For Thanksgiving this year, my wife and I drove from Reno, NV to Alton, IL (my hometown) to visit my mother and grandfather for the holiday. While we had a terrific visit with my family, I decided to go on a couple of quick outings to visit some of my hometown's heritage.
The first stop was to see the legendary Piasa Bird, which is currently painted on the limestone bluffs along the Mississippi River, just north of Alton. As history tells it, the explorers Marquette and Joliet traveled through this area in 1673. As they floated down the mighty river, they were taken aback by a large image drawn on the high bluffs. They asked the local Native Americans about it, and the tale below (as written on a stone plaque at the current site reads).
Since then, the legendary creature has had several incarnations along the bluffs above Alton. As a young child, I remember it painted a bit further north than it's current location at a place called Norman's Landing, and later a steel plaque cut and painted into the bird's shape mounted on top of that earlier painting. Currently, the bird sits above some quarried caves in a small city park dedicated to the terror. Fact or fiction, it's part of Alton's rich heritage and worthy of a mention on my blog.
The Legend of the Piasa
MANY THOUSAND MOONS before the arrival of the palefaces, when the great magolonyx and mastodon, whose bones are now dug up, were still living in this land of green prairies, there existed a bird of such dimensions that he could easily carry off in his talons a full grown deer. Having obtained a taste for human flesh, from that time, he would prey upon nothing else.
He was as artful as he was powerful, would dart suddenly and unexpectedly upon an Indian, bear him off into one of the caves of the bluffs, and devour him.
Hundreds of warriors attempted for years to destroy him, but without success.
Whole villages were nearly depopulated, and consternation spread throughout all the tribes of the Illini.
At length, Ouatoga, a chief whose fame as a warrior extended even beyond the great lakes, separated himself from the rest of his tribe, fasted in solitude for the space of a while moon, and prayed to the great spirit, the master of life, that he would protect his children from the Piasa.
On the last night of the fast the great spirit appeared to Ouatoga in a dream, and directed him to select 20 of his warriors, each armed with a bow and a poisoned arrow, and conceal themselves in a designated spot.
Near the place of their concealment, another warrior was to stand in open view as a victim for the Piasa, which they must shoot the instant that it pounced upon his prey.
When the chief awoke in the morning, he thanked the great spirit and returning to his tribe, told them of his dream.
The warriors were quickly selected and placed in ambush, as directed. Ouatoga offered himself as the vicitm. He was willing to die for his tribe.
Placing himself in open view of the bluff, he soon saw the Piasa perched on the bluff eyeing his prey. Ouatoga drew up his manly form to its utmost height and planing his feet firmly upon the earh began to chant the death song of a warrior.
A moment after the Piasa rose into the air and swift as a thunderbolt darted down upon the chief. Scarcely had he reached his victim, when every bow was sprung and every arrow sent to the feather into his body.
The Piasa uttered a wild, fearful scream that resounded far over the opposite of the river and expired.
Ouatoga was safe. Not an arrow, not even the talons of the bird had touched him. The master of life, in admiration of the generous deed of Ouatoga had held an invisible shield over him.
In memory of this event, the image of the Piasa was engraved on the bluff. Such is the Indian tradition.
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