Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-08-18
IVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVTVVVVVVVV1
WIEONA.
. A New Version Of An Old Indian
Romance
WINONA.
! Observation-Disclosures


In the great woods Of Canada. had
spent the day In the pursuit OF game,
and when night began to fall gave.
up the chase with the purpose OF
going to the settlement. An hour OK
hard trudging through the snow still
found me among the whitened trees
confused. lost.
1T l only knew which wry to CO.
mutteTed 10 myself
/ gazed up through the leailess,
creaking branches of the tall trees
to see II the stars had appeared, but
the sky was overcast and not a
twinkling object met the anxious
gaze. Night had fully oomei there
was no moon, but the darkness was
not intense. cast about me for
some spot which would affo shelter
from the bowling tempest, but only
the sturdy trees, studded In the great,
white blanket could be seen, / was
weary and chilled TO the bone, but
dared not stop, Hour after hour
slowly passed, and no halt had been
made.
At the very moment when / was
discussing the possibility OF endur-
ing the cold until dawn strange OBJ
ject doomed up before me, IT was a
wigwam made Of poles and closely
covered with bark. A single wigwam
buried, II proved, In the heart Of the
great Canada woods. A cloud OF
smoke almost as white as the snow
issued from the top. Never was NOR
tai more gratifed. Going close TO the
fur-closed doorway ! cried out:
Hello, thereW
There was no response and cried
out again, The skin moved and the
muzzle Of rife appeared.
"A white hunter lost In the woods"
] said, getting out OF the range of the
gun
white hunter" was repeated and
face appeared.
white hunter come in"
A moment later ] was out OF the
biting frost and out OF danger. I
found the only occupant OF the forest
lodge to be very aged Indian. His
face was wrinkled, his form bent, and
the light covering of hair upon his
head ms white as the crystals that
danced In the winter wind outside.
The old man spoke English very
clearly, and seemed glad had come.
lie revived the fire, wrapped n
blanket Of wolf skins about my
shoulders, and ut once set about pre-
pairing some warm drink and food.
After thawing out and partahing of
the red hermit's food, we sat cross
legged like Turks and smoked our
pipes. The Indian WINS inclined to be
reticcnt at first but when he learned
that ! was from the Upper Mississippi
he became interested.
You have been up and down the
grent rivcr?" he interrognted.
Many times" 7 returned.
"You have seen the great bluff on
the sunrise side Of Lake Pepin, then"
Maiden Rock?"
Eyes"
Thine and again. II Is n famous
rock Every boat that passes up OF
down the river contains people who
gaze upon the great bluff and think
OF Wlnonn, who killed herself for love
by lcnpng from its crest TO the stony
bnsr below. All the pilots tell the
story over and over again OF the
tragic end Of the pretty Indian girl"
The old man shook his head slowly
81 have heard the story" he said
thoughtfully, "but none of the pale
faces have II right"
"lIow do you know"
~ was there at the time, and do
know"
Then is the tradition not true?"
"Thc brave girl did leap from the
high rock"
"lou must be very old"
Better than one hundred sum-
mers," he answered rubbing his thin
hand ncross his deeply furrowed
brow, 81 was n young brave then,
only q boy, but I have forgotten
nothing"
YOU say the whites do not have tho
story Of the girl correctly preserved,
so will You tell II to me that NAV
know the truth OF the Lovers Leap?''
YES" the old Indian said and laid
aside his pipe,
"Winona was the daughter Of n
Dakota chief and MS bright and love-
ly MS the fairest flower of the prairie.
Many of the Dakota braves loved the
pretty little squnw, and so did one
pale face trader called Seco who had
trading post two rife shots below
the bluff. The trader offered the
chief much money and beads for
Winono, and the chief said the squaw