Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-03-14

| Once upon time, many ages ago,
a fierce war ragged between the AS
sineboines and the Wahpetons. Wa
waneta was brave young warrior
the son of Wahpeton chief, whose
village was on the shore of Lake KAN
peska, the lake of the Shining Shells.
"He had won the affections of Mime
! qua-the laughing maiden-daughter
of the great chief whose village was
at Lake Traverse. She had been
brought from her home among her
people, to the villages of the Wape-
tons, here at Lake Kampeska, and the
medicine man of the tribe was to per-
form the marriage ceremony on the
following day.
"Great was the rejoicing on that
sad and memorable night. A feast
was declared by the village Crier, and
the festivities were carried on to a
late hour.
"Osconee, a war-chief of the AS
Of the Wapetons while they were
feasting and overcame them before
they could secure their arms and de-
fend themselves. The old chief and
many of his people were slain and the
village was taken.
"Wa-waneta fought furiously at the
head of a few brave warriors who
were armed. Like soaring eagles
they made their circuits among their
hated foes, and the twang of their
bowstrings was heard as they dashed
past their mortal enemies. Soon the
victorious war hoops of the Assume
BONES told the sad tale of defeat.
Seeing all was lost, Wa-waneta
took Minnequa in his canoe and fed
to the sacred island. Placing her on
the protecting rocks he left her there
and fastened to the Sisseton village,
promising to return with band of
warriors and avenge the sad fate of
his people and rescue her.
"But when he reached the village
of the Sissetons, after many weary
miles Of travel, he found it deserted
save by few old and decrepit men
and women. The warriors had gone
to their hunting grounds, in the great
valley Of the Red river; it being the
sea son of the chase
she followed in their tracks, but
it took many days before the young
warrior could overtake them and lead
back a force to the rescue of Mime
qua. During all this time the faith
full young maiden chung to the pro-
tecting rocks of the sacred islet.
after Osconee and his victorious
band of Assinneboine warriors had
slain the Wapeton's who remained in
their village, they prepared to return
to their hunting grounds in the great
valley of the Missouri. But when the
sun rose bright in the morning their
eyes were dazed by the sparkling
shells along the lake shore.
Fastening down to the waters
edge they soon discovered the young
maiden on the scored island. T.. g.
'The Assinneboine chief was at
once smitten with the charms of the
young girl, and he padded beautiful
decorated canoe out on the lake to
take her away from the sacred rocks.
''But Minnequa scornfully rejected
his preferred love, and refused to go.
''Stung to madness he strung his
bow and vowed he would kill her.
But he was prevented from commit
ting the rash deed by his warriors,
who stood in awe and fear of a great
white pelican that hovered high over
the sacred rocks as if it was protect.
ing the young Sisseton maiden. Then
the chief Osconee said she should re-
main on the rocks without food until
she consented to become his bride;
and he brought his lodge and pitched
it close to the borders of the lake sc
that he could watch and bring her of
to the shore as soon as she would
: relent.
every morning he called to thel
from the shore asking her to become
his bride ere she died of starvation.
tBut whenever she chose TO an
swer his call, she scornfully rejected
him. ~. A
"Then he would string his bow
again to kill her, but would desis
! for fear of the great white pelican
that hovered aloft with fits protectin,
wings spread over the sacred isle
Again, his heart would relent, and ii
/ his anxiety to win the love OF til,
, young girl he would paddle out to til,
rocks in his canoe dressed in battl
costume and feathers, to try and i'm
! press the maiden with his command
ing presence. But it was OF no avail