Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-04-16
!. .MIisce!Ianeolls.
THE LEGEND OF THE
STARVED ROCK.
BY N. w. JANAvR1N.

BY II. w. JANAVRIN. '-
In the Far West, where broad rolling
prairies stretch away for miles in billowy
undulations-whe the bold mountain
Gus cliffs rise abruptly to the azure sky,
crowned with dark frs and cedars-not
far from the head waters of navigation
on the Illinois river, and towering up
from the bank of the stream, rises
Starved Rock"
Its walls are of dark grey stone, half
yeiled with elambering wild vines and
trailing MOSES, as some old dilapidated
castle, relic Of feudal times, stands bu-
lied in the drapery which long ages
have woven about it-and broken para
pets of stunted cedars and frs frown
threateningly upon the daring adventu-
rer who attempts to ascend its precipi-
tous sleeps. A. narrow, almost perpen-
dicular path, on the opposite side of the
river, is revealed as you make a circuit
of the base of the cliff; and here, he who
would attain the highest elevation of
the rock can ascend.
There is fugitive tale, commemora-
ting the events which gave this wild cliff
so strange a name, coming down to us
from those early times when the red man
was sole lord of rock and river and roll
ing prairie-a little record Of the VEN
seance' of the Indian race, and again
relate 1.-The Legend of the Starved
Rock"
Long years ago, the brave and noble
Indian Chief, Oronee, leader of pow
erful tribe inhabiting the region adjoin-
Low
ed the gentle maiden Ulah, daughter of
his rival chicftain.
Oronee was young and brave; at his
belt hung the scalps of hundred of his
foes, whom he had slain in battle fray;
his arm was strong, his eye was keen as
the mountain eagles, and no warrior in
the chase could bring the feet deer or
the fierce panther SO surely as he.
Utah was young and fair, with eyes
ike the evening star, and 'dusky locks
like the gathering shades7of night. Her
lhears went out ia meet the brave -Oro-
nee's, and when he told her that his wig
wan was spread with the softest furs,
and asked her to share it, saying he
would, for her, chase the deer and bring
down the strong eagle in his flight
then she turned from her STERN fathers
lodge and went with the young chief
tain. s'a's5
Ne-pow-ra missed his daughter from
his lodge. When he came back at night
from the tolls of the chase, she sprang
not forth to meet him; when he return
ed from the battlefield, or the deadly
ambush, exulting in victory, she came
not, forth to sing with his braves the
.war-songs of her race. The daughter
of a chieftain was tn the wigwam of his
deadlicst foe. He could not brook the
insult; aud gathering his bold feet war
riors about him around thescouncil-fre
told them the wrong he had suffered
and bade them follow him for revenge
Day after day, night after night, saw
them on the trail Of the fleeing enemy
guided surely by the heavens above and
the forest wiles beneath, Westward
the stars of night led their footsteps; anG
westward the sunbeams, revealing bro
ken shrubs, and trampled leaves and
mosses IN the tangled wildwood, gave
token that they were on the right trail
=. And westward, too, fed Oronee and
his braves, fleeing for life, and whatwas
dearer than life itself to the young chief
the safety of his beloved; and on the
fourth day, the eagle gaze of the fugi
tives saw the waving plumes of theil
pursuers in the distance. Before then
rose bold and high the huge rock on tn
brink of the Illinois-behindt them cam
the ienraged father, with the fierce war
riors of his tribe. :. Upon the wind float
cd the wild cries Of vengeance, and dan
Heing, ever nearer came those eagl
spluInes. .,sFss.'.sIs; ~ ilrs , f-.-.r
l~.4lThel pursued lchief, with his dusk.
maiden and a,small band of faithful fol
lowers, fed to the rocky fortress to tn
tower Of strength Which rose precipitous
" in their path. ~ 'iia '.'.s ,.-.re
Iron, on, camc the pursuers, with vii
shouts and unearthly yclls-on, on, an
nearer yet, until they had reached tn
base ofthe cliff, and then singing a lou
Iwar-song they rushed swiftly up tn
narrow steep path. s~-,y .a
-H..But the young chieftains S arm Wa
strong, and his arrows swift and sure
and his braves resolved to fight to III
,death; SO, pne after another as they ha
slmost gained the summit of the elf
were pierced by the unerring shafts c
athe archers. above, and fell back lifeles
among their comrades below. And the
falling in this attempt, with half the
band lying bleeding and dying anon
aitbem; the SURVIVORS closed in dark Sc
-tried ranks around the base, and wit
.sullen silence and invincible determin;
ton, tiornl awaited a lingering death of the
victims on the gloomy, sterile fortre
b9Ye.ns.3 nj c.;L.s,. -s.I
Day after day the sun rose in the OF
ent; Wheeled across the burning hea
= ems slowly to the western horizon,
midday, fingiDgdoWn scarching beam
i,And attwilight, throwinglon lengtheel
.. ing shadows eyer wafer, wood aud rol
ing prairie. but to those on the high cl
no relief came. Il - ~, } :.
iaIIf Still, the witheFing' sun beams f
upon them, drying up their very LIT