The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-03-18
OF THE MISSOURI
THE "DEADLY EYESp OF RAN-
 DOLPH BLUFFS
A Weird Tale Of the Shawnees.

A short distance down the Missouri ! river from Kansas City there rise
 abruptly from the streams margin the
 picturesque Randolph bluffs, connected
 with which is a peculiar tradition. In
 one of the large Assures near the crest
 of the middle portion of the range is a big globular rock that bears even some rude resemblance to a hideous giants head. But erosion has almost worn to Ehapelessness the features of this once geodic malformation and Indian idol, which, in the old days of the Santa Fe trail, was called Deadly Eyes" Time < was when Deadly Eyes struck more ter TOT from the souls of certain tribes of red men than did ever the living sub- stance of thousand hostile warriors from across the plains.
 This thing of stone was a sort of bal anced rock on a neck-lilxe pedestal, and, fashioned by nature, was face of in- ferna1 mold, all pitted scared, contort- ed; with sharp nose, tight lips and eyes as pupilless as an Egyptian sphinx's The whole head faced direction be- tween the zenith and the west. If the stories of it's hideous perfection were half true it is quite probable that some sly medicine man put the finishing touches to this demon sculpture. But ali in all, 1t was small wonder that oth- CTS besides superstitious Indians stood aghast at this ugly apparition fixed in stone.
 Now above this image and forming a canopy which hid almost all derect rays of the sun or the moon from the Assure, was thick growth of far-reach- ing paw-paw bushes. Thus this large indenture in the bluff was a veritable room with a floral roof and with door facing the south and the river. Con- meeting this with the river three or four hundred feet below was narrow, wind ing path, worn by warriors who were about to go to war, those who were bent on long journeys and other perils, besides those who visited for the pur- pose of getting a better "stand-in" with the spirit of the bluffs. For it was well known that if certain rules were ad- hered to before visiting the oracle that dreams and mutterings and signs would be given the faithful inquisitor who would propound questions.
 The name of Deadly-Eyes was given this thing of stone just after the trag- ic death of Beaver-Tail.
 This Indian was of the Shawnee tribe, and it seems was suitor of maiden in another and hostile tribe. The laws are very much against any such un- seemly union in Indian parlance death, even, being the penalty among his tribe. Therefore Beaver-Tail resolved to put Ay |, opD IoJx, 1, bluffs.
 Accordingly, after fasting the regu- 1ation nine days and mixing divers Strange potions for charms, he secretly left with a couple of his friends, who were to be witnesses, in a canoe, and lrifted down the Kaw into the Missouri. It was a bright moonlight night in July and when they reached the little path aforesaid the bluffs were all alight with | resplendent star and moonbeam glory and a perfect calm was everywhere. | After laboring slowly up the path over the gullies and jagged rocks and tearing through foliage, they reached the | dreaded temple.
 Not syllable was uttered, not sign l was made since the beginning of the climb. Weak from fasting, nervous | from exertion and gloom, Beaver-Tail | entered the rock room and fell on his knees before the god, dimly outlined | before him. The two friends stood at | the entrance. Soon the cave appeared | lighter, for their eyes became accus- | toned to the darkness
 The Indian threw his body rapidly from side to side, as ghost dancers do, to makke the blood rush to the brain, and for a sort of intoxication to set,in. It is when in this condition that the fanatic soon "sees things" He con- tinued this for some time, while his companions stood with bowed heads Witnessing"
 Now, as first stated, the leafy roof above the crevasse or Assure afforded an almost impenetrable screen to any direct light above; almost, but not per- fectly. A few stray moonbeams es-