Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-08-30
Indian
Lodge
THE LEGEND OF FRAY
u A DE Ia CRUZ

NOV Il so happened that years
AN ago. before any OF US were born,
and when our fathers fathers fathers
were only boys, there came out OF the
Southland many white q and NIL
the white men were In search OF the
sparkling gold which lay In the noun
talns where II vas hid from all eyes
And these white men were cruel to the
tribesmen and murdered them n
made them slaves. and the tribe was
greatly frightened.
But one day there came anothe
white man and his name was Juan
De La Cruz. and he called himself
.padre." and he was q great medicine
man, who worshiped strange gods a
who taught many OF the tribesmen to
worship his gods also. He lived with
the tribe many moons and went among
them In his strange garments n
talked to them and taught them many
things.
He continued to move northward
out OF the desert lands until he came
to the Great white mountains. where
dwelt the gods Of rain. Then his
Indian friends told him not to 20 far
ther. for the mountains were oiled
with great spirits. who were angry
with the Redmen and who would not
permit them to come within their
lands. But he only laughed at their
fears and told them his god was the
greatest god Of all. and the Indians
believed him, for he was a great
medicine man and his medicine was
strong.
SO he came to the Great White
mountain and entered Into the canyons
where the spirits dwelt and the In
dians saw him walk unframed. And
no they followed him and the whole
party entered the canyon and spent
many days.
One day Juan De La Crus found
there much gold and he was very glad
And the Indians told him Il was the
gold Of the gods and warned him NOT
10 touch Il, but he laughed and said
Il was "The Lost Mines" and with
their help he collected great bags Of
the gold. which he loaded on his bur
ros 10 take with him. That night
there was a great feast and Juan De
La Cruz was very happy, and nj
the spot Of the mine he erected two
large sticks In the form of a cross
and before them he brewed great med
icine.
In the morning, before the journey
was begun. he ven to the top OF the
great hill and walked In the sun
light and said strange words to hia
| gods.
But ms he was walking the Indians
saw him stumble and fall and he
plunged down the mountain side out Of
sight. And when they reached him he
was dead and his body was broken
and bruised. And the people were
very much afraid.
Then the chiefs held council and
when they were through they called
on the medicine men OF the tribe and
the medicine men told them II wat
bad. They said the gods Of the Greal
Wnlte mOunthln Wefc stfohk't UNI
the white mans god. and had causet
him to he hurled over the cliff because
he touched their gold.
They urged the people to return
whence they came and so they wen
back to their homelands. But the,
left behind them all the gold wbicl
the padre had collected. and theI
would not touch n. for II belonged 4
the rain gods. who dwelt on the Grea
White mountain. and II they touched !
they would die.
when they returned to their HON
they told other white men Of IN
strange gods which dwelt In the noun
tain. but the white men only laughed
and many there were who went fort
10 search for the gold. but there wer'
none who found II. and there II Ii q
this day. hidden in the canyon In IN
A.- - sha nraaf White m0aIntaiu