Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-03-12

ANCIENT INDIAN LEGEND CONCERN
ING THE MILFORD SPRINGS.

daughter Chooses Between Two Bucks.
Assassination and Vengeance,
While wandering about the Lithium
springs, just at the edge Of the little village
Nf Milford, one day, the writer remarked the
large number Of Indians in the vicinity. An
inquiry developed the fact that the regener+
ated sayages Of the Omaha, Otoe and Pawnee
tribes pay frequent visits to that locality and
always carry off with them jugs and bottles
Of the water. The sight Of a half dollar and
little persistent questioning induced an ugly
warrior, with a six word name, to tell why
they came so far from their reservations to
partake Of the water His story is one of the
legendsof the tribe, and was as follows, minus
the broken language used:
Many years ago the Otoes and Pawuees
were united under one tribal organization,
and were presided over by wise chieftain
named Quenchaqua Under his leadership
happiness and prosperity reigned Their viii
lagos were surrounded by fields of corn and
their huts filled with the skins of the buffalo
and antelope.
Quenchaqua had daughter, who was called
Shogo, the fairest and sweetest of the prairie
flowers The trophies of the chase adorned
her wigwam, and she was known and hon
the young chieftains of the allied tribes, none
were more assiduous in their attentions to
the fair young princess than Kalhama, or the
Pawnees, and Popotne, of the Otoes. Both
Of these youthful warriors were brave and
noble, as warriors go, and for long time
Shogo was unable to make any distinction in
her affections between them. At last, how
ever, she decided In her inmost heart that,
chp of ba l-aH
Kalhama better In this comparative judg-
ment the aged chieftain, Quenchaqua, coin
cided. As is ever the case, the course of true
love did not run smooth, and trouble ensued
between the hitherto friendly tribes very
soon after the espousal of Kalhama and
Shogo.
A division of territory became necessary
and the Otoes were given the land east of the
Big Blue river, and the Pawnees broad ex-
panse of territory west of the river The
prairie on each side of the river for quite
width remained ieutral Experience prompt
~ proved the folly of separation, and, while
maintaining individual organizations the
two tribes again came to an amicable under
standing, whereby, in case Of an invasion,
union of forces was assured. This treaty
continued in effect until the death Of QUEEN
chequa, which, according to the most anthem
tic accounts, must have occurred some time
prior TO the time when the Spanish general,
Coronado, entered the territory now known
as Nebraska in quest of the seven cities of
Cibolo and the magnificent capital of the far
famed King Tartarnax.
The death of the great cheftain was fol-
lowed by several years Of enlargement.
Finally Popotne sent a swift messenger to the
camp of Kalhama and requested him to meet
the Otoes in council assembled at the Salt
Iicks for the purpose of an amicable adjust
ment of the difficulty The Pawnee chieftain,
ever ready to form union with his powerful
brother, obeyed the request, and taking with
him a few Of his wise counselor5 wendell his
way toward the rising sun TO the appointed
place of meeting, buoyed on by the litSesome
Shogo, whose queenly bravery, as she rode
her spotted pony toward the scene of her
early childhood, dspelled any dark forebod-
ings that might have lurked in the breast of
Kalhama as he thought Of meeting his old
rival. Arriving at the designated spot, the
weary travellers quenched their thirst at the
bubbling springs and exchanged greetings
with their brother braves
The presence Of their beauteous Shogo
aroused a dormant feeling OF Jealousy in the
Otoe chieftain, and despite his good inten-
tions the prepouderance of native treachery
inspired him to deal a stealthy blow at Kali
hama who succumbed TO the unlocked for
attack. The deed was done; but the aveng
ing spirit Of the aged Quenchaqua arose from
the spring and slew POpotue and put to flight
his warriors, who were about to follow the
example of heir leader i'll wagng war of
annihilation on their defenseless guests. The
spirit of Quenchaqua, Selling the tomahawk
of the dead slayer, washed the blood stains
away in the waters which were Immediately
turned to bitterness. 1t was decreed by the
outraged spirit that the water should be unfit
for man or beast until many summers and
winters had passed away.
Then, turning with the weeping Shogo and
her followers, the party sorrowfully departed
in the direction of the setting sun. One-haf
days travel brought them to Il rapidly flow
ing Stream, where waters sparkled over rocky
beds, Swallowed by gigantic trees and winding
vines. Proceeding to the western bank of the
river the spirit of Quenchaqua smote the rock
under huge elm tree and out sprang n crys-
tai fountain of pure water, over which the
sad hearted Snogo presided, healing the
wounded and curing the sick of the nation
until the Big Medicine Water came to be re-
gardod by the sayages as a SanaCea for all
ills. Shogo was now the Acknowledged owner
of the Blue valley. Her gQs.d deeds and self
sacrificing devotion TO heI people resounded
throughout the nation, and she was the re-
cipient of many hCucrs and worshipped as
one who had direct communication with the
Great Spirit,
A high prOmontory, situated a few hun
dred yards south of the Big Medicine Water,
adorned by stately oaks and overlooking
Kego rapids, where the waters Of the river
wash the sepulChered banks was the quiet re-
treat of Shogo rs she watched the rising sun
and appeared TO hold secret communion with
the departed Prince Kalhama. This habit
gave prominence to her supposed supernat-
ural powers, and this picturesque elevation
was held sacred by her dusky followers.
Years passed away, and a strange people,
clad in helmets and armor of brass, came
from the south "a portion OF Gen, Coronados
army, and, hearing the sad story Of the lu-
dian queen persuaded her that the one she
mourned now inhabited the happy hunting
grounds many hundred miles to the south
west, beyond mountains aud streams.
She was willing TO undergo the hardships
of a dreary march for the sake Of joining
the companion of her youth and husband
Thus allured she was persuaded to ACCOM-
pany the cavaliers with a few trusted follow
ers, and after the sacrifice Of few spotted
fawn on the promontory aud the dedication
of the springs to the afflicted of her nation,
she bade them farewell forever, neyermore
to he seen, butever vorshiped as the guardian
spirit Thus ends the legend
The Big Medicine Water is the Lithium
springs at Milford, and the place where the
rudely awakened spirit of Quenehaqua turn
~