Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-03-01
CONTINUED from last week.

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III CONTINUED from last week.
6 Many are the stories told of life
on the river in the early days, some
of which are unquestionably true
others are legends Of the olden
times. The late Doctor r. C. Am
bier of Lansing, Iowa, made me
acquainted with the legend of One
,o-ta, beautiful Indian princess OF
the Iowas, and her lover Wau-k0n-
a-ket, young chief of the Winnie
bagos, tribe which at, the time OF
this writing has its lodges near the
Minnesota line, not far from the
village of New Albin, Iowa. where
most Of their trading is done. Just
south Of the village near the place
where the Oneota river empties into
the Mississippi, there is a rocky
blum, known as Biackhawk's Point,
20 named after q battle which 1t is
said was fought there between the
whites and that redoubtable war
rior, during the Blackhawk war. the
truth Of which seems to be corrobor-
afed by the fact that the skeletons
OF men, Indian war implements and
other evidences Of strife have been
exhumed in the vicinity at various
times, in suflcient numbers to war
rent the belief that 1t was the scene
.jof : hottIe q soma period INch.
- yths trsditi691 associated with
1be locality would seem to leave lit
tie room, for doubt.
Wau-kon-a-ket and O-ne-o-ta were
In love with each other. but sad to
relate the course Of their love ran
far from smooth. The father of the
princess, old Decorah, swore by all
the traditions OF his fathers and by
the great Manitou that a prince of
the Winnebagos should never wed
his daughter. But Wau-kon-a-ket
was q brave young chieftain. de-
scended from race Of warriors,
resolute Of purpose, resourceful in
plans, determined and tireless in
their execution. So It was whisper
"a about before many moons had
come and gone. that in spite OF the
watchfulness of the old chief De-
corah, stolen interviews were held
between the young lovers. which be-
came 90 frequent that they could
no longer be concealed from the
irate father, who determined to
take the young chiefs life. Hap
PLY he was overheard by friend
Of the young lovers, planning with
q rejected suitor of his own tribe,
for the destruction Of Wau-kon-a-
ket. His purpose was at once re-
vealed to the young people, who. OF
course Immediately took measures
to prevent 1t. The young chief in
accordance with the custom of his
people was in the habit of showing
his attachment to the young prin-
cess by frequent presents of deer,
turkeys or the skins of wild animals
which he had killed in the chase.
To obtain these trophies which were
to be had In greater quantities to-
ward the rising sun, 1t was the hunt
er's habit In the winter, to cross
the river on the ice in the morning
and return in the evening laden
with his game. This was well known
to Decorah. who had plotted with
two OF his warriors to cut the ice In
the path Of the hunter. 90 that when
he returned at dusk, he would fail
to observe the trap which had been
set for him. be plunged into the
waters and carried away under the
ice. It ives . bold scheme and
would have succeeded had 1t not
been for the love and courage OF the
faithful 0-ne-o-ta. on the night
when the venseful scheme was to be
carried out. who. having previously
by Incident learned the details OF
ths plot. silently stole out Of her
wictiup and climbing to the top Of
DlackhawkS Point. concealed her