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

had no chance, so gave their atten-
lions and affections to other maidens
OF the different tribes
linus matters continued for time.
AT one time. F1eetfoot would be re-
celved with apparent pleasure by Wa
noe, who would listen 10 his tales of
bravery and the beauty of his wigwam
at his home in the Blackfeet country.
Perhaps on his next visit to her lodge
he would find Big Wolf sitting at her
feet pouring tales of love into her seem
ingly willing ears.
As was to be expected, fierce
rivalry soon sprang up between these
two 1mpetuous young chiefs, which,
only Tor the interference of more sober
heads, would have lead to open HOSTILE
ties between them, on many occasions
1t is not to be supposed that Bison
Head was ignorant of what was going
on, but up to this time he had only
been an interested observer, knowing
full well that his daughter was capa-
BILE of choosing for herself and would
tell him of her decision when it was
made. But as the open hostility of
the two chiefs became more evident
each day, and knowing full well what
dire results would follow any conflict
between the two, he at last addressed
Wahoe:
Does the daughter of the great
Bison Head desire to make trouble be-
tween the two young chiefs, by giving
neither an answer to his suit?"
NO, great chief. my father; but
Wahoe does not know to which she will
give her heart. Both chiefs are brave.
and Wahoe does not wish to wound the
heart of one by leaving the lodge of
my father and going to that of the
other Will my father tell Wahoe how
to decide?"
MY daughter must do that for her
self Bison Head will not command
his daughter. Both Fleetfoot and Big
Wolf are brave young chiefs and worthy
to enter the lodge of Bison Head and
bear away his child to their own peo-
pie. The Blackfeet are no more our
friends than are the Sioux, and both
are powerful nations. If my daughter
wants to depart 20 the distant lodge of
| Fleetfoot, It's well; but if she would
| prefer to remain nearer to her own peo-
| pie and enter the lodge of the Sioux
| chief, Bison Head would be pleased.
| Your father has now spoken; his
daughter must decide
After her fathers departure Wahoe
sat for long time without any visible
| signs of life, except an occasional sigh
which escaped her. Finally an idea
seemed to have gained possession of
her, for she suddenly arose, passed
quickly from her lodge to that of he
father. On entering the tent of Bison
Head she Immediately said:
My father, | have decided. Do you
see the high rock which stands near
where the water falls over the ledge
and which looks so much like the face
of great chief?''
Eyes, my daughter; but what does
my child expect to do: throw herself
from its top into the water below, and
in that way end the strife between the
| two young chiefs?''
NO, my father; Wahoe loves life too
well to hurry herself to the land of the
Great Spirit by doing anything SO rash.
But Fleetfoot and Big Wolf are both
| brave and daring and have told me they
would do anything to show how much
they love me, and as your daughters
| heart cannot decide which chief she
will go with, l have come to tell my
father that | will test the love of both.
You can tell them that Wahoe will go
to the lodge of the brave who will
leap from the big rocks to that lone
rock and return my moccasin, which |
will have my brother place there.
Does my father like the plan of his
daughter?'
IT'S WELL" replied the chief; Il will
tell Fleetfoot and Big Wolf how my
daughter has decided
1t took but a few hours for the news
of.the test given by Wahoe to be carried
throughout the numerous tribes on the
plain, after Bison Head had called the
| two chiefs before him and given them
his daughters ultimatum.
| Both gallant braves at once ac-
guessed in the plan of the maiden. al
though they knew it might mean death
or terrible injuries to them to attempt
the feat, should they fail to accomplish
it, as the leap had never yet been made
by man.
The rock in question was tall piece
of granite standing like lone sentinel
about fifteen feet from the main ledge,
| overlooking the falls, and was about
thirty or forty in height, having evil
IDENTIFY been detached from the main
| ledge by some volcanic CONFUSION of
| past ages. AS the space on top of this
bowlder was only about foot square,
it will be readily seen that man must
be sure-footed if he landed on its top
and retained his footing. This fact,
more than the distance. made the jump
| so dangerous.
| 1t was decided by Bison ii cad that
the contest should take place at the
| going down of the sun on the following
| day.
| As the attentions of the two young
! chiefs to Wahoe Were well known to
| all the Indians assembled, the an
nouncement of the dangerous contest
| between the two was the one exciting
| theme talked of that night and the next
day in the tents of the red men.
AS possible safeguard, to the minds
| of the untutored savage. both young
chiefs spent the entire night alone in
their tents chanting their death song,
that they might be prepared to enter
the happy hunting grounds should they
meet their deaths in attempting their
love test
On the following day as the sun be-
rrar 70 Sipl. towards tho homo of E1ant-