St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-12
LEGEND OF LAKE PHALEN.

Many moons ago, when what is now Min
nesota was part of Wisconsin, large tribes
of Indians used to roam over the ground now
known as Phalen Park The tribes were
hostile to each other, and never let an OPP
portunity pass to visit vengeance upon their
enemy Both were willy ana war-like, the
Sioux noted for their cunning and bravery,
the Chippewas for their superior manly
qualities, but both were ever on the alert to
visit death upon their deadly foe. Amid
bower of trees and brush was located
modest silent tepee, and in it, on bright
moonlight night. singing low, plaintive
love song, was beautiful Sioux maiden. Her
subdued, sweet wild tones fioated over the
water, and ever and anon she peered out into
space as though expecting some visitor, and
yet as she thought of his coming her frame
quivered, and she shrank back into her quiet
home rs though some dreadful danger was
impending. Again she sang. Again her
eyes Frightened. She placed her ear to the
pebbly shore and listened, and then, like
beautiful fawn. she seemed transtixed TO the
spor Harki How still Listen! She hears
againi" How her heart beats! Away off
on the other side of the lake can be heard
the light dipping of paddlesl How faint and
yet how clear to her his signal
D d
A mile back of her tepee is her band. The
warriors are dancing over the scalps OF the
Chippewas. They are drunk with excite
ment. They hear nothing, know nothing
but blood; and so, seeking her opportunity,
she has gained her silent retreat-has made
her presence known to her lover and he is
eoming-not one of her own band, not
brave OF her own tribe, but gallant hero OF
her deadly enemies-no less than warrior
of the Chippewa nation; for love laughs at
all restraints. even among the rude children
of the forests. Nearer and nearer the light
canoe glides silently to the shore. 1t stops.
and, with a bound, a noble youth springs to
the side of the maiden. He clasps her in his
arms. Looking down into her dark eyes, he
says:
''El-mo-naI we have met again, and ere
another moon passes we shall be one Oh.
my necarnis-best friend-how beautiful to
know that amid all the strife of our tribes
two hearts know naught hut lover
"Piek-a-wa-ka, be braver' said El-mo-na.
He comes among danger. Hear my people.
Pick.a-wa-ka's heart be big! See the moon
light kissing the ripples? El-mo-na's heart
kisses Pick a-wa-ka!" And there, standing
upon the shore of this lake, in a SPOT SO
quiet so beautiful, so secluded, yet so dan
gerous, with the waves singing lullaby, the
moonbeams playing with the foliage of the
trees, the Indian lovers pledged their hearts
and, calling upon the Great Spirit to witness
their tldelity, clasped each other in an en-
brace of eternal love.
Listl A sound is heard in the distance
El-mo-na trembles She beseeches Pick-a-
a Far 70 70 6iSnOV-
cred! The young Chippewa brave draws his
lett arm about his love- shilding her with his
person, and with his right hind grasps his
knife With wild war-whoop the Sioux are
upon him Their tomahawks CLEAN in the
moonbeams! They draw nearer and nearer
The fatal stroke descends, when, with the
agility of a tigress, El-mo-na glides in front
of him and the knife enters her body and she
falls to the ground. Relieved of his burden,
Pick-a-wa-ka is soon conscious of his power.
Desperate with the belief that his love is
MORALLY wounded. he dashes at his enemies
and almost instantly the two assallants lie
dead upon the beach. But more of the band
is coming! He has no time to lose. Picking
up the lifeless body of El-mo-na he placed
it tenderly in the canoe, and IN mo-
ment more was padding over the lake. and
when his enemies had reached the shore, his
boat was some distance from land. He rowed
with superhuman power. reached the land
ing ON The opposite side of the lake, near
where a little stream ripples i'll laughter
down the bank, bore his sacred trust to the
camp of his tribe, and, exhausted, fell senseleSs
by its side. On recovering, a medicine man
was bending over him, and near him sat Ell
mona. her dark, brilliant black eyes fixed
upon his face. Her wound did not prove
fatal. With gentle nursing she fully recov-
cred. married Pick-a- wa ka and years after
ward. when both her own tribe and the Chip
pevas were removed far away, and when
eighty moons had silveIed their HAIR with
gray they visited the haunts of their early
love, secured permission to dwell in peace In
a quiet, lovely spot, not far from the present
summer resort Of William H. Mcintyre, where
they died, greatly esteemed by what few
whites roamed through the country at that
time in quest of fur and game.
1t is said that on still, moonlight nights a
wild, sweet Indian song can be heard float
ing over the waters of the lake, supposed to
be the spirit of El-mo-na, while light canoe
can be seen gliding nOiselessly upon the
waves as they gently dash against the shore,
where stands Pick-awa-ka waiting for his
bride.
Lake Phalen is from forty to eighty feet in
depth, with three miles of shore line, two
thirds of which are bold bluffs, affording
beautiful residence sites. With the drives
now in progress and the boulevard system
soon to be developed; with Gladstone but
one-quarter of mile from the head Of the
lake; with the Wisconsin Central road near
the head of the lake. of which that company
promises in the near future to build depot,
and the favorable attitude of the st. Paul &
Duluth railway in making Lake Pnalen
proper, near the foot of the lake. stopping
place, will soon cause this beautiful resors to
be the center of as fine park as in any city
in the United States