Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-20
THE BIG SPRING OF THE CHIPPEWAs.
A Peculiar and Beautiful Curiosity In the
Michigan Wilds.


Kitchi-ta-Kipi. or the Big Spring of the
Chippewas, Is really one of the wonders
of Michigan. If not of the entire northern
country. Kitch-ta-Kipi is nearly circular
In form. and nearly 200 feet in diameter.
It is 50 feet deep-a great bowl of water
clear as air and green as emerald. Nhen
the sun shines and the wind does not
ripple the surface of the water. at least
six distinct shades of green. varying from
the highest TO the darkest, are TO be
seen Ii Is asserted that under favorable
conditions all the prismatic rays are re-
fected.
The water Is 80 clear that a penny or
dime or even a pin may be watched in its
flight to the bottom, and once there
peculiar property of magnifying possessed
by the spring makes the article look seve-
raj times it's real size. The grains OF
sand can be plainly seen at the bottom.
and the places where the water boils in
at the bottom look like so many small
craters. There are dozens of places where
the water bursts in, and they vary in size
from the diameter of a dollar TO 3 feet.
In former days many dollars worth OF
silver coins were thrown upon the altar
OF the spirit of the spring. but in thes-
times visitors are obliged TO be content
with throwing pieces of tin into the great
depths. Gnarled trunks of cedars project
into the spring. These are draped with
moses In the mos, fantastic manner. ali
in the brightest green.
Many interesting legends are told Of
kitchi-t ia kipi. one is that there were
two brave sutors for the hand of a beau
tiful Indian princess, in a tribe located
many miles from the spring. At last the
dusky maiden declared her preference.
and the rejected sutton being wild with
rage planned to be revenged. When
boy he had learned many of the mysteries
of the medicine man, and so he dug a
root and brewed "A medicine that would
produce Il slow decline and death. This
he succeeded In getting an attendant OF
the princess to give her. The lustre OF
her cheeks died away, they became hol-
low, and her voice once clear and sweet
became husky. She lost courage and
courted death. and her lover became
frantic. one night when he was tossing
in sorrow in his wigwam. the spirit OF
Knchi-ta- Kipi appeared TO him.
Take your loved one" II said "and
fly by night to yon mountain. As fire.
ny | will be your guide. Follow me. To
the great bowl of the healing waters we
will go"
The young brave did as he was directed.
and the story OF the flight Is told in
poetical language. over hill and hollow,
through swamps. and across and down
streams they went. until their journey
was ended. The Princess drunk Of the
healing waters, and was cured. Finally
their trail was found. and they were
followed by the rival, but he was trapped.
The successful sutton caught him leaning
over the spring 10 take a drink, and
pushed him in. The sides are as steep
as a wall. and. being kept from swim
ming ashore. the priscnsS finally sunk,
his face green with rage. The Indians
have always believed that II is the re-
Election OF the drowned Indians face that
makes the spring SO green.
Another legend Is told which recites the
drowning OF a great green eagle in the
spring, and il is said that II one has
good imagination, he can see the outlines
of the big bird lying with outstretched
wings TO this day.
The famous spring is located fourteen
miles from this village. out of 1t flows
a brook into Indian Lake. so deep as to
be easily navigable for canoe and row.
boat. One way OF reaching the spring
from Manistique Is TO drive to Indian
Lake. cross the lake in a boat, and then
ascend the outlet Of the spring