The evening world., 1889-07-11
GHOSTS OF POMPEY's PILLAR.
Phantom Cnmp. Of Indian Warriors and n
Gigantic White Elk.

tProm y For,y,h tNon.) Spscioil
Everybody has heard of the expedition Of
Lewis and Clarke up the Missouri River and
across to Oregon in the year 1906.
About the only truce left TO designate any
Of the points visited by the expedition is II
rudcly carved name, wv. c. Clarke, July
%. 1906 ON "Pompey's Pillar" a huge
rock on the south side Of the Yellowstone
River i'll Montana, close TO the line of the
Northern Pacific Railroad and Just within
tho present limits of the Crow Indian Reser-
vation. This rock is about eighty feet high,
in general shape round and stands in the val.
Icy entirely isolated from all other rocks, and
the summit can only be reached from one
side, the eastern. Tho inscription on the
stone, ncnr the top. hns always been n mys-
terry To the Grow and Sioux tribes, and there
are individual members in onch who have
related some mnrvellously strange tales of
the sights witnessed there, as also have trav-
ellcrs and hunters who have had occasion to
camp near by. Strange camps of Indian
warriors have frequently been seen at the
rock and other sights indicating the death
and slaughter Of some one or more Of their
race. One of these ghostly scenes that per
hnps frightened the copper. colorcd witnesses
more than any other was that of q very pecu-
llar-looking beast which seemed TO come up
out Of the Yellowstone River, which flows On
the north side of the rock. and devour hosts
of tiguratiVe red men, and even consume
whole villages Of women and children. And
then the witnesses of these sights imagined
TINT they heard strange sounds. such ma cries
and groaus, emanating from the vicinity Of
the Pillar" indicating suffering and tor
turc. Scalp hal oos also seemed distinctly
heard, but whether of friends or enemies
they were Mt n loss 10 account. Hence they
coull not always understand whether the
noises forebodo them evil or brought them
good tidings.
The Gtoriog NJ tho v6iia man yvbO have
camped near the rock are scarcely less won
dertul. One OF these parties assert that they
observed the gho.t Of an entire camping nut
fit of hunters and explorers, which they
believed no other than hat belonging TO the
Lewis aud Clarke expedition. the number of
the individuals corresponding exactly 10
those in that command. The camp fires and
the moving of the individuals were very
distinct and the guns were quite noticeable
by reason of their ontiquated resemblance to
those used III Revolutionary times, and sug-
EeSted the idea that the adventures were
among the first who travelled i'll that region
of country. The statue of a monstrous white
elk, apparently n sentinel of q flock and
standing upon the extreme summit of the rock
and looking southwark, Ia another strange
phantom TINT has been witnessed here, and
hunters are puzzled To- account for it. The
Indians who have witnessed 1t frequently, be-
llCve that il forebodes them much success in
their hunts, and are greatly pleased at its
sight and careful not to disturb 1t for fear it
IllknL Nunlhu anu CHuNe Inen Ul-luck.
Heap good elk" is the title they give 1t in
English, and many II weary hour has the eager
warrior Ian in silence not far distant from
the stone 10 watch for the appearance of the
elk, and when 1t ia,led to be visible he went
way with n Ugh" grunt. signifying his
great disappointment, and muttering some
such ejaculation to himself in Broken En-
glish. as "Ingin no kill'e game this time.
White man all heap luckee." The Sioux re-
garded this rock with nc little degree of rev.
prpnCe and numerous severe conflicts have
taken place here between members Of that
tribe and the Crows, who were for II long
time enemies of each other, the warriors of
each visiting the spot stealthily. to gain n
sight of the gigantic figure of the great white
elk. The Sioux also, when IN their horse
stealing raids ngainst the Crows, were in the
haplt of fording the Yellowstone River near
this point to watch for the phantom
animal before risking n raid on their
enemies property. Should the elk fail
TO appear they regarded fortune against
them and would often turn their way home
ward without anv spells, very dispirited.