Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-04-05
SPIRIT LAKES LEGEND.
An Interesting and Pretty Story
Of Indian Lore.
How Young Star OF Day and HIS Pale
Faced Captive Died ToSether-Why No
Indian Ventures on the Lake
SuporstitIous FancieS.

tribes that first peopled it, writes Mr.. J.
A. Smith in the Sioux City Qa.) Jour-
nal. Its lakes and streams alive with
fish and fowl; its prairies the pasture
ground for almost countless herds of
wild Illuminating animais;. its timber
belts furnishing convenient shelter and
fuel, while the rich soil responded
abundantly to their rudo and desultory
attempts at agriculture. And thinking
of this one is led to wonder if the same
people who fought so long and fiercely
for possession of the bleak and rugged
hills of New England and the Middle
States, and who made Of the Ohio val
ley ga dark and bloody ground" SUBJ
mitted with such comparative tameness
to be driven from these, their best hunt
ing grounds.
But it is rather for the purpose Of re-
calling one of the most charming Of
Iowa's legends than for specializing upon
the Indian hegirn that this narrative is
written. One Of the loveliest sheets Of
water in the world is Spirit Lake, now
80 widely known as Iowa's beautiful
summer resort, and with its name is
connected the legend mentioned. The
Indian name of Spirit Lake is Mime
Spirit" and the legend gives the sig
nificance of the name. One who
has only seen Spirit Lake on a
calm, bright summer day, with scarcely
a ripple disturbing the sheen of its
broad expanse, could but imagine-so
peaceful, so restful and quiet is the
scenc-that if spirits abide therein they
must surely bo those gentle gnomes and
fairies whose mission to the human fam
lily was always one of kindness. But
when one has seen it dashed to fury by
the pitiless north wind, watched it's
steely-blue, foam-crested waves roll
high up on Sandy beach or dash in i'm
potent rage against rock-lined cliffs,
while afar off masses of vapor and the
very clouds seemed to meet it's angry
surface like bosom of destruction
then it would be easy to understand
that the superstitious red man might
regard such manifestations as threaten
Ing death to any who should venture
upon its turbulent waters.
Many years ago, 80 runs the legend, q
war party of Sioux who had joined their
brethren near the great lakes in an in
cursion to drive away the usurping,
white man, returned to the tribe, bring
ing with them captive beautiful white
maiden. After many weary days of
journeying they found the camp fires of
their people among the trees that
fringed tho western shore of Spirit
Lake. The grief and beauty of the
white girl had touched the heart of
"Star of Day." son of a powerful chief,
and during the wearisome journey he
tried to soften tho hardships she en-
uured ana TO snow her the love she had
awakened in his breast. But the Door
captive had no thought for any thing
but the home and friends from whom she
had been SO ruthlessly torn, although
her heart was filled with gratitude to-
ward the young bravo, who protected
her in his rude fashion.
When tho camp on the lake was
reached tho captive was placed in
charge of an old squaw and confined in
n wigWam, where sho bemoaned her
sad fate with tears and entreaties TO be
restored to her friends. Star of Day
tried for time, as opportunity offered,
70 urge his suit, but without avail. In
vain he rehearsed his prowess in battle
or pointed to trophies of the chase
taken by his skill. His love-makinp
but added to the maiden's misory, and
her only answer to his wooing was pit
eous appeals that he would set her free.
Finally Star Of Day determined to not
only give her liberty, but to conduct her
safely to her family, hoping that such
generosity would awaken the love he
cravcd. He chose time whom most of
the tribe were absent on o grand hunt
and selecting dark and threatening
night for greater security the pair
launched out upon tho lake in light
but frail canoe. The girls absence was
soon discovered by the old squaw, and
tho alarm spread through the camp.
Other canoes were manned in chase Of
tho fugittves, and being propelled by
several pairs OF strong arms, the flash
ing light of torches ere long enabled the
purSucrS to catch sight Of Star of T,o,,,o