Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-14

elephant hnCk, t.'' last remaining ana
/ the most colossal idol of the fast fading
western Indian. stands ont against the.
sky few miles southeast of Mcacham
IN the Blue mountains, where it is a
landmark to the whites and q symbol TO
the Indians OF the power Of their gods
and sign of their ancient greatness,
says the Portland Orcgonian.
f The tourist. in making the Journey
Through the mountains by the cid stage
road, can look above him and seq the
giant elephant, moulded in the rugged
and crumhhug stone. as he juts out
against the skyline, perfect in every
part, and he will wonder as he cazes nj
the llkenesS the perfect lines of the great
i buik. ~ its natural attitude as il stands
/ stretching lOnEngiy toward the north
i anu IL be Is u friend of the aged Indian
who May be camped Ivy the roadside he
NAY hear the legend OF Elephant Rock.
IN Old ana tottcrmg chief, upon whose
matted EI'&z.ed head the suns of count
ieSs summers have beaten until the
IhriehtNeSS of their glare has burned oHt
/ the light from the Suullon eyes, and has
Itnrncd the world from day to night
knows the story better than all the rest.
| for be is the descendant Of those To whom
| the secret was impaired hy the good god
1 y
| he who has always had the good of man
/ m his heart and whose hand is soft for
/ his children.
! Long. long ago, 50 the story runs, the
lwhitc man had net come with his hordrS
i 10 drive back the Cayuse and take from
Am the land along the sWlrling Cmatilla.
land the Indian was prosperous and
Happy. His lodges were fun of children,
whose happy laughter gladdeued the
4 heart Of the warrior as he returned from
the hunt laden with the juicy vrnison or
/ the swift flying woodfowl. The ground
tyipl1ed bouutifuly, the forest tc,lncd
1 with game, the Uma;illa dimpled with
/ tie salmon as they Sprang from the WA
ter IN sport, aud the Indian was glad and
lat peace.
/ lut the day. in the midst Of their hap-
IpiaeSF, great misfortune visited tine
Hand. While the hunting parties were ia
/ the woods seeking food for the lodges,
Ithey noticed the game fleeing "a the soutt
/ an great fright, soon a great crashing
was heard through the trees. amt vast
Isbapes appeared. driving before them the
Inhabitants Of the forest ON the iuvu-
Idera rushed IN line. waving what looked
/ fe be great tails ut their heads. while the
4canyons rocefd with the echoes Of their
cries. The strange visitors tore the larg-
lest trees from the ground and hurled the
slant trunks IN sport over tho mountain
sides
The warriors fed in n panic 10 the
IhillS. while the monsters took posseSsi0n uf
the land. In time they came 50 the Tuna
Itilla. into which they plunged with glad
cries. tossing the water high in the air
and cllHrning the current into mud and
foam until the frightened salmon threw
themselves on the banks 10 die or were
trampled beneath the great feet. Those
| that escaped fed for their lives 10 the
| River of the North, where they spread
the news Of the strange demons WIN
trampled the Umatilla into spray and
crushed them into the ground
As consequence the Cayuses Skulk
ing from their hiding places, could fine
no food. The deer had scattered TO thu
winds, while the Um8tilla was a slug
gish creek of mud, in which uothin.
could live.
i A council was called by the head men
anu a solemn feast was made, at whci
the head medicine man offered sacrifice,
ana called upon the good god Coyote foI
relief
| Now. Coyote from his lair on the high
est mountain top, had been watching tn,
elephants and had noted their donr-
lie had seen them come from the north
AND knew that they had been sent by tn,
i evil spirits To haraSS the CayuSeE. SO
when he heard the voice of his children
raised in Supnlicaiiou, he hastcned 10 til,
land Of the l'matilla. Arriving there. b,
called Sne elephants before him and TOLD
/ them to return Immediately to tLciI
home in the far nothlaud, amid th,
never changing SHOWS.
I The herd obeycd. though reluctantly
land peace once more came 10 the starved
CaYuseS. The game began to return e
their hauntS and the salmon once NOR,
yentured up the stream The king Of tn,
herd, however l0uged for the green hilL
and cool, pleasant forest. and ventures
back Ia spite of the orders 81 the Coyote
and roamcd the woods and bathed in IT,,
stream.
One day. while standing belly deep il
the cool waters. he saw Coyote coming
toward him over fhe mountain. Now
the king Of the elephants was the braveSi
lanimal on earth, but he feared the wratl
of Coyote. and attempted 10 steal away
Il The god, however, had Sccn him ia th'
river and overlook the fugitive on tho
mountainSi1e. whore he gently upbraid
led him for his di.obedicnce,
i The elephant. thinking from bis maa
Ihpr that Coyote was ayed 10y his @rca'
!. size. grew bead~trorG and jmppdrut. an'
BsulteG the god. WHO thcr"Upon cursed
j iim and decrced that he should stand ~
the mountain forever, turou2J winter
: cold and summer heat. a- warning %
lall eyildoerS
,, And there Ito elephant is today, look
ing with stony eyes toward the north
, land. The years have come and gone
land the SHOWS have worn away tH'
meOthHess OF his great bulk and Ict
him furr1wea and scanned The liuE
birds are not afraid Of him, and nestle
lin the rlrfts made hy the flight Of time
/ Tie deer and the wild fowl rest iu hi
shadow. and the Indian builds his camp
I lfireg around his feet. Buf the vast Snap
Trays no heed. His head is stretched on
I Howard hi. home. and his eyes seek ~