Part Three – Journey West
“When I was a boy, the Sioux owned this world.
The sun rose and set, on our land.
Where are the warriors today? Who slew them?
Where are our lands? Who owns them?”
Sitting Bull, Lakota Medicine Man and Chief,
Considered the Last Sioux Warrior To Surrender
Music: Dakota Gold
Lewis and Clark had heard tales about this very sacred place
But it wasn’t until 1823 that trapper Jedediah Smith came here
For many centuries, it had been a revered place, by the Lakotas
But the discovery of gold here, brought their end, and their tears
I have visited these ancient Black Hills numerous times, over the years
And each time that I wander here, I reflect back on their ancient history
The landscape here is truly haunting, and the spirits still linger in the air
This time I was traveling to Wind Cave Park – a place of great mystery
The first non-native person reported to have entered Wind Cave
Was a man named Charlie Crary, in the year of 1881, in the fall
He left a trail of twine, as he went ever deeper and deeper, into it
Others later found his twine trail, but there was no trace of him at all
Old Lakota Indian legends speak of a ‘Great Hole’ in these ancient Black Hills
That would blow life-giving air up to their people, and to the creatures, on this land
By 1887, after the Sioux wars were over, many people started exploring Wind Cave
Early newspaper accounts said: ‘No Bottom Found; Miles Long; Magnificently Grand.’
And then, many cave explorers and mining companies tried to take ownership of it
In 1891, Alvin and Elmer McDonald gave up trying to find ‘The End of Wind Cave’
In 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt signed a bill, creating ‘Wind Cave National Park’
And today, park service personnel conduct cave tours, for both the timid and the brave
They’ve now mapped well over a hundred miles
Down in ancient and mysterious old Wind Cave
“It’s got no end – I think it leads to another world!”
Is what I’ve heard a few of the very old-timers say
If you like old caves like I do, a trip out to Wind Cave is extremely worthwhile
And wandering these majestic Black Hills, always makes for a truly wondrous day
But ownership of this very ancient, mysterious, and revered Native American land
Is still being disputed and valiantly fought for, by Chief Sitting Bull’s people, today
©2009, Mr. Ed
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Christine
Regis
Fee
Hugs,
Sandie Angel :o)
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :(