Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1904-12-16
THE DEATHTRAP
loriginal.l

which crops out above ground In an al
most inaccessible mountain pass. The
Indians call 1t the ".deathtrap," and
the peak on which 1t is located is call
ed "Deathtrap mountain" Ordinarily
the stone Is of a blue metallic luster
and shows traces of volcanic action.
being scanned and ribbed as IL by melt
ed lava. 1t Is a rough, jagged 0utcrop-
ping, bursting up through the shale Of
its surroundings, reaching up the noun
tain side to the height of about seven
feet, when sharp projection shelves
over 1t again, making groove about
nine feet long and three feet wide.
During the day when the sun shines
directly down upon 1t its color is pale
blue, but In the night 1t CLOVIS SO
brightly as to be seen for long dis
lance. There Is tradition among the
Indians that it became known to their
ancestors hundreds Of years ago, and
this is the legend Of its discovery:
One day speck was seen far up the
mountain, descending slowly toward
the Indians encamped In the valley.
1t grew larger and larger as it ap-
figure Of man-not perfectly made
man, not warrior, but dwarfed and
hunchbacked. But Ii the form was ill
favored the face was marvelously
beautiful The features were kindly;
the eyes beamed softly, like twin stars
after sunset on balmy summer even
ing. The man asked for food and
shelter, and he was at once given what
he asked.
But they gained far more than they
gave. Though the stranger knew moth
ing Of herbs, he possessed the power to
heal the sick by simply laying his
hands upon them or looking upon them
with his lustroas eyes. Even the dumb
animals were subject to his strange in
fuence, and If he willed 1t they would
flock about him to be caressed. Since
he showed no intention of departing,
he was adopted into the tribe and MADE
medicine man.
The stranger lived with the Indians
for many years, beloved and reverence
ed by all. When one Of the tribe was
afflicted either by disease or sorrow
the medicine man was straightway
sent for, and as soon as his two lumi-
nous eyes beamed on the afflicted, as
though the Great Spirit looked through
them, the patient began to mend, the
Borrowing to regain more cheerful
mind. To the children he impaired
health to the aged, whose lot among
savage tribes lis often to be left In a
wilderness to die he impaired strength
to live ON.
But at last something occurred to
change all this. The chiefs son, who
when the Stranger came to the tribe
was but child, grew to manhood, AMI
1t was time that he should take a wife.
The young squaws were inspected for
the comeliest maiden, and when one
was selected preparations were made
for the wet ling. But when the day
arrived and they looked for the bride
In her bow"r of boughs she was not
there. The camp was searched, but
she was nowhere to be found.
Then came the old women, lament
Ing and gesticulating. The medicine
man had spirited the girl away, they
said. The chief resisted the imputa-
ton as long as he dared, then consent
ed to treat the adopted son of the tribe
as guilty. But 30 great was the love
OF the people for him that no one could
be found to kill him, so the chief chose
dozen of his best warriors to drive
him out of the camp. Early in the
morning tho 'e braves set out to chase