Bryant Junior High School - Junior Life Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 14 text:

12 THE JUNIOR LIFE The Legend of Tonkawampus Many years before the white man ever saw beautiful Lake Minnetonka, there lived on the banks of the shining waters a great and good chief, mightiest of all the Chippewas, Tonkawampus, with his, the largest village in the Chippewa country. Now the Sioux near the boundary were sending raiding parties into the Chippewa country, most of which were fairly effective, and had stirred up much indignation in Tonka wampus’s village. Tonkawampus with a mere handful of warriors set out to meet the oncoming Sioux. They camped on a butte overlooking the North Arm of Lake Minnetonka (now Camp Tonkawa, B.S.A.). As evening came on, the Chippewas were about to turn in for the night, when the scouts who had been sent to look over the surrounding country came thundering up to Tonkawampus and reported breathlessly that they had sighted the war canoes of the Sioux coming along about two miles from the point. Tonkawampus ordered out more scouts to verify the report, and they returned immediately reporting it correct. About two hours after sunset the sharp ears of the expectant Chippewa warriors were greeted with the slap and gurgle of the paddles as the canoes of the Sioux came stealthily across the bay. The night was dark, and the moon was behind many clouds as silently the Sioux warriors beached their long war canoes and came slowly toward the waiting Chippewas. When the Sioux were about half way up the incline, the moon burst through the clouds, flooding the pathway with light. Taking this as a sign from Manitou, the Chippewa warriors pierced the air with their bloodcurdling war cries and poured forth a volley of arrows into the Sioux forces. Taken by surprise, the Sioux retreated; and taking their advantage, the Chippewa, under Tonkawampus, charged down the hill to the ledge which formed a natural fort. The Sioux rallied their forces and seeing this, Tonkawampus decided to retreat to safety at the top of the hill. One by one, Tonka-wampus’s warriors crept up the hill until Tonkawampus was left alone. Then by some ill omen, the Sioux slowly began to creep up the side of the hill until the warriors on the crest of the hill realized that there was no hope that Tonkawampus would ever escape. Then in the ear of the medicine man spoke Manitou: “To save your chief from dishonor, roll my stone from its ledge.’ The Indians then remembered Manitou’s rock, which lay on a small ledge near the edge of the hill. They rushed to it and with their combined strength the boulder first rocked and then tumbled from its ledge. From side to side it swayed in thundering descent; then like a miracle the huge rock settled into Tonkawampus’s hollow, and saved him from death at the hands of the Sioux.

Page 13 text:

THE JUNK) K LIFE 11 Suddenly It Sprang A Nicaraguan jungle. Tall jungle grass is everywhere. Beautiful birds flit to and fro. To obtain plumage of some of these birds men give up their lives. Suddenly a subdued rustling is heard in the grass. A spotted animal somewhat resembling a leopard pushes its way into a small clearing. A South American jaguar stalking its prey! Minutes elapse and abruptly without warning a white man strides into the clearing. What an ironical situation that a jaguar stalking its prey should he stalked in turn. Tensely the white man creeps forward. Meanwhile the jaguar by the aid of a half fallen tree has gained the low over-hanging branches of another tree. The hunter sights his gun and fires only to find he has wounded and not killed the huge beast. The jaguar's mouth is foaming with rage. The huge tawny animal squats on his haunches preparatory to a spring. The hunter raises his gun to sight. The jaguar tenses his muscles to spring. In unison there is a flash of tawny hide and the crack of a high powered rifle. Who survived? The man or the jaguar? Fate only knows. • • The Legend of Spirit Island Many years ago, when the Indians roved freely along the wcxided shores of Lake Mille Lac, there dwelt among the Chippcwas a beautiful princess. Her beauty acted as a charm to protect her tribe from enemies, and this charm could he broken only at her death. Thus, it was the desire of every op|x sing warrior to capture the princess and break the charm. At this time came a Sioux invasion, and one morning during the thick of battle, to the horror of her people, she could he found nowhere. Suddenly, as though he had dropped from the spacious heavens, there came a breathless messenger with the appalling news of, “Our princess has been captured.” At once a frantic search for the missing girl was begun, and search parties combed the forest, leaving not a stone unturned. Depressed and grief-stricken they returned to the camp, unsuccessful. At sun-down as they were appealing to the “Great Spirit, one of the squaws looked out at the little rocky island and there saw the princess, their princess, with a band of Sioux warriors. Almost instantly canoes were silently and swiftly gliding through the gathering twilight to her rescue. But when they reached the island they found a dead princess, her ruby-red blood splashed upon the rocks. Reverently they took her back to the camp, and with many ceremonies and much mourning they sent her to the “Great Spirit. Now at twilight, when the lake is like a mirror, her spirit sings the Indian lullaby from Spirit Island whose rocks arc still splotched with red. —Roberta Nelson.

Page 15 text:

THE JINK) R L I F E 13 Astounded at the miraculous rescue of Tonkawampus, the Sioux for an instant were paralyzed with fright; then as one man, they turned and made for their canoes, rushing blindly, madly to escape. The Sioux left the immediate vicinity as sacred to the Chippewa and left that great nation to mourn its deceased hero. —Donald Sanford. The Young Knight and the Beautiful Maiden A sturdy Young Knight was seeking adventure in true knightly manner. Upon climbing a Hill in a land not unlike the garden of Eden he espied a beautiful maiden sitting on a bank covered with Moss. Seeing him she cried, “I beg thee, Sir Knight, Grant me a boon. I am lost and in need of help.” The Knight was Quick and, leaping Down from his horse, he lifted her in his arms to his place on his steed. They journeyed on until they reached the Mason House at the joining of two Brooks. This, he explained, was the castle of his uncle, Sir Shaw. The next morning the Cook prepared a wonderful breakfast for them. After it was Eaton, they wandered down to the Mills on the edge of the river. From there they went West Overland and met a Shoemaker who told them that his daughter Evelyn was stolen and that he was offering a Ransom. They went over Moore and Lee until they met a Page. He told them that he had seen a suspicious-looking character who reminded him of a Wolfe. He said that this man went into a Brown gloomy-looking House that stood on Roseland with a girl. As they opened the door and went into the Hall, the Wick of a candle flickered. At this news the Knight and the Shoemaker went to the House and saw a man beating a beautiful girl. The Shoemaker immediately recognized his daughter and shot down the kidnapper. The Good Knight was charmed by the beauty of her Long golden hair and lovely blue eyes. He confessed his love for her under the shade of a large spreading Bush. They were wed in the twilight of a lovely June day while a minstrel played and the castle Bell pealed joyously for all to hear. 9A Inventory Room Fair Co-Ed Student Prince Personality-Plus Class Clown 101 Betty O'Brien...Donald Knight.......Marion Bell........Bill Schmidt 104 Eufamic Martie ... .Bradley Skccls....Shirley Schcrvcn . Bob Paige 136 Ruth Chute ..... Paul Roseland .....Betty Young........Willard Aronson 206 All Bachelors...Arthur Knudscn .....Lucius Heusscr .. Wm. Wilkinson 207 Gladys Nelson ..Jack Kenaston .......George Ryan.........John Solbcrg 209 Evelyn Pickard..Boys, Keep Out......Vivian Lee.........Margaret Moore 225 Jane Cole ........Kenyon Rasmussen ...Evelyn Parsons ...Bob Hillbcrg | No Girls Allowed . .Carl Benson .....Henry McNamcc Elton Quigglc 306 Lorraine Bush ...Earl Larson. Richard Turcott ..Robert Nestor 310 Florence Bott...Only Maidens Here.. Frances Peterson ..Amelia Nelson