St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-28
The Mysterious Rock.

While stopping off at Roxie some time
ago and making inquiry into the early
history of the country and neighborhood,
we came interested in tradition of what
is there known as the Sounding Rock
Mystery" Our curiosity and love of the
| traditional gave expression to desire to
visit the rock.
Our wish was gratifed by one of the
generous citizens offering transportation
and his services in plotting through. Hav
ing procured couple of the best horses in
the neighborhood and my friend tying on
small basket of lunch, we set out in a
southeasterly direction. Crossing the val
leys of several small but clear and beauti-
full streams of water, that brought to my
mind the ever cherished "old oaken
bucket" of my youth, we assembled range
of hills, or dividing ridge, covered with
the primitive long leaf pine.
Scattered as Dintervals along this range
of hills, we meet with out-croppings of
gray rocks, seemingly arranged by vol
ccanic action. Our pathway led on through
this wild and weird scenery. The pecu-
liar moaning noise made by the wind pass
ing through the pines may have some
thing to do with the reality or Imagination
of our legend however that may be, the
surroundings do not fail to produce solemn
| and meditative effect on the traveller.
Sounding Rock lies on the top of this
elevated ridge, being about the size of a
small cabin and Of dark gray color. On
the side of the rock is niche or platform,
then perpendicular rise of about three
| feet to the top, which is fiat, somewhat re-
sembling table. This formation of ma
ture we were informed was frequently
used as an impromptu pulpit to preach
from by the first white settlers.
Whether made more noticeable by the
| mysterious rock we cannot say, but it is
noted fact that in riding along this path
there is produced low, hollow sound as
| if there was a cavity beneath the surface.
Tradition goes on to say that at certain
| periods of time, late of any evening and
early in the morning while the sun does
not illuminate the spot, there eminates
from beneath this large, gray rock low
and mournful sound, resembling the noise
of person in suppressed mourning, pro-
ducing the feelings and thoughts when
listening to the moaning dove. This
sound is supposed to be the departed
spirit of an Indian maiden, "Me-a-me, !"
moaning for the return of her lover.
When DeSoto passed through this part
of the country, searching for the lake
with a silver bottom and the famous
fountain of youth" a young Indian chief
gathered his warriors to oppose his intru-
sion. Bidding his lovely bride an affec-
tionate farewell, he bade her meet him in
the evening at this rock. Hither she re-
paired decked out in silver ornaments,
with head of long, dark and flowing
hair, rivaled in beauty only by her dark
and piercing eyes, expecting to meet her
victorious lover. But, alas she was
doomed to sad disappointment. The
fate of battle turned against the red man
and the valiant chief in trying to rally his
men, fell by the white mans bullet.
This Indian maiden, true to her promise,
like the heroic Casabianca, waited on this
rock day after day for the return OF one
she loved, refusing to leave and rejecting
nourishment, until the Great Spirit sent
for her to go to the; 'happy hunting
ground" to meet her lover.-Comanaer"aM
Pilgrim, in Knoru6Ne (Miss.,) Progress.