New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-13

is shrouded in fog so dense that one cannot see
| FIVE yards rendering navigation very dangerous
among the snags and sand-bsrs
During the day we came TO the house Of pio-
reer of this wilderness, living solitary and content
many miles from any human being. lie had raised
quite wood pile. which our captain gladly took
OF him and while the boats crew were taking il
aboard curiosity led NE 10 examine his premises
At fret he had built his hut in the open prairie
near the river, but not beng sufficiently con
cfaed he had retired further back into the woods,
and there lived second Daniel Boone. He bat
was built of logs hastily thrown together, witnodt
window, door, floor or chimney-snply 81 peg
ing at the top to let out the smoke. The 'shoie
gave ample proof that be had no careful, dutIfui
spouse His furniture consisted two rifes, two
uncouth stools an iron kettle, and pile Of hay
in enc corner which served him for bed Yet be
seemed perfectly cOntented with this mode of lie
The broad prairies which border the river
appear even more beautiful 10 day Groves On
gigantic old forest trees Of cottonwood ash and
elm are seen on either hand, and these are tes-
TONED with the ivy and grapevine, forming most
beautiful bowers. They afford fine sporting
ground for myrads Of singing birds, which I'll the
air with their melody A peculiar kind ofbird Is
found in these dense woods in large numbers es-
pecially toward evening, called the parroquet Co
sprus carO'inieasis) The ivy grows here in the
greatest luxuriance often TO the hight of one hun
dred feet or more ; and many sn old dry tree
whose existence has passed away years ago Is so
clothed with this vine that il has all the freshness
Of its youthful days
Near the close Of the day we came in sight Of a
magnificent series of bills, which present con-
spieuous appearance i'll the distaRce-loOking like
gigantic pyramids covered with grass and trees.
One Of these forms a sort Of landmark for travel
ers who visit it to look at the grave of Blackbird
a celebrated Omaha chief whose story has been
told many times by different individuals. We had
made arrangements to visit the grave in the evening
but il was found more convenient to land the boat
on the opposite side Of the river. A very interest
ing legend is connected with the spot, which will
relate briefly as given me by Mr.. CulbertsOn OF
the American Fur Company: The high bluff has
received the name of Blickbird's Hill from the
fact that the noted chiefof that name was buried on
its summit. 1t is said that he made himself chief
by the numerous murders which he committed on
individuals Of his own tribe. If any man was so
unfortunate to offend him, to stand in the way
of bis promotion, be would predict his death
on certain day, when he would invite his victim
to feast and destroy him with arsenic which he
procured, and the properties of which he learned
from the French traders in the country. The fact
that all died as he predicted made him great medi-
cine man, and much feared by the whole tribe,
who were wholly unacquainted with the cause of
his power He died of the smallpox near this
place, on his return lTOU w dhnll-loH, NucIt Ht
had made a visit in company with the Agent His
dying request was to be buried on the top of the
hill, with his face toward the sum- that he might
see the Frenchmen as they ascendedand descended
in their boats All his requests were literally
complied with by his tribe. They buried him
seated upon his favorite war-hOrse, with all the
trophies of his long and successful life. Even at
tie present time his grave is considered sacred
spot by the Omahas, who make frequent visits
Al la. orif sc fnl,o ID
scarlet, ammunition, &c, to his spirit. Their
present reservation includes this HILL and is one of
the most delightful portions Of Nebraska. No in
dicatiOn Of the grave can now be seen from the
river, and unless pointed out by some one &C
quainted with the country, it would be difficult for
the stranger to determine the spot.
About twenty-five miles below Floyd's Bluff is
a lofty escarpment of yellow crOss-grained sand
stone called Chalk Bluffs from their similarity
TO real chalk bluffs higher up the river, but which
are entirely different. They are from 100 TO $50
feet in hight, and about halfway up, at least so
feet from the water, and as much from the top
of this perpendicular wall are carved out numer-
Gus Indian hierogypbics, as pipes, canoes, various
kinds of animals, rude representations OF the In
dians themselves &C The question then arose in
my mind, how came they therel Indians now
living cam account for them and call the rocks
medicine" term which they apply to all things
which are mysterious to them. They exactly re-
stnble the work on the robes OF the present In
sians and are doubtless embematical OF some i'm
portant event in Indian history. These characters
must have been carved here many centuries ago,
when that portion of the escarpment was accessi-
bic flom beneath, all traces Of which have now
been washed away by water. Similar characters
are seen in many other places, especially in the
mountains, A small creek a few miles below the
mouth of Running Water has an Indian name
which signifies Where the dead have worked
from the fact that some Of the same mysterious
carving is found on it.