Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-19
A LEGEND OF ILLINOIS.
The Valuable Mine Once Worked
by the Brave Kaskaskia Indians.
4 Wonderful Romance Accorded to o
Gloomy Cave - Marvellous Stories of
Beautiful Rock Formations. Strange
Fish and Precious Minerals.

lCor. St Louis Republican,
1t is told for fact that while Kas-
kasiia was a trading post and Indians
were yet living in the vicinity that parties
of red men would disappear for few
days at time, and on their return would
bring with them lead, rudely smelted.
Their movements were conducted with the
utmost secrecy and no white man ever
found clew to the place where it was OBJ
tanned. There is in the bluffs on Gravel
creek, about two miles from this city, an
opening in the rocks large enough to admit
a man, which leads into a cave which mas
never, by any of the present generation,
been fully explored. Many people there
are who believe the cavern is the
passageway to the hidden mine whence
the Indians obtained the lead 1t is called
the Indian cavei' and has been explored
for about a milo of its depth by some Of
the older inhabitants.
Many marvellous stories have been told
of beautiful rock formations hidden in its
depths; of stalactite, staiagmite and crys-
talhzations of various forms and colors; of
stream of water crossing it with fish tho
counterpart of those Of the Mammoth Cave
in Kentucky, without eyes; of bats which
fly and futter in the gloomy recesses; of
the nevis or transparent lizards that scam
per over the Shiny floors and walls. Many
there are who believe that thorough ex-
Iioration of the cave will result in the dis
covery Of the hidden lead mine of the In
dams, but no one as yet has SO far ''backed
his judgment" TO such an extent as TO I'M
dertake the exploration. 1t is belief en-
tertained by many here that lead exists in
the hills somewhere in the vicinity Of the
cave, and prospecting is done almost every
season in the hope of its discovery. In the
locality are found the ruins Of what are
taken to have been crude furnaces; stones
that have been subjected to intense heat,
the position showing them to have been
built up at some time by the hand of man,
the foundations regularly laid upon the
ground Flint arrow-heads, axes and
mounds found in tbs valley, on the bills
near the creek, prove that it was once the
home and hunting ground Of the aborigines.
Superstition accords TO the cave TO
nance second only to the history Of Alad-
dins wonderful lamp. 1t il an Indian
legend tn the effect that on the plateau
above the opening of the cavern there once
dwelt an ancient medicine man, q sort OF
wizard, feared and respected by his own
and neighboring tribes; a sorcerer who, by
magic spells could bring disaster on any
one who incurred his ennaity and whose
displeasure was consequently feared Be
lived entirely 10 himself, holding but little
communication with his neigbbOrs. at
times be would disappear uystsriously;
for days he would not be seen, but when be
did reappear be was possessed Of curious
pieces Of metal and crystals Of various
shapes and coIors, which be would barter
for furs and the PRODUCES of tho chase With
the tribes around him His movements
were 50 carefully guarded that the shrewd-
est failed TO obtain the slighsest clue to his
source OF wealth Il was believed that be
held communion with spir1ss and inspired
and guided by them, be had found
a treasure house somewhere in The
bowels Of the earth, which was by watehfuI
spirits guarded from all but him, and
which no fnap could enter unless possessed
of q certain token. The legend goes ou To
say that when Questioned by the more
daring regarding his store-bo1se. the old
man would plscs bis hands upon biz breast
and say; "The secret is here, II viii be
buried with ms Il xas believed that the
entrance 20 the place was through the
cavern known to-day as The Indian
cave" and many attempts were made BY
the venturesorae abor1ginss TO reach IL,
but owing TO the spirit guartiaEs, tie
search was dangerous and ofssn led 70 dis
aster 10 trouble would h encountered
on the way until tbs stream which cTozaes
il was reached: from there az e9ort % 70
farther was vain. Tie narrow rIvz.ss II
today was thsn al eddyirg whirlpool,
strongly guarded b. gaoz1es sn1 gobli1s,
and II ID atrmpt was made 70 bridge il
the rocky hanks cared benes.h the ends q
the logs, and they fell into tbs pool 70 tEe
echoiog shouts Of deEonlac laughter
which terrified tie explorers - tka. sasy
never again coufd - fz1uced 20 90 near
she entrances Of the cavern
A. last cams tie sz1azaors Tor TIE rseaI- /
cine nan wafch al rn1st obsy. Death sp-
preached ard me old zaan rxqgessed that !
be Be Laid II q ssrcopaszus wh4ch BE had 4
prepared of ssoGe slabs On sl2s EiI 4b3Ts /
tas mouth Of TIE cave, ard taas he bs bar I
ted. Is shsn TIE Summons 20 TIE happy 1
hunting gro1aa shoald rrzch h.Gs- 81 rohe !
q fsars -SAeA he Was closksd rs wsss wAs
He did cot rsvszl bis ws.1-ksps
secret nor was Tia sala&aza discovered i