The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-13
r IN wilkes Spiri,.l
THE MOUND oFTHE SPECTRE ELK
A INDIAN TRADITION.

Situated near the southern boundary Of n
beautiful prairie. upon which stands the town
Of Guitenbarg. in the county Of CLAYTON. Iowa
and near the base Of the high bluf'tba, looms
NJ along IT. western border, may bc seen one
Of those ancient works III art, consisting Of 8
vast mound oil earth thrown N, and deliuea-
ting with great accuracy the form II an elk.
The object that prompted this sttpeu3aus
work Of art. or the historical event which il
may have been intended To record, VIII. per
haps. forever remain unknown to mankind;
and vet, should The hand of civilization for
bear to despoil il, it may exist for ages rs
monumental memorial ofa nation long since
extinct The mind that pauses TO contem.
plate its gigantic proportions irEess lilly
prompts the eve 10 look out upon the sur
rounding scene in search OF the toiling people
employed iu its formation. while the5lstening
ear awaits with eagerneSs TO catch the merry
shout, the boisierous laugh, and cheering song
of the ancient laborer; but all around is silent
as the dead The mouotonous voice Of the
steamer. as it sweeps by upon the waters Of
the Mississippi, awakes for passing moment
the echoes ofthe surrounding hills, while the
scream of the fish hawk as she sweeps from
her eyre in the neighhorng clitiaone disturbs
the tranquility Of the scene. Not a. percept-
bic atom ofthose people remain. The very
inseparable part of tie earth. The Indians
who formerly occupied this part Of the country
regarded this mound with religious veneration
especially the Sauks and Mus quaw KEGS, sho
attributed the erection oft TO an act commem
orative of the destruction of the white elk an
animal behevedt to be endowed with supernat-
ural powers.
The tradition. as preserved by these tribes,
informs us that this animal at an early period
OF time roamed through the torest-coyered
hills of Turkey River and the adjacent eoun-
try, fearful enemy of every animal that inhab-
tied the wide range Of his haunts. Dreadful
were the encounters said to have taken place
between the white elk and the prowlng pan
ther. The former, however, by the aid OF his
powerful antlers, invariably succeeded IN
destroying his opponent. The arrows Of the
hunters would bound from his hide, and he
who bad the temerity to wing shaft at him
seldom escaped bis destroying powers At
night his eyes had the appearance of ball Of
FIRE. while his silvery- white skin contrasted
strangely with the night gloom thatsurrounded
him. SO fearful and destructive had he be
come to both man and beast, that kar-mo no
ter. the chief who ruled over the country that
embraced The haunts his destructive powers,
al length summoned his people from far and
near to national hunt of the white elk; and
while deliberating at night upon a plan Of the
hunt, with a vast concourse OF his people seat.
ed around him upon the open prairie, kar mo,
no .terarose suddenly, and with alarm depicted
upon his countenance, observed. "Look I
The council fire had become exthguished,
and in the next moment the spectre form OF
The White elk bounded through the vast throng
and plungng full upon their chef fled with
him upon the points of his antlers. A shower
Of arrows few from the twanging bows of the
surrounding hunters, but the elk bounded
away triumphantly TO the neighborfng hills,
where the mangled body of their chief was
found on the day following, filled with the
arrows of his people.
The grief and mourning of the nation for
| the loss of their chief continued for b number
of days; when ko-ne -rsh, his daughter, &C
companied by a large and ierce wolf Of the
black species, which she had reared from Q