6
THE
CHEM AW A
AM ERICAN
Thus they lived for a long time, until finally a change in their fortune
came. There was pestilence in their midst, famine in the valleys, and
death and devastation everywhere. What should they do?
Once the chief Wakima, leader of the tribe, came to the banks of the
lake and sat there pondering in sorrow till he fell asleep. In his
dream he saw a vision and heard a voice. The voice counseled him
to address in daily prayer the great spirit Manitou, the ruler of all
things upon earth and sky, and to ask for his help. For the great
spirit, he said, was angry because the tribe had worshipped all the lesser
gods and had forgotten the all powerful Manitou.
“ G oto your people,” continued the voice, “ bid them pray, and
when you have prayed long and well return to the lake with all your
tribe. It Manitou is satisfied he will send a token to show that his
anger has been appeased.”
Then Wakima assembled his people and told them all that had hap
pened. The whole tribe prayed to the Great Spirit, and after some
time assembled all upon the lake. As they were rowing about the
pond in their canoes there suddenly appeared in their midst a beauti
ful shining swan, which rested upon the waters for a while, and then
slowly disappeared. The next day on that very spot rose a new island,
which the Indians called Swan Island.
CHIEF SEATTLE
M ONUM ENT
IN
IIIS
HONOR
U N V E IL E D
The following article, written by Charles Eugene Banks for the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, appeared in that paper of the date of Nov.
14, and we take pleasure in reprinting it:
When Miss Myrtle Loughery, great-great-granddaughter of Chief
Seattle, at 3:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon pulled the cord, the Ameri
can flag draped about the heroic figure in bronze erected in Tilikum
place fell away, revealing the heroic figure of the great Tilikum chief,
by Wehn. The people stood breathless for a moment, then gave long
and continued applause.
It is an imposing statue of this splendid type of the primitive Ameri
can. The artist has caught him just as he is arriving to the succor of
his pale face friends. He stands upon the point of resting from a
hurried advance, one foot still only half resting upon the ground, his
right hand raised, the plam extended in the well known sign of peace,
his face lifted and glowing with courage, kindness and supreme power.
Sculptor Wehn has finished a splendid work, one of which Seattle may