Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-09-24

OF the lake, after beng drawn into this
vortex, passed fer short distance below
the earth's surface, and, iFsuing forth
from cavern, rushed down into the
Pelouse river. which, at that point flowed
through a deep fissure in the basaltic
rocks to the falls below. Below the falls
the Pelouse river runs through deep
canyon for distance of nine miles to its
Junction with Snake river.
While encamped we were visited dur
ing the evening by several Snake In
dams, accompanied by their chief Run
ming Fisher" The home OF Running
Fishers band was located near the juno.
ton of the Pelouse with Snake river
where they devoted the greater portion
OF their time to fishing for salmon which
rum up Columbia and Snake rivers, enter
the mouth OF the Pelouse and ascend to
the falls. While Visiting our camp Run
ming Fisher pointed to the efiigies on the
jagged pinnacies OF rock that lowered
above the whirlpool in the lake and said
These are the representatives of race
of people who inhabited this country
ages ago, who were annihilated and
placed there by the Great Spirit in his
displeasure at their misdeeds. 1t is q
sacred spot, where those that came on
peaceable missions will not be molested
while those that come here for war and
plunder will meet with the doom that
was meted out to our hereditary foes
that inhabited the upper country many
years ago." Wishing to learn the par
tioulars OF that traditional story, I re-
quested Running-Flsher to relate IL.
Seating himself on large fiat rock that
overlooked the clear, transparent waters
OF the lake, in deep gutteral tone he
narrated in the Indian tongue the fol-
lowing interesting legend:
"Whise Crane was the chief Of a band
of Yakima Indians, the remnant OF o
once powerful branch OF the Snakes.
who dwelt with his people on the waters
of the Pelouse river. The Rlsokteet, that
fierce and indomitable tribe OF warliEe
Indians who CLAIMED the hunting
grounds from the Bitter Root mountains
TO the Missouri, took it into their heads
TO destroy this little band OF Yakimas
Knowing the deep cunning and valor oi
White Crane, who during thirty years OF
intercourse with the Blackfeet, had
learned their habits and language, they
chose q day when he was absent, and
falling upon the lnhahitsnts of the vii.
lage unawaree, they took the scalp OF
every warrior and carried the women
and children into captivity The war
party who did this deed were sixty in
number, and though succeseful thus for
they knew that upon their return to
their native village the squaws and old
men would mock them and deny them
the title OF braves il they brought not in
the scslp OF White Crane. They there
fore left fifteen of their brayest men to
lie in wait for the willy chief and mur-
der him upon his return to the village
Taking q new route, the chief returned
to his village to find it destroyed and
desolate, and, though alone, he vowed
vengeance upon his perseoutors. Life
had lost all its charms. There was moth
ing left but to gain revenge and die.
Knowing well that his enemies were
thirsting for his blood, he thought i,
prudent to hide for o while until they
took their departure, when he could
come forth and lay his deep and hopeful
plans Of retaliation and revenge. With
bis faithful bow and his quiver full Of
unerring arrows he turned to the hills &c
secrete himself He moved but slowly
as he used the most careful precauticcs
to conceal his trail, walking in the bed
of trimming streams, until at length be
found himsslf on o ledge of hard rock,
that could not leave aYen the most in
distinct traces Of human footsteps. The
chief followed il. It led between two
lofty hills, becoming every moment more
narrow. AT length he reached its term.
ination and came out of the defile on the
opposite side OF the lake from where
We are sitting. A sight burst upor
"White-Orane's view which even OF tina,
desolate moment made his heart lear
with gratitude and unspeakable
emotions. At his feet lay this lovely
valley and lake, surrounded by its walls
of impossible rock, save where he stood
A smooth lawn of green sward ran down
from the Greet OF rock to the lake, while
numerous springs, bristling and spark
ling in the sunshine, triokled into the
bubblipg bosom OF the transparent reser.
voir. Groves dotted the scene, which
promised refreshing shelter and abun-
dance of game. The chief walked slow
ly down to the banks of the lake. II
was teeming with fish. In tracing his
steps toward the south he passed be.
meath the towering pinnscles of rocks
near the whirlpool and there dis
covered thRt u RIVER passed beueath an
overhanging arch, through q cavern
from the agltated waters of the lake
while at a distance was heard the dul
roar of rushing waters. But nowhere
did the restless eye of White Crane de.
tect the slightest evidence to prove thai
mortal man had ever trod that spot.
A smile OF grim satisfaction passed