, 1873-06-08
THE EPlASA-BiRD-..
A Legend of the Illinois,

There, amid the doubtful aspirations OF LID
present and the cherished traditions OF the past,
the good people tell this Indian legend: :
The Ottow-wahs and tho Illinois were allies,
and L;a-cah- -tello, "the Firm Oak, was their
Chief. Together they. had quiet possession OF
that country, and we're at peace with all the sur
rounding tribes. They were all happy, except
f.in-cah-tello eaddened at the mysterious loss OF
his only daughter, and the death Of her lover.
who flung himself over tho cliffs, in moment OF
despair, into the water below; but the great
Chief, nevertheless, lived for his people, and :
their ingenious sympathy buoyed him up.
As the years OF prosperity rolled by, suddenly
the Pissa-bi1d came among them, and took up
it's home in a cave in the cliffs, scarce league
to tho northward Of the present site OF the city.
Whence it came, how it received its name, or
what that name meant, is unknown. Its coming
was as sudden as it's shape was myster1ous: fos-
sessing m eagles head and wings,-the former
crested with steel,-it had the tongue OF an ad-
der. and the tail Of dragon, tipped with the
sting Of q scorpion. It had four legs, human to
the knees, and eagle the rest, pointed by the
longest and sharpest Of demonstrating alto
cether monster the peer OF which Was mover
known before or since, and which, fortunately,
left no progeny.
with the swiftness Of an arrow it would light
down upon an Indian, sink ite hoax into him, and
were taken in one day to safe its voraclons ap-
potite No one WAS safe in venturing out alone;
and frequently when group. wore oathng or
fishing, it would sweep down like winged light
ming, and carry one Oh to It's eyre IN the c1ns.
Nothing in the shape Of bird, man, or beast WAS
free from it's all-deyouring nature: The bald
eagle, primeval lord OF the castles in the crags
along the rivers edge took fright, and scared
away into the thunder'a home, and never return
ed again and the smaller birds, that once made
tbs air joyous with their lays, caught the
alarm, and .piped and csroled no more
The browsing herds Of game disappeared: the
vail Of the panther, the howl OF the wolf, and
the fierce growl Of TIA bear no more 1e,echoed @
potual lashing of the river, broke the almost
death-like stiffness.
Anxiety, starvation, and despair now suo-
ceeded the peace, happiness, and plenty OF this
Spirit should send this terrible curse, upon!
them? War Was the only shaft in tho quiyer Of
Gods wrath they had seen or felt: Pestilence
and famine, principally creatures OF civilization,
were to them unknown: OF Al the f5 ts5fo5a they R
brought the greatest; and how could they e.
cape them?
The medicine-men had invoked the interpo-
sition Of Mee-sak-kam-ne-go, the grandnlother
of mankind, who had in charge ali the poisons,
with which she could help her children when she
wished; but she listened not to thor tearfu!
supplications. She didn't care Tor them and
the demon-bi1d kept on in it's fearful work OF
destruction. Then they sought the assistance
Of Ka-po-chee-Bek, the North Wind :, but all
their earnest appeals and weird incantat1ons
failed to move it from it's wintry home. 1t Was
Indifferent to their fate. And now their solo
sy II an aRpea sna FL a9e erset e
cine-men in the surrounding tribes were asked
to come together and help them to urge that
spirit to drive the scourge away.
TieF faith msens
song they sang in their appeal. Few could sing
| tribos,-and nothing could reBist it: As the
rocks and trees danced and reoled oe1ore the
mellow symphonies OF tue lu1e o. otpnous, SO
we're deer, bear, elk, and antelope known to
come tromblingly around and submit to sact1-
fee under it's potent spell
Thsy met and, ema cholus OF anriek9 9Ia1 ana
groans, Of yolls and cries. 1here WAS one loud,
continuous, enTnest appeal 70 Inc Unseen sPl11t
living in the clouds, whose voice was louder and
stronger than anything earth had seen or ear
had heard, to give them aome louo-soun0nR
medicine, OF WIND, or ram. or sleet' OF SNOW
anything needfui to insure the destrucuon OF
1h1s oltd ana 1nen snes sauA W sno e"f'n GA
ha4sted, and waited 1of Iespo1se.
Far above tnem, te" 1eecy crouas % Here n9as- n39
ing hke aneel-pannefs 1rom heaVen pakllo-
menus nut no sonn .a%1 gn athe - =. ,a ~
yond: but they Knew tnat tne sPlrls OF inon1es 9s
| "oaio come; SO tney pauentty Wateo. 1ne
wind, rustling the leaves for moment, vas
tnougnt 70 oe me iorolunne1 or An 1penin8
storm oat' e1mnlng me Amost zettleA cnns,
It fingered awhile N t1e gnafleo eeaals, ana
tnen, 4eaRang upwa1oa alea a., a"ay N me 1osR, @
| 1aooea NUS peyono. bus stu 1ney aopeo auu
waited. SLOWLY me nouts d5Iaaggea hong ou1
T1s ha lh ~
abna fpo ahovs nes Hg nn tba KIM hnp
ne1, a,oft rno ~ haa.sn nso
toeA tonsond 4'o +nr. WE e'4h f-o1e ;ta
h5saa and 1aan;ng lila AS i've ~, thnndar lsr
5a.r tha ra++1;n1 cr,5a cansa tIsr hs.rte r.
Wy h;ab ;5 qti 1o1 zit d;aor ~
NON no;ntment Few na1onts afte5 Than n aanen;ne
e1raci istion yia1ded to nervons annrahe1a;oT
Gor'15 T. - ,,9ehi +h.+ a. sn;t r. Th,,9Jo.
%yor1d ~ ro1na 10 +1.e;r ia 2M+b.t = +ao
.vo.1d -aroo1 ;nd;frarent ~ 4har fa.s ss(or ri
| thn;r aarraat annas1a > ~ ~, ~ thon,tt -
~aa .on +oo hsrTovi5g to en+ertan and ~ tha ~rsat
,mad;cna-mao diS7n;saed + and at;11 ,1a+;esntiv
hoped and waited. ~ '''@@ N'@e4 f''O'
f1orIv thn dv;no arm dron,,ad dowr, tha at,;
oiid;n@ the hinfr.tons WITH almost ca1est;ssii sii
ssn1anHor and flinf,in, a coldan zona aronnd tha
SNOWY c'onds in tha }irma1nont above. It 1eft
| ~ 9.or13 ora iii - nar;aho5 .ra-v 49, -