The morning news., 1894-06-29
LEGEND OF THE P1AsA.
A Hybrid Monster That Made War In
Old Times on the Illini.
From the chicago Tribune


Overlooking the Piasa river, which
pours its waters into the Mississippi just
above Alton, stands the Piasa rock, says
an Alton correspondent. About this
there clings the remnant of an
Indian legend, which tells of a
brave chief, Wapatogo, and how he
saved his people from monster. There
are people now alive who remember when
the rock bore the rude picture of huge
bird which was slain by Wapatoga, paint
ed there by his people TO mark his act of
heroism The story was handed down in
unwrtten tribal history, Oand the early
settlers heard it from the chiefs of which
Wapatogo was the foremost chief.
Az an early period in the history of
this country a tribe of Indians inhabited
the territory now embraced in the state
OF Illinois. They were the Illinis from
which the state derived its name. For
many years this tribe increased in po wer,
prosperity and numb bers until their tepees
could be seen on the green prairies and
their canoes upon its beautiful water
courses from one end of the state to the
other. After time change came over
this happy nation. Their hunting grounds
were deserted and their ranks decimated.
Where their people were the most numer-
Gus, and whore their great chief had his
home, there appeared bird of enormous
size-more of beast than fowl-which
took up its abode on a rock overlooking
the Mississippi. Its huge body was COW
cred with scales of every hue. With one
blow of its mighty tail it could make the
earth tremble. 1t bad head like an OK,
with the beak of an eagle. Immense
horns hung over eyes that shone with
the tierceness of lightning, and its four
feet were armed with powerful talons, in
each of which it could carry buffalo
When it tapped it's wings there was
noise like thunder, and when it dived into
the river great waves rolled upon the
shore.
To this animal the Illinis gave the name
"Piasa, Bird of the Evil Spirit" This
bird feasted daily upon the Lllini people,
whom it bore off in its claws. The influence
of the medicine men staid not its power.
Day by day they saw with terror their
number diminishing to crafty the insa-
table appetite of the Piasa. Village af-
ter village was destroyed and conster-
nation spread throughout all their tribe.
There seemed nothing in the future for
them but entire annihilation.
At last Wapatogo, the brave young
chief of the nation, beloved and esteemed
as their greatest warrior, whose fame ex-
tended beyond the rising and the setting
sun, called q 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 peo-
pie of their great destroyer was 70 offer
himself as a sacrifice. The young chief
started up, aroused the sleeping priests,
informed them of his vision from the
Great Spirit and of his resolve to make
the required sacrifice.
Wapatogo dressed himself as becoming
a great chief-put on his war paint, and
IL l..
his position on this prominent point
of rock to await the coming of the bird
of DEATH the slayer of his people. AS
had been directed in his vision, many Of
his brave warriors were concealed in the
interstices 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. Sud
denly there came roar as of thunder
and in one instant the Piasa, with a wild
scream that shook the rocks, darted down
upon the chief. The brave Wapatogo
quailed not, but when within reach he
buried his tomahawk deep into the
monsters head every arrow went with
lightning speed into its body, and the
Piasa, with shrek that resounded far
over the opposite shore, fell dead.
Wapatogo stood unharmed-not an ar
row nor even the talons Of the bird had
touched him. The Great Spirit, m ad-
miration of the noble sacrifice the gener-
Gus and brave Wapatogo would have
made for his people, held over him an IN
visible shield. The tribe gave way TO the
widest Joy, and held a great feast in
honor of the event, and to commemorate
il, painted the figure of the bird OF the
piasa on the rock, by the side Of which
their noble chieftain had stood in his
heroic defense. There the picture re-
NAMED for ages-until within the mem
ory Of Alton-a mark for the arrow or
bullet Of the red man as he ascended or
descended the great Father of Waters"
"How about your cousin Fred?"
"Oh. we are as good as engaged. Yesterday
he told mamma he waa tired of eating In res.