The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-09-07
MHHNH NETH,
the WILD ROSE OF THE MESA.

The visitor to- Tayior's museum, in Dem
yer, Colorado, will not fail to notice
among the many curious things on exhi-
bition. the partially preserved form OF an
indian woman, enclosed i'm n large glass
case. The il may he called
il of slight build, and the shrtinlScn feat
Ures, drawn and blackcned by death and
time, convey to the bcliolder a feeling
of loathin9 and disgust. And yet this
hideous thing was once the beautiful In
dian maiden, Wahnaineta, signifyinG the
Wild Rose of the Mesa, who was the de-
light of the eyes OF her father, the chief of
the Utcs. and the pet and the pride of the
the entire tribe.
The Grand Mesa of Colorado lays he
tween the Gunnison and Grand rivers, and
il a vast elevated plateau 800 feet above sea
level, and is diversified by groves, lakes
and open parks. Astounding i'm game and
fish, il was u veritable paradise for the
Indians, and i'm the summer months they
roamed it's wide cxpanse i'm search of
game, and i'm winter their tepeesc clustered
at the foot of the mountain i'm tine shell
tered valley, where the clear waters OF
the Gunnison and Uncompahgrp meet.
Late one afternoon i'm the early fall, a
f na.i ysars w ago :%,e sns %faasF the M,t tor, swS "md
dangerous trail leading from the Mesa to
the valley. We were returning from a very
mounted on wiry Colorado broncos, and
followed d by 3 string MIsh hide ID pack m. "h'% anS
Az VII osAh
trail, we were brought to an abrupt halt.
by finding that the trail. for n distance of
slide While debating ON the best way to
bridge the chasln. we were SURPRISED mt
hearing groans coming from below us.
(lami,crinG down the rocks, we found an
old Indian suffering from internal in-
jurics, and near by Il saddle pony and n
PACK horse I'VE, mere ,y,na w.,m "r srS,,nd il' hnJ
a snd pcrciplta,ed him and his horse:
H. l. .,.nl- q. NIL.
feet below. We shot the animals To
end their suiferings, and after
grea, aii,'cnlty and labGr r,s:e.. s
After getting our animals across the break,
we constructed IL rough litter, and placing
valley as the sun was setting. He pointed
out u cottonwood grove some distance
away. and desired Ms To take him there
he said, "Therc IL the grave OF Wahna-
the wild roses orci, their blossoms there,
and fruits and skins for her spirit, aud
now ! am going tn the happy hunting
grounds of the Ctcs. i want To die near
her. that she may SHOW me the way" We
found the grave, and laying Savancro-we
learned that was his uane-bcside il, We
, he While my '.o,npamions pickesei the
horses, and made preparations for supper,
1 examined the grave. l found il was
to "a height Of about three fect,and covered
with sticks and boughs. The covering
had nd sv,d hen Ei, Sfr rn.. r .S,,shas rrnw in nro Al.
sion, and the surroundings showed that foI
years some loving hand had been ut work
.ghtinG our camp lantern / found an en-
trance, and proceeded to examine the i'm,
terror; the ground was neatly covered oveI
the entire surface with de err skins, and q
CANOPY of the same stretched OH a frame
work of sticks, protected the occupant
from the weather. With, her face to the
f sssSer ss skins s as Wa nH,anSe soSf Her S Sai,
was covered will n robe OF beaver skin,
trimmed with the bright Gathers of the
flicker and mountain jay; her hair feel
loosely over her shoulders to the ground
i'm one hand she held n branch of the
itya and each arm was encircied by half
dozen rings of alternate steel and brass
Near by was u jar of water and some driet
venison. For nearly half "a century had tina
horrible looking semblance of humauit.
reposed i'm that primitive vault. watches
and undying love of the savage. who la.
gasping his life away outside.
Later on in the night, Savanero gather
ing his strength, told us Wahnameta'
story. II was a strange scene; bencatI
the huge trees, whose leaves were rustes
by the cool night wind, the three hunter
sat around the camp fire. with gray
faces, waiting for the grim messenger tina
finally comes to all. The fire, flashing
aud fading. showed tiie form of the pros
trate Indian. and the tomb beyond, am
then left them i'm the shadow. An accu
sional snort from one of the horses, or IL,
distant howling of IA coyote. was the onl
sounds that broke the solemn silence q
the night. At his request. we placed SAY
auero in n sitting position and propp
him up with saddles and blankets, an
listened while he told us the sad TRACED
of his early life: Wahna,neta; the bea,
tiful and graceful, was loved by all VIII
knew her, with one exceptions; this wa
Aroyta. n young sqtiaw. who was /
love. with Savanero, and whose jealousl
was uncomfortable when site found tn;
Sayancro and WahnanIcta were betrothe
according to the customs OF the Ute
He'll hath no fury like IA woman scornct
and Aroyta was no exception. The ever
ing before the marriage was to take pia6
She persuaded the unsuspectiny girl tn 8
with her To the summit of cliff ovcrhan;
ing the river. on "A prst"nsc OF gatheriii
topaxes, and watching her opportuni,
she hurled her into the torrent beloy
Savanero.who happenclt to he crossing IL
river near by. saw the deed. and with -
perhuman strength drove his boat to Il
rescue of his beloved. but too late; Il
fearful fall aud the cruel waters had don
their work. and the faircst and gentle
maiden that ever plucket. a flower of Il
mesa was dead. There was mourning Il
xapxslnys fnr tho Will Rose and Say:A