Kansas agitator., 1904-09-09

The average person who sees an or
dinary red clay pipe made by the In
dians little dreams what mysticism
this small object stands for.
1t is not alone a peace pipe, smoked
at campfres, but if an Indian were
ask to take stranger to his garden
Of Eden, the sacred spot whence pri-
meval man sprung, he would lead him
to the pipestone quarries Of Mime
sofa, from whose sacred rock from
time immemorial the Indian has made
his pipe of peace.
No place like this has ever yet been
found, for though there is similar de-
posit of black clay in Canada, just
across the border, the Indians do not
venerate it as they do this red clay
which lies to the west of Minnesota's
great prairies.
1t is to this spot that the Indians
have come from north, south, east and
west that they might obtain the beau
tiful clay, soft when taken from its
watery bed, but hardening on expos
ure to the air.
Several legends are connected with
this quarry, for it was here the great
spirit Manitou first made man, and
hence the spot was a Mecca for sacred
pilgrimages from the beginning of the
world.
a quaint legend tells how all the peo.
pie of the earth were destroyed by
the water save one maiden, who was
rescued by an eagle, which carried
her to the pipestone quarries, and that
is why the Indian loves the eagles
feathers.
The most interesting legends of all
have been told by the Sioux chiefs,
who have, from generation TO genera
tion, told this story, like the Sagas of
old:
"In the far-off ages, many moons
ago, the Great Spirit formed the first
Indian from a star. The Great Spirit
made a bow from the rainbow and
arrows from the lightning, and gave
them to him, saying, Take these, Wa
kin-yan, and slay game
This man was so strong and
mighty 1t would take ten moons to
tell all his deeds, but he longed for
something new, some being like HIM
self. Then Wi-toon-ti, monster, half
lizard and half pike, and his turtle
wife, taunted him, but Wa-kin-yan
needed not, only praying the Great
Spirit for his desire.
"At last the Great Spirit heard his
pleadings, broke beam from off the
sun and modelled the first of all her
sex, the longed-for one. An eagle
dropped her quietly in the lake by the
lodge Of the lonely Sioux forever
after all who bathe in this lake are
imbued with immortal youth, and in
peace and happiness the brave and
his squaw dwelt, their path strewn
with flowers (for that is what we deem
our children).
"Wi-toon-ti and turtle wife longed
to harm Co-tan-ka, and hiding near
the rocks until she came from her
bath, sucked the life-blood from her.
Do you see the red spots on the
stone? Ever since, in spite of wind
and rain, the rocks have carried that
STAIN
"Then all the sons and daughters Of
the north, south, east and west came
to hunt Wi-toon-ti and his turtle wife,
and the Great Spirit made the suns
rays so hot that the waters wherein
they were hidden dried and Wa-kin-
yam took his arrow and pierced them
through. Thus was formed the Pipe.
stone Quarry"
That spot concerning which the
Indian chiefs tell such legend should
be sacred to the Indian is not to be
wondered at. and our government, out
of respect for this sentiment, has de-
creed that the place shall remain un-
disturbed. AS a furtherance of this
desire an Indian school has been
erected here.
Catlin, the famous explorer, was the
first white man to visit this spot. He
had great difficulty in approaching the
place, being stopped by hundreds Of
Indians who threatened him, saying
no white man had ever seen the place
or should, and even to this day the
Indians are loath to have visitors ap-