The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-04-02

N~-~y
lar out-cropping OF a peculiar red rock,
interesting from a geologic point OF
view, but still more SO from it's his
toric associations. 1t is the famous
Calumet, or Painted Rock of the In
dams, priced by them for their pipe
bowls, and as a symbol OF the Mani
tou. Hither came warriors, for hum
dreds OF miles, from up or down tho
great river, or from far across the
prairies, for bits of this coveted red
stone, painted, as they thought by
the Great Spirit.
Among all these Western tribes q
calumet pipe became q peace-ofiering
and q token of friendly intentions:
and on their visit to the rock, or at
least while near it, the bitterest foes
sedulously restrained all exhibitions
of enmity. That celebrated pioneer
of early Wisconsin, John II. De la
Ronde, whose life and adventures form
so large a share of the folklore of the
northwest country, thus describes a
chance visit which he made to the
Painted Rock in the year 1928:
From Portage we journeyed across
to the Mississippi. | had heard a
great deal about the painted rock"
and SO, while my two partners, Nc
Kenzie and Cadott, were looking for
good places to set our traps, / went
up to see it.
/ found tae place, and soon discov-
cred the large rock, by the color and
the clippings roundit. Beiegtired with
my long tramp, | sat down behind q
bush. under one Of the bluffs near by,
to rest; while lying there, I saw an
Indian coming up on horseback.
Drawing back a little more out OF
sight, / kept hidden, that | might
watch his motions; for | could see by
his rigging of feathers, paint and weap-
ons, that he was q chief ofsome tribe,
which | Judged to be the Sioux.
He was powerful fellow, armed with
q short but heavy bow, shield and
culver of large arrows; and his horse
vas a handsome, proud-steppiEg g
imal.
When he arrived at the base of the
bluff, he turned his horse loose, and
then walked about upon the rock in
silence for somemoments, his lips o
ing and working asst engaged in pray
ers. Then drawing forth q quantity
Of tobacco, he broke it mp, and scat
tered it upon the rock.
This ceremony finished, he filed his
own pipe and sat down for g good
smoke, after which he began hammer-
ing with stones and his hatchet, until
he had knocked off a large piece Of the
rock. This he began to break up into
smaller pieces, each o about the prop
er size for q pipe-bowl.
/ had Just made up my mind tosh0w
myself and make his acquaintance,
for I concluded that we should not
quarrel,-when / saw another Indian
coming rapidly on horseback from am
other direction. anxious to see how
the two would greet each other, ! lay
still.
The ew-com advanced at a gRllop
till he drew up at the foot OF the same
bluff where the first had halted. Here
he, too, turned his horse loose, then
walked out on'the rock, scattering to-
bacco and muttering his prayers as the
first had done. Presently he filled his
pipe, and then walking along where
the first was hammering at his pipe
bowls, took a seat quietly as his side.
Having lighted q pfpe he drew a. few
Willis dflu aUdttQCu IL ~ ttiC h&DN H.
S.;an, who received ~it,puffed at il fora
moment or two, then handed IT back.
They. seemed Cy their actions to be
on the best of terms; but as i &id not
see them speak together, / at length
became O littlesuspici0us Of their true
feelings towards each other. And / was
not long held in doabt; for the last
fellow having knocked eff as much
stone as be wanted, caught his horse
and prepared to depart. He vas not
nearly so large as the Sioux; but he
was even more splendidly dressed, aft
err the ann of a Pyeur, or Chippe-
wa chief, and he had a. certain fine
style about him that betokened an
Indian or note.
The Sioux, when Re saw the Pyeur
preparing TO 60, made like prepara~
tions; and the two left the bluff to-
gether, riding up in company past
where / lay hidden, until they were
three or four hundred yards away
from the sacred rock. The Sioux then
fell behind the other a. little, as If to-
part company, and when the distance
was increased to about twenty yards,
he suddenly snatched his bow and
shot sn arrow at the Pyeur, quick as
light
But he missed him. The shaft 1ew
far ahead and stuck in the sod.
In an instant the Pyeur wheeled his
| horse and had his own bow drawn
For some moments then they pir~
Quilted around each other ia beautiful
style. But Isaw at oncethat the small
Ter Pyeur wasthe better horseman, and
knew best how to protect himself and
his steed.
Never once did his horsestop swerv-
ing and Siding, always with his head
to the other. 1t was q rare spectacleI
Each Indian had his Cow and arrow
ready drawn, as they almost flew
around each other. Then whir! MhIrl|