Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-04-05
MISCELLANEOUS
LEGEND OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Iowa country from the Sacs and Foxes. a
man named Pierre Leclerc, of French na
rentage, removed down the river from Du-
buque, and settled with his family in the
adjoining county, where the little town Of
Sabula, has since risen. Many years before
lie had discovered young Sac warrior "
ing wounded, and almost dying in the un-
derbrush. He had met with serious ac-
. cident while hunting, and but for timely
assistance would have died in solitude and
suffering. Lec!erc took him to his home
and carefully tended him until he could re-
join his tribe, which kindness had been re-
turned with devoted and lasting friend
ship; and he had never failed to visit his
preserver with valuable presents of fur and
deer skins every year from that time
But now period had arrived when the
Indian Ca chief Of his trbe) must bid fare
well forever, and he sought his new home
for that purpose. He was moody and sor-
rowfu!, and gave utterancc to many bitter
and revengeful expression against the Amer
leans, unwilling to admit the justice of
mutual treaty. 'W hite man thinks there
are treasures beneath our hunting grounds
SAID he, while fierce and malignant expres-
sion oyerspread his features he will dig
up our hunting grounds to find bullets to
shoot down our warriors and our red deer,
and Will drive war upon US, and our wig
vans will be no more spread on these
meadows Lcclerc endeayored to nacify
his Indian friend, VINO by-a@1 5v. hec.mc
more calm, and informed him that he was
the possessor OF very important secret,
and that if LecleIc would promise never to
diyulge it, and submit himself to his guild
ance, he would conide ii to him. The
man had sufficient confidence il the Indian
chief to make the required promise and
yield himself up into his power lie was
told he must he blindlolded and 20 where
ever the chief would lead him, immediate
ly after sunset. Lecleyc, therefore, permit
ted bandages to be bound carefully over
his eyes, and was conducted to the river
and into canoe, which, after many circui-
t0us twists and turns, was r0wcd steadily on
for several hours aud then turned sudden
ly this way and that before stopping, in or
der, as Leclerc conjcctured, to more effec-
tually disguise the direction they had taken
He was carefully conducted on shore, and
led along rough ana tangled path, break
ing through trees and bushes to effect their
progress. After several minutes Of this
uncertain course, he had to crawl on his
hands and knees through narrow passage
which seemed like low, damp cave, for
some distance, his companion urging him
on, until at last he was bid to stand upright,
and the bandagc was removed from his
eyes.
TO the astonishment Of Leccrc, he found
himself in total darkness, shut ont from
stars and sky-n0t ray of light was dis
cernable. lie spoke. and his voice resoun-
ded on all sides, rolling along from echo to
echo, like the rumbling Of distant thunder
i cold chill ran through his frame, and
his faith in his Indian freud was well nigh
failing. Had he inadvertently provoked
his ire and was he brought there to per-
ish alone? But the brave Sac warrior was
in the meantime producing light, and
setting fire to a heap Of dry rubbish he had
collected on the way. behold what won
ders were revealed to Leclerc. He found
himself in vast vault of glittering crys-
tails. High up above his head, around on
all sides as far as the remotest glimmer Of
light could reach, glittering crystals of pure
lead packed in every direction. Bright and
smooth, like millions Of little mirrors, shone
the metal. Behold the treasure that lies
buried beneath our wigwams,' exclaimed
the Indian; but the Sac warrior only knows
his cave, and he will never tell the white
man the riches Of our hunting ground
Leclerc was permitted to ramble at will,
and thoroughly convince himself of this
buried wealth, while the chief dragged in
more branches to heap on the fire but no
information could be elected, not one hint
as to the locality could be drawn from him.
And when at length the astonishment of
Pierre had abated, and his vision satiated
with the beauty Of this subterranean pal
ace, the bandages were replaced over his
eyes, and he was reconducted, on hands and
knees, along the craggy paths to the canoe;
and after a repetition OF the same decep
tive turnings, and FIVE or six hours of steady
rowing, he Was landed, taken to his home
and once more restored to the privileges of
sight.
On his death bed, Pierre Leclerc reveal
ed the secret to his son, who subsequently
spent upwards of two years in exploring
the banks of the Mississippi on each side
within thirty miles of the spot where he
dwclt; bat in vain. This treasure is still
a buried secret. That it exists, is we'll
known fact in that neighborhood; and who
can foretell the circumstance that may
sooner or later bring it to light?
This cave is supposed to be of galena, or
sulphuret of lead, whose crystals are in
cubes presenting bright smooth surface,
The existence of lead throughout that re-
oinn. extending far bevond the mining dis.