Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-05-14


PICE.
young chief was seen to shoot out into
space after a short run, as he made the
leap.
He had guaged the distance correctly
and landed fairly and squarely on the
small,space ON the rock. a mighty shout
went up from those assembled, which
was Immediately followed by a cry of
horror. as the form of the young chief
was seen to sway backward and for
ward and suddenly plunge headlong in
among the sharp and jagged rocks forty
feet below, where he lay mass of
broken bones and quivering flesh.
Before assistance could reach the I'M
fortunate chief, a cry went up from
those on the rocks above, caused by the
form of Big Wolf, which shot down to
the brink of the precipice and out to-
ward the fatal rock. He had failed to
guage the distance as accurately as his
rival: and this fact, together with the
fearful and as yet unknown results OF
Fleetfoot's leap, caused him to just
strike the edge of the rock, but not
sufficient to gain foothold. His body
swayed backward. He endeavored to
grasp the edges of the pr ojecting rock
with his hands. but his efforts were in
vain and with an agonizing cry he fell
through the air and struck on the rocks
below only a few feet from where his
rival lay quivcring in the agonies of
death.
The cry that now went up was heart
rending and a rush was made by those
on the plain below, who were near
where the two chiefs had fallen, to
assist them if possible.
But the awful tragedy was not yet
ended. When Flectfoot had made his
fearful jump and his body was seen to
plunge into the depths below, Wahoe
had uttered an agonizing cry and hid
her face in her hands, as if to shut out
the sight of anything SO fearful. She
only uncovered her face when the sec
ond awful shout went up at Big VOLTS
unsuccessful attempt, only in time to
see him vainly endeavoring to gain
foothold, and then with his despairing
cry disappear from sight.
In an instant her shrieks could be
heard by everybody, and before those
near her OWNED what her intentions
We're, she had rushed to the edge of the
pIcClDiCC, dLtLS loI Ill LII
slant into the depths below. she
plunged headlong from the rocks,
Those near rushed to where she ha d
stood but moment before, only in time
to see her body strike on the cruel rocks
below, directly between the bodies of
the two chiefs.
The uproar among those wild savages
was something terrible and appalling.
Bison Head would have leaped after his
daughter had he not been restrained by
some of h is band.
1t was but n few moments before a
surging mass was surrounding the
fatal spot where lay the two chiefs and
the maiden. Wahoe and Big Wo If weke
both dead, the latter having struck on
the back of his head. crushing the
skull, while the former fell with such
force on the sharp rocks that the life
was literal ly crushed out of her body.
Fleetfoot was still found breathing,
but his body was such a shapeless mass
of bruised flesh and broken bones that
to his own lodge.
The sorrow in the ca mp was great.
That night and the next day lamenta-
tions constantly arose from the tents
of the friends and families of the VIC
tins, and the following night the
bodies were prepared for burial with
the attending Indian ceremonies. A
grave was dug large enough to hold the
three, and there on the open prairie,
in close proximity to the sacred pipe
stone quarry, they laid the maiden and
her lovers side by side. the bodies of
the young chiefs placed on either side
of that of the maiden. BY the united
efforts of those assembled three huge
powders were conveyed from the
ledge near the grave and placed over
and around the spot to mark the final
resting place of the gallant braves and
the beautiful maiden.
To the rock upon which the fatal
leaps were made was given the name of
Lovers Leap" a name which it still
retains, although thriving young city
has now grown up only short distance
from the spot, while a great railroad
system carries hundreds of people daily
along the brink of the precipice from
which those three made their fatal leap.
The three powders that marked their
graves have correctly been termed the
Maiden and Her Lovers by the MANY
curious visitors who have since visited
the spot and wondered how they came
there at that distance from all surround
ing rocLs- G. EDWIN WELLEs.