San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-08-11
LEGEND OF THE PIASA.
4 Monster Which Made War on
the Tribe Of the Illini.
Half Bird, Half Beast, with the Head of
an Ok and the Beak of an EsgIe--Could
Carry Buffalo In Each of Its -Four
Talons-Where 1t Was Killed.

/ Overlooking the Piasa river, which
/ pours its waters into the Mississippi
| just above Alton, stands the Piasa
rock. About this there clings the rem
nant of an Indian legend which tells
of a brave chief, Wapatogo, and how
he saved his people from a monster.
There are people now alive who re-
member when the rock bore the rude
picture of huge bird which was slain
by Wapatogo painted there by his peo-
pie to mark his act of heroism. The
story was handed down in unwritten
tribal history and the early settlers
heard it from the chiefs of the tribe of
which Wapatogo was the foremost
chief.
At an early period in the history of
this country, says the Chicago Tribune,
a tribe of Indians inhabited the terri
tory now embraced in the State of ILL
nois. They were the Illinis, from which
the state derived its name. For many
years this tribe increased in power,
prosperity and numbers until their
tepees could be seen on its green
prairies and their canoes upon its
beautiful water courses from one end
of the state to the other After a time
change came over this happy nation.
Their hunting grounds were deserted
and their ranks decimated. Where
their people were the most numerous
and where their great chief had his
home there appeared a bird of enor-
nous size-mOre of a beast than fowl
which took up its abode on a rock over
looking the Mississippi. It's huge body
was covered with scales of every hue.
With one blow of its mighty tail it
could make the earth tremble. 1t had
a head like an OK, with the besll of an
eagle. Immense horns hung over eyes
that shOne with the fierceness of light
ming, and its four feet were armed with
powerful talOns in each of which it
could carry buffalo. When it tapped
its wings there was noise like thun-
der, and when it dived into the river
great waves rolled upon the shore.
To this animal the Illinis gave the
name of ''Piasa Bird of the Evil Spirit"
This bird Toasted daily upon the Illini
BCOy1S w 4lOAll IL bOIC Ou Ill us CldNS
The influence of the medicine men
stayed not its power. Day by day they
saw with terror their number diminish
ing to crafty the Unsuitable appetite of
the Piasa. Village after village was
d 'Strnved and confederation suread
throughout all their tribe. There
seemed nothing in the future for them
but entire humiliation.
At last Wapatogo, the brave young
chief of the nation, beloved and es-
teemed as their greatest warrior,
whose fame extended beyond the rising
and the setting sun, called council of
the priests in a secret cave, where,
after many days of prayer and fasting,
they slept. Presently the Great Spirit
appeared to Wapatogo and told him
the only way to rid his people of their
great destroyer was 20 offer himself as
a sacrifice. The young chief started up,
aroused the sleeping priests informed
them of his vision from the Great Spir-
it and of his resolve to make the re-
quired sacrifice.
Wapatogo dressed himself as becom-
ing a great chief-Put on his war
paint, and with his tomahaWk. bow and
arrows, took his position on this promi-
nent point Of rock to await the coming
Of the bird Of death, the slayer OF his
people. As had hccn directed in his
vision. many of his brave warriors
were concealed in the intcrstices Of the
rocks, each to await with arrow
drawn the time when their beloved
chief should be attacked, to Wreak
their last vengeance on their dreaded
enemy. Erect and powerful stood the
undaunted Wapatogo, calm and placid,
chanting his death song. Suddenly
there came a roar as of thunder, and in
one instant the Piasa. with a wild