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Silurian seas covered the area more than 400 million years ago and marine reefs were
formed in the Midwest. Reef remnants, known as Klintar, can be seen as hills and mounds
in the valley between Huntington County and Miami County. More spectacular are the exposed
Silurian limestone formations of "Hanging Rock" near Lagro, and the "Big Four" cut at Wabash,
both in Wabash County.
"Hanging Rock" is a huge out-cropping of limestone, one hundred feet in height,
overhanging the Wabash River near the mouth of the Salamonie River near Lagro. The top is
somewhat rounded by erosion, and part of one side has been torn away by the river. At the
summit is a flat a space some twenty feet square which commands a broad outlook over the river
and valley below. Many young people now climb the same pathway to the top which Miami
Indian braves and maidens climbed many years before them.
Wy-nu-sa was a beautiful Miami Indian maiden who thought she was in love with two
handsome,
strong, and stalwart Indian braves. Both of the young men were deeply in love with the beautiful
maiden. However, Wy-nu-sa wasn't able to decide which Indian brave she wanted to marry,
so to the two young suitors she
said, "You two young men will have to fight a duel at the top of Hanging Rock at a certain time
which I will set. The brave which wins the fight may marry me, but the brave which loses the
duel will be plunged to his death in the swirling waters of the river below the rock." The two
young men agreed to the plan and a moonlit night was scheduled for the duel. On the appointed
night the two young Indians climbed to the top of Hanging Rock to fight for the love of the
Indian maiden, Wy-nu-sa. The Indian maiden climbed to the top also and stood in the
background to watch the fight. Secretly she loved one of the Indian braves more that the other,
but she wouldn't admit this fact to anyone, not even to herself. The battle raged on until finally
one brave fell over the edge of the rock and plunged to his death below. In Indian brave who was
the victor came over to Wy-nu-sa to claim her as his bride. When she saw the brave she
screamed, "I do not love you! You have killed my own true love. I cannot live without him!"
With this exclamation the Indian maiden ran to the edge of the rock and jumped off into the
water.
The Miami Indians believe she is now with her true lover in The Happy Hunting Grounds.
The tragic story of Hanging Rock has also been put in the form of a ballad by Stormy Sellers,
which gives a somewhat different version.
The Ballad of Hanging Rock
~by Stormy Sellers
Come all you romance lovers, come listen while I tell
The fate of poor Wy-nu-sa, a fair young Indian belle
Way down in Indiana, where Wabash waters glide
There stands a lonely boulder high on the river side
There lived an Indian maiden Wy-nu-sa was her name
A lovely woodland flower with cheeks of wild rose flame
She had a fond young lover, a warrior true and bold
A gay and dashing hunter who loved this maid of old
One night as late they lingered in love dreams there alone
The lovers' moon was shining down on the hanging stone
A jealous hearted rival stole down the river side
There slew Wy-nu-sa's lover and hurled him in the tide
With cries of bitter anguish, in her wild grief and woe
The brokenhearted maiden leaped in the stream below
There with her own true lover in tender love and pride
In all her youthful beauty the fair Wy-nu-sa died
For many years no lovers would venture there alone
For since Wy-nu-sa perished there it is a haunted stone
They say when skies are dreary, and Wabash waters sigh
When the lovers' moon smiles wanly, they hear her mournful cries
When fireflies light the waters, and ghostly shadows glow
They see a phantom maiden leap in the stream below
So! Come you romance lovers, my story now is told
You've heard the Indian legend of this fair maid of old
If on some lonesome evening, you venture there alone
You may see the Indian maiden leap from the hanging stone
The above information is from "Miami Indian Stories" by Chief
Clarence Godfroy.
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