Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-22
AN INDIAN TALE.
The Legend of Grew Butte
Omaha Bee.


Near Crawford the buttes that are SC
often met in the Western country first
begin TO crop up from the prairie and
stand like outposts of the hills that lie
further west. Box butte, Coffin butte
and Crow butte are all familiar to the
residents, and around each the traditions
of the IndiaE still lingeF. The latter by
an almost imperceptible rise from the
plain, reaches an altitude of some 200
feet and then ends abruptly in an almost
perpendicular descent 10 the plains be-
low. No human being could scale the
face Of the cliff, and yet this was battle
ground Of long ago. A fatal feud had
long existed between the Sioux and Grow
Indians, but fortune favored the former
until they had driven their enemies up
the slope to the edge of the precipice.
Then with one wild charge they closed in
on them till the last Crow in the band was
forced over the edge and ended the battle
and his life on the crumbling powders
below. Once again the Sioux surrounded
a remnant of the tribe, and once more
they forced them to the same deathtrap.
It was growing dark when they had reach
ed the spot, aSd they camped for the
night SO that none of sheir enemies could
escape them, as might happen if they
charged them IL the darkness. Estab-
fishing a Gordon OF sentinels around the
doomed foe, they spent the night in feast
ing, awaiting the carnage Of the morn
And it is here the Indian romancer
weaves in one Of the simple love stories
characteristic of the people, and without
which no legend would be complete.
Many moons before Laughing Eyes,
the young and beautiful daughter of the
Sioux Chief had wandered away from the
fathers camp only TO be captured by 3
band OF rowing Grows. No council vas
necessary to decide her fate, and she v as
her captors, where they could at leisure
wreak vengeance on her for the wrongs
inflicted by her tribe. Cupid wilIed it
days Of journey had been completed
Owashna, rising young chief, was smit-
ten with her charms. Knowing that he
alone would be powerless to save her, he
rode ahead of the band, and, reaching the
village OF his people before them, he in
duced an ancient squaw to adopt her in
place hf child she had lost during en-
incursion Of the Sioux some years before.
Although disappointed in their victim,
the Grows could not dis pute the business
OF the exchange, and ere long ail had
forgotten it save Owashna and his res
cued Laughing Eyes. She had learned
the story, and In her case gratitude turn
ed to love as she listened to the stories of
her lovers achievements. When not On
the warpath, he spent his time in the
chase, and daily brought the product to
the tepee of her adopted mother.
Then he claimed her for his bride, and
it was while she was accompanying him
on the annual buffalo hunt shat q few of
them became separated and were SO sur
rounded by the Sioux. Then while the
braves were gloomiiy awaiting the dawn,
in which they decided TO sell their lives
dearly, her woman's wit was busy devils
ing the means of escape for herself and
the one she loved. Knowing that no
mercy would be shown him, she quietly
killed her fayorite pony, aId not until
she appeared before her lord with the
blood-s5eined hide did she iivulge her
plan. It was to cut the hide into strips,
and knottiDg them together form rope
down which they could escape. 1t re-
quired but few moments for the re-
naming horses TO be dispatched, but
once more she stepped forward and in
sisted upon only one rope being used.
Her request was granted, and one after
another the entire party reached the bot
tom in safety, and she alone remained
above. Then, placing a knife between
her teeth, she commenced the perilOus
descent, stopping for moment when
about two-thirds of the way down. Here
s he drew the knife hswiftly across the
rope, and, with a prayer TO the Great
Spirit, continued her aoubiy dangerous
descent.
The result was as she had expected, and
for which she had risked her life. Know
ing that many of her former kinsmen
would doubtless follow the small band of
foot-sore Crows, and she knew they would
take the same means to descend the cliff
and, unable to remove the rope, she weak
ened il were those on it would have no
means OF escape. Early next morning
the Sioux discovered their enemies had
out-generaled them, and short search
revealed the telltale rope. Each was
anxious so be the first in pursuit, but af-
ter seeing that the rope was securely
fastened, the place of honor was given
to the bravest warriors, who, one after
another, followed their chief. All went
well until they passed the place where the
rope had been cut, when the combined
weight of two Or more of them caused it
to snap, and they were hurled to death.
Others were on the way down, but were
doomed for being unable to ascend the
greasy rope. They hung suspended be-
tween earth and sky until WORKOUT ma
ture could 40 longer stand the strain,
and, they too, fell and died. The survi-
vors clustered around the edge above
them, listening to their death songs until
the last voice was silent, and then they
turned to their tepees, too appalled, by
the catastrophe to make an Immediate
pursuit..
Owashna and Laughing Eyes thus es-
capped, and evidently lived and died hap
PLY, for they are heard of no more in the
legends of nation, but the Bate that
brought them into prominence stands as
of yore, and is one of the attractions of
sightseers at Crawford.