The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-02-28
Leqend of Lower Twin Falls
fFrom The Iron Mountain Pressl

waters Of the lower Twin Falls ON the
Men2minee, and there Is nothing more
awe-inspiring, more weird. than the
hournful cry, almost vail. that at
times seems to come forth from the
Whirlpool at the foot of the falls IL
il plaintive cry, and according to an
old Indian legend was the mourning
OF the Great Spirit for the soul OF a
hero, who in desperation was driven
TO seek refuge in the waters OF the
falls.
Old Chief Go. wan. ge-seh used to tell
the tale Of the heroic rescue Of band
of braves who had been made captive
by the Indians and French. who we're
heing CARRIED from the winter quarters
70 tte French fort, then at Green Bay,
by an Indian maiden. the daughter OF
"a brave, and who, when driven to des-
peration, had with her faithful Indian
lover. taken refuge In the bosom OF
the river.
The Twin Falls are on the Menomi-
nee. between Florence county, WIS.,
consin. and Dickinson county. Michi-
gan. and is one of the most beautiful
sights on the entire river. Tumbiing
down from the upper falls the water
rushes onward and downward, one
auarter mile 10 the lower falls. Sweep
ing into the midst of the high cliffs,
tte river swings quickly and the water
&hirS In half circle fall, high on
both sides, with great grove in the
center, rushing into a giant whirlpool
at the bottom OF which it RACES in I'M
dashed fury through the narrow passage
into the wide sweep of the river be-
youd. IL wac into this that O-che-Kaw
of the Foxes, who had by her presence
OF mind. strength and bravery saved
the last few men Of her tribe from i'm
prisonment and slavery.
She saved them then, but they were
driven i edward into the forests, with
out shelter, pursued by the unrelent-
ing French traders, until one by one,
they cropped off and O-che-kaw and
her Indian lover, rather than permit
themse YES to go into slavery, hurled
thems Ives into the stream, and were
carried down into the whirlpool, no
trace 81 them to be seen, nothing to
tell al their fate but the mournful
nlaint il the waters and the tales car
ried b.ck by their prosecutors.
Thrrs had been feeling between
the Foxes, the Sauka, and other OF
the Wisconsin tribes against the en-
croaeaments Of the pale faces. Across
n a. lakes from the north, by the rock
spirit. Michspaux, in the straits OF
Max nav, they had come, wending
their way down into the forests OF the
Menominees, the Winnebagos mixing
with the Ottawas and the Pawnees.
They became friendly with the Indians
and establishing trading posts. were
lavish in their presents and in return
only asked that the rcd men bring to
them their surplus skins. They were
not stingy. these white men, from the
red man way Of thinking. And they
had fire water In abundance, irewatei
which the Indians wanted. They grew
In favor. and grew in power and soor
almost ruled the Indians and their
chiefs.
But the Foxes disputed the rights OF
the new Corners They had no right &c
come in and take the lands Of the In
dians. The country was theirs. II
had been their fathers and their faith
ers before them and they did not wisi
soc the strangers come in and take
possession, growing to power over the
neighboring tribes.
Often the French traders would ply
"a fheir way down into the central an'
w houthern country, mp the Fox river
n only 10 be turned back by the hostile
inhabitants. Often fight would Occur
4 in which the invaders would suffer
loss.
over at Green Bay Capt. Moran'
was in charge. he had been Their
for come time. coming from Canada
and bringing with him band 0
trained Indian lighters and backwoods
men. men who knew the Indians
well = they knew themselves, VIII
knew their ways and the woodcraft
He resented the action of the Foxe
"a of4o. 4k~aafanad than Bu
threats we've met by defiance and tn
Indians continued TO thwart his plan
and drive his men back from thei
country.
They wsre in an advantageous posi-
tsE thee hostiles. They held tn
key TO tn entire northwest route an
Morand wanted the fur trade OF tina
section. He wanted to build mp