The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-22
BIG SPRING OF THE oHIPPEwAs.
A Peculiar and Beautiful Curiosity In
the Michigan Wilds.
From lie Chleago Record

From the Chicago Record.
Manistique, Mich, July 1.-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.
Kitchi-ta-Kipi is nearly circular in form,
and nearly 200 feet in diameter 1t IS Is
feet deep-a great bowl Of water, clear
as air and green and emerald. When the
sun shines and the wind does not ripple
the surface of the water, at least six dis
tinct shades of green, varying from the
lightest to the darkest, are to be seen. II
is asserted that under favorable condi-
tions all the prismatic rays are reflected.
The water is so clear that a penny or a
dime or even pin may be watched in its
fight to the bottom, and once there a
peculiar property of magnifying pos
sessed by the spring makes the article
look several times its 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 cratets There are dozens of places
where the water bursts in, and they vary
in size from the diameter Of dollar TO
three feet. In former days many dollars
worth of silver coins were thrown upon
the altar of the spirit of the spring, but
in these 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 most fantastic
manner, all in the brightest green.
Many interesting legends are told Of
Kitchi-ta-Kipi. One IS that there were
two brave suitors for the hand of beau
tiful Indian princess, IN a tribe located
many miles from the spring. At last the
dusky faced maiden declared her prefer
ence, and the rejected sutton being wild
with rage planned to be revenged. When
"a boy he'had learned many of the myster-
les of the medicine man, so he dug a root
and brewed medicine that would pro-
duce a slow decline and death. This he
succeeded in getting an attendant of the
princess to give to her. The luster of her
cheeks died away, they became hollow,
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
Kitchi-ta-Kipi appeared TO him.
Take your loved one," it said, land
fly by night to you mountain. AS a FREELY
] will be your guide. Follow me. To the
great bowl of the healing waters we will
60"
= The young brave did as he was din ected
and the story of the fight is told in po-
etical language. Over hill and hollow,
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 followed by the rival, but
he was trapped The successful sutton
caught him leaning over the spring to
take drink and pushed him in.
The sides are as steep as a wall,
and, being kept from swimming ashore,
the prisoner finally sunk, his face green
with rage. The Indians have always
believed that it is the reflection of the
drowned Indians face that makes the
spring so green.
Another legend is told which recites
the drowning of great green eagle in the
spring, and 1t is said that if one has a
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 it flows
a brook into Indian Lake so deep as to be
easily nayigable with canoe and rowboat.
One way of reaching the spring from
ManistiqUe is to drive to Indian Lake.
cross the lake in boat, and then ascend
the outlet of the spring.