The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-11-17
4 LEGEND OF
~ INDIAN HILL.
WRITTEN FOR THIS PAPER.
By A. A. SMITH.

A BOUT three miles southeast of
n Hartford, Kan, stands one of
those symmetrical hills which are sup
posed to be the work of the ancient
mound builders. There are many such
in various portions of the state, and
this one is peculiar only in having a
circular trench around the top, two or
three feet deep and apparently having
been once used for a rude fortification.
Many tragic and romantic legends of
the primeval nomads of the plains clus-
ter around the spot, and among them
is one of savage Indian conflict which
occurred there at some time prior to
the advent of the white race. At the
base of the hill graves have been found,
and human skulls were picked up
around the top and in the circular
trench by the early settlers. From
time to time the local newspapers have
commented upon these relics of saw
age warfare and printed accounts. more
or less mythical, of a great battle which
was fought between the Pawnees and
the Osages some time during the early
50's. Local tradition is replete with
tales and incidents of the battle, but
who belonged to the hostile bands and
met their death in the waters of the
Neosho river which flows near by, has
not before been told in print. Indian
traditions of the battle were verified
by the early settlers and have become
part of early Kansas history. The
legend of the lovers is not so verified.
but it has the same origin and is prob
ably no more mythical than hundreds
of others which have been handed down
from one Indian generation to another
and have become part of the accepted
history of the tribes.
The Pawnees and Osages were hered-
Itary enemies, but that did not prevent
the development of desperate case
of calf love between Hiatonka, son of
an Usage chief, and Walala, daughter
of proud and warlike Pawnee, and
likewise a chieftain. 1t all came about
in the usual romantic way. While
chasing the buffalo too close to the
neighborhood of his enemies, Hiatonka
stunned that a small party of Paw
nees lurking near by captured him.
They took him to their camp, from
whence they intended to watt his spirit
to the happy hunting grounds in the
usual barbarous manner He was 10
be burned at the stake, and he was
thrown into tent, bound hand and
~ ha til
his horrible doom. There the dogs
barked at him, the squaws spat upon
and reviled him and the children stoned
him. but one heart in the savage throng
was moved with pity for the hapless
prisoner. Walala was suppressed with
the handsome face and figure of the
Usage brave. She admired his fortjtude
him.
Walala was a famous Pawnee belle
and an incorrigible fiirt She had
grown weary of her conquests among
the young bucks of her own tribe and
perhaps she saw new adorer as the
result of the service which she intended
to render Hiatopka. She crept into
the tent after darkness had fallen and
the rest of the pawnees were at some
distance preparing for the final tor
.ure, and cut the thongs from the cap
tive's wrists and ankles. There were
few hurried, whispered instructions
md promises of a future meeting, for
even in the shadow of horrible death
he Usage had noted and admired the
one plying face he saw, and then he
slipped out of the tent, leaped upon
me of the ponies near by, and in few
moments was beyond the reach of his
:ormentoTs. /