluffs otlher
own river, glHring upon their surrounding
foes, in all the impotence OfrCvCugtul despair.
suddenly with wild cry they spring for
ward Scale cllll ahG lar above thelr Toes
r'hES OUT me Snf'II war cry. OF nehancc ana
ht%'h. Alas snort Is their triumph. lhe
WY enemy sees N III once secures ms prcNi
IL. II. a l.. H.. 4
'i'c cI'Ii STANDS insulated on inc pahks OF the
RIVER rIslnE luIi hundred lett above thc
surface OF tnG wafer ana towards me lald II
Is ihacccssahIc save III one point. On every
s'"e were thG beslegGrs' with INC deadly ar
row" row, Po'hted' ana ulS t3haIla"N uPllItcI'
CloSc oG''c"'' me c''l lurNcU ''le C"hoG'"th
us ihurucro"" oCcu pant, rcaI! 10 'L'pale 'he
desperate "I''cH "Ho 'l"uuGhU" ny 'lIrsI,
IN moment OF frenzy shou'u hihS hln'scIi
hcauIohS III lhc cool wafer nehea'h.
Night came. weary ana exhausted, inc
' 'esitStu ''y "om ~ Oh We o"r'en toch' nc
t .M",5"t uS" le'l 10y On tIJ" cI' mug
GtoMS' Iil" '1G COZ ntct|c l'iaycu ann" MGR
u "a ,i IoCHs. MANY an eye was turned upward
~ .'c S'icl' Wo'cnes OF 'Il' 'eariu' n'gn',hnu
lH az leep,y s'roEe 10 I'LL ,ne DARK pail u'at
s'''"o"' e." ''o tu'uie' oo'i'eN .'eIo u'! o""
''' S St"'s '"H NV n'IiH ""'''IT i"H'
".''V" 'HTir II''lclS "'NR ""u ~ " III" ,I''
W. W!Nes ana i'''e ones were pecNonlhS 'hcil'
'cr'G memories OF the dark stFIIe, even me
IeeP "lriIu% Iot revenge were IorEolen IN
a',o cGo' 'l''IS' 81 'hc o'l'" ,,'''ai night LIE
% u''",i n"u i'"SSC"' us WI" hoPcS' IT'S
burning utsFes' rs deeds OF daring were re-
'hei"pcre" no more SONY from lheir
must "r"se an "Scu c"lGi' IIs "hI'c lia'F
S'catheu III inc wan slarliSlit' axe nIc must on
INC pro" OF me ozark hliIs; Every eye was
enchaihed: the deep breathing OF me warrior
"ioile o'ohc me stlIiuCss' Mourhlui us INC
soulu Oh INC lnuilGd uruip' or me waning OF
'he autumn "Inu, rose me cnaht Oh 'lio ueath
song ne owl answered rom hcr lohclN
hes'' ana rom tle echoih% GINS 'l!e s"u wan
rcVerperatsq along inc shores OF inc river
The aged warrior sang; ana, us memory re-
traced The years OF ms lie, WIN klhuiihS eye
he recounted tue deeds OF daring he mad
done: when the limos numerous as inc
buffalo on The PAM held n'l III" helshpoIlng
tribes IN awe-Whei thelr warriors were
swift OF foot ana sure OF hGhu-"ha "iile me
deer ana panther ana pear were an easy prey
their war cry echoed through the forest, and
the soaps or tiicr oneimes were III every
WgWatn. lriunpilnntly rang the song Oh
the ch'eitaIn, and quick as thought the van
pushed warriors sprang TO Their ieet' hercc-
~ DrandishIng the battle axe ABOVE th"lr
heads, and yelling the war hoop.
AS the last faint echo sighed across the
bosom o.! the waters, a plaintive moan, Ike
that of the turtle dove, was heard from the
depths OF the nel%hborlng wood noDle
brave, who after joining i'll the cNulung war
hoop, had thrown himself dcsparingly upon
the ground, rose, and bending eagerly for
ward, listened TO the lAlht cry. AGAIN. II was
heard. The warrior sprang forward, aud
had not his intention been seen, and strong
arm prevented, he had thrown himself head
long from the cliff to find death or deliver
ance in the waters beneath. In the wldup-
roar and confusion of the attack upon the