The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-11-28
WONDERFUL FREAK OF NATURE.
The Legend Of Shadow Cast by Mt.
HOod On Every Clear Day.

HO0u Uh Every Clehf DHy.
Reprinted from the Glacier Of May IA, 1887.
Mount Hood, situated as it is in a
mountain range dividing two sections OF
populous country, and being visible
for hundred miles in either direction,
can not but be a source Of great attrac-
ton to all Oregonians and the hundreds
of tourists who annually visit its vicinity |
Its perpetual snow, beauty OF outline,
its glaciers and steaming crater, together |
with the wonderful scenic combination
Of lake and river and wooded hills to be |
found in its immediate vicinity, have
endeared it TO the hearts of many and
made it popular with all. Unlike many
mountains in some older settled coun-
tries. it is not famous as being associated
with legendary lore but within the past
year, from source which must remain
a mystery to the general public, there
comes an Indian legend which has re-
mained unknown for untold generations.
Perhaps it has been handed down by
the great medicine men of certain tribes,
locked in the breast of each until the
hour OF death, to remain so Until at
certain sign it was to be given again to
the tribes. This sign was to be great
shadow which would appear on the
north slope OF the "colesnass,p or snow
peak, south of the hyas tumwater,
meaning the mountain south Of the
great falls which were formerly where
the cascades now are. The shadow
should be that of a hyas tyee (great
chief and was warning of a o-lap-it-ski
sal, IL, fba Slla be
(earth). In the face of these disclosures
it is rather startling to supersttious
mind to note that on the north slope OF
Mount Hood, on the east side OF the
most western ridge, about half way
down the mountain, appears each day
an enormous shadow, the classic profile
OF an Indian chief, with hook nose,
thick lips, prominent chin and retreat
ing forehead surmounted with the war
lock. The shadow commences to form
about p. M, and at 3:l5, or nearly so,
every feature is clear cut and distinct.
As the sun sinks its symmetry is spoiled.
Even though this wonderful shadow has
no meaning except to the superstitious
mind Of the savage, it presents to us a
beautiful freak of nature and throws
around the grand old mountain charm
which will always be source of never
ending enjoyment and wonder.
The legend, as nearly as it can be
translated, runs thus: Many, many
suns ago, when the great cole-snass
south OF the hyas tumwater was so tall
that when the sun was half way be-
tween its rising and its setting its shadow
made dark all the land to the north fol
DAVIS Journey Sol-leks De-aub's angry
spirit dwet in the bowels Of the grea
mountain and threw out pi-ah, smoke
and chah-co wam-o-luk fire, smoke anC
red-hot snakes, streams OF lava, which
ran far toward the sea to the west, des
troying everything before them, ant
forcing the red man to move far away.
The red men of that day were no
children as now, but tall as the PIN
trees that cover the hills. The tye
(chief) who ruled them was SO mucl
taller than his warriors that any OF then
could walk under his outstretched arm
and not touch it. 1t had been reyeale,
to this chief many times in his dream
that unless the fire demons who live
in the mountain were conquered the
would some day throw out rivers Of fire
which would overflow the whole Ian
and drown his people from off the eartf
and nothing should be left of all tn
animals and all things which grew
the earth.
The great chief was brave and th
strongest OF his warriors lie dete
mined, single handed, to fight De-aub
devil and all his me-sah-che-ta-m mah-ni
wis (demons), and save the people whol
he loved. After many days travel /
reached the mountain top. He foun
there great stones lying around and
once commenced heaving them dow
the entrance which led to the stronI
hold of the demons. The demons bein
thus made angry, hurled them baC
heated red hot. They arose high towal
the sky and fell far away. Being unab
to drive the chief away with these, th'
belched up smoke and fire. and meltt
rocks. For many days the light CO..
tinued, when the chief, ceaslng Tor
moment in the fight, cast his eye dow
to where he had left his people, The
lodges, the green trees and grass,
had disappeared, covered deep IN a s.
OF fire, which had risen so that out
mart az the mountain peak remain,
above it. Sorrowful and dismayed,
soon sank down and was buried by y
streams of melted rock. A few OF |
people escaped to the highest mounta
peaks, where they survived with b
little to eat for many moons The ear
cooled again and the grass grew, b
thin and siekly. Again the red m
was able to live by hunting and fishin
but instead of the race OF strong, m
and giants, they were now small a
stunted and weak, and so they VIII
ways remain until such time as ny
tyee shall come who will conquer,
demons of fire and restore them 10 IN
natural selves, free from all deiorlnlt
and strong as before De-aub conquer
the earth. When the great tyeee sh
appear again it shall be oeglhlnihg y
tbe time when Ill-a-he tearth) sh
again become the happy hunting gron
,,anons 400. u. y. ID