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Sodomo Rock A Legend Ok The Osage

Sodomo Rock A Legend Ok The Osage image
Parent Issue
Day
2
Month
February
Year
1883
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

On the banks of this beautiful stroam, aear Jefferson Cit}-, Mo., there rises to the height of about WO feet a perpendicular" liruestonc bluff, on the top of which (embracing nearly an acre of land) are the evident remains of an old fortilication. Lines of rocks ranged with evident skill show that it was'once used as a fortress of defense, and, at the only place of possible assault, the approaches were heavily strengthened and renderecl ïmprognamo againsi aay mode of attack then known. The pata leading to it was "So straight, so hich. so steep, With peasant ëtafTone valiant hand might Well the dizzy pass have manned 'Gainst hundreds armed with spear and brand, And plungcd them in the deep. This place, sometimes called "Sodomo Rock" (a corruption of "Le Sant de Mort)" the leap of death)is made memorable by the following legend: In the early part of the last ccutury, the French court recognized as one of its brightest spirits, Hmri Monier, a youth of noble birth, large fortune, and 'rare accomplishments of mind and person. Tired of luxurious case, he had obtained the reluctant consent of the Regent to accompany an expedition under the direction of John Law to the Mississippi river, to work the mines of Missouri and to gather wealth for the bankrupt kingdom. The dull and plodding life of a miner did not snit the ardent and restless spirit that followed colonial venture, and leading a band of twenty young comrades, Capt. Monier left Mine la Motte and plunged into the wilderness. His object was to find the river; that, flowing fi-orn the southwest, rippled overbedsof gold, was fllled with delicate fish, was frequented by buflalo, and inhabited by the beavor, whose fur was then as valuable as gold. lotrade with the natives, who were represented as peaceful, our adventurers took with them trinkets and beads, and mirrors, and bright-hued cloths that have ever been the first articles of savage commerce. Of oourse the church, more anxious about the souls of the heathen and the spread of the gospel, had its representativo, and the spiritual care of the expedition rested on Father Hyppolite. The traders found no trouble in 1I1ÍT tilt; vaaul:, HUL m ilLUCLiiig liu utir expected. They found no gold or sil ver, ho wever, but lead and iron in abundance. which their auccessors have eonverted into a wealth exhaustless in supply and far more beneficial iu its product. The Indians were simple and confiding. Father Hyppolite was in ecstacies. The nativeslistened lo the gospel with respect, that seemed to the holy father to bc genuine devotion. ïhe adventurers had gathered their load oL furs, had built their boats and -ss'ere preparing to cut ioose and float down the stream, which they learned would carry 1hem down to the great river, and to the lieadquarters of the Mississippi Company. In lus visit to the towns of the Oságes, Henri had made for himself hosts of friends among the savages. His manly form, his.skill with ñrearms.his gonerosï t-T !■ ia iiAiii'n rvil fot! f fit ín 111 Tl V il bat with the wild beasts of the forest, had won their idmiration, and he was regarded more as a god than He whom the holv fether liad neld up for their worship. Among those who looked upon the ycnnio; noblo with a feeling amountihg to idolatpy :is Motena, the young dausrliter of Miska, the chief of the tnbe. From a constant association in trade and in danger the warrior had learned to love the yousg soldier as his son. The yonug people were in frequent companionship, and Henri had undertaken to teaeli her to speak Freneh, which easy language she had learned rapidly under his promptings and those of love. the most marvelous oí all teachers. No wonder then that the Indian maiden shared in her father's love for ihñ Rlr:ï,ncrpr. The day was set for the departure of iho traders. Henri had taken liismusket and gone to the woods perhaps to take his last shot. As he returned to the post a faint cry feil upon his ear, and turning he saw the Indian naaiden in fierce encounter with a wildcat. whose kittens she had just killed with an arrow. It raight have fared badly with ifotena but for the timelv bullet of thé I'renchman" musket. After she had thanked the young soldier for his timely aid, Henri held out his hand and said: "Good-by, Motena: at daylight 1 shall be on my way to my own people. What ghall I do for you when I get home?" She looked at him steadily for an iastunt. and bnrstinrr into tonrs. sliotlirew herself at his feot. "O, Henri," sho exelainied, "tako me with you, I can not live without jou. Don't leave rne here, I shall die ïf you do." And her tears flowed afresh. "Why, Motena," he replied, as he raised her f rom the ground, "it is impossible - " "Oh no! no! no!" she interrnpted. "Don't say sü. It is not impossible. Take me, Henri, and I will be your wife, your servant, your nurse, your slave, anything to go with you. ril join your faith - oh don't say no. I will nerer go back to my people again. Oh don't say no." Her tears continue to flow. All the chivalry of the youug noblo's heart was stirred. He knew that she would never return to the usages of her tribe, and that a frightful fate awaited her there. She hadtrusted to his oí ana nis love, ana uien a vague giory of adding a convert to the faith carne up before him. All these things inflamed into love the kindly afteetion that he had feit for his now friendless pupil. "Come then, Motena," he said gently, and he led the eiiraptured girl to the stockade. That night thc chief carne for his daughter and went away without her. Her Indian lover carne to persuade her to return, but in vain. Consultations wero held 'eading to determination on one side 'and revenge on the other. Henri's comrades, anticipating mischief, had counselled surrender, but now aroused by love and . religious devotion, lie utterly refused. In the morning the traders, from their stockade, beheld their boats in flamee, and saw the two jrnards murdered bv a host of savages. All hopes of escape were now over and the garrisons prepared for defense. They were soon driven by burniug arrows from the stockade, and taking with them what provisions they had and all their urms, they sought refuge npon the rock that overlooked the river and the woods below them. Assault after assault was made upon their new abode, but every day saw a new line of defenses made, which the sayages were unable either to prevent or to storm. At last the ïndiani, terrifled at tic losses they had sustained, determined to dostroy the garrison by faminc. Keeping out of range of the firearms, I the Osages cut oft' all supplies, and though,"as liung(;r gradually pressed, a few volunteers wouk' now and then leave the defenses for food, they had never retiimed. Negotiations were tlioM ir-'aA ín U'ïin 'VViO Qtïrllt. of awllitiï l:ig was always rocognizedby wild yells and ilights of arrows. At last Motona and Henri offered to surrender to sare the residue, but as they loft tho lines thev were met bv a .hower of arrows and were with difficulty rescued from immediate death. They had both been fatally wounded, That night they were united in wedlock by Father Hyppolite, aud morning dawned upon the solé survivors of the fort- the dying lovers and the kneeling priaet. "Henri,'" muriuured the djing bride, "1 cannot die without making one more eftbrt for your life. Help me to thoodge of the rock, I will cali upon my fatlierf Perhap3 he will save us vet. ' Tho Toong noble drew his bride as UISH IlC UUU1U, ICliCliCLL llin WlgU ui nm precipice safely, and succeeded in gaining an upright positlon for himselïand Motena. "Father,'" cricd the Indian girl, as she waved the white flan;. Hut the word trembled on her lip. A hundred arrows pierced the young lovers, and clasped in each others arms, thev feil from the precipice and perished in uie waters Deiow. An hour afterward tbe fort was entered, and Father Hyppolite eaptured, Wad in the full robes" of hisorder, kneelino; at the altar and praving for the souls of his departed hilaren. After a long debate, he was permitted to return to his people, and from his recital succeeding voyagers have to this day callod tlif rock "Le Sant de Mort."

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat