K
Kentucky Kache
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Legend of Huraken's silver mine (KY)
Before the white men even ventured into what would later be called Kentucky, this region of Smokey Valley was being frequented by tribes of Shawnee, who were said to have been of a friendly nature, and the Cherokee, who were said to be of a not so friendly nature. There is a tale handed down by the Cherokee that was related to the white man in later years. It was a story of unfulfilled love, much like that of Romeo and Juliet. This love story held an interest to more than just those romantic souls, but to treasure hunters as well. For the story also had the intrigue of a lost silver mine. It is this tale, which many say is only legend and has no basis in fact, that I'm about to relate. Nevertheless, it was the reason that some were drawn to settle in this area.
The narrative centered around an Indian princess, named Manuita, and a brave Cherokee warrior named Huraken. Manuita was the daughter of the chief or the sachem. Huraken was a young, fierce warrior, donning feathers and war paint as he participated in raids against enemy tribes and the white men, who he was said to have much hated. Manuita was the only one who was able to break through his barrier of savageness. He fell in love with her; and she also fell in love with him.
Huraken would let his guard down with Manuita, showing a tender side; but, to both his peers and enemies he portrayed a hostile belligerence. His independent nature also set him apart from his fellow warriors, Manuita's father, the chief, also looked upon Huraken with suspicion, as might be the case with any prospective father-in-law. Huraken's ambition was high. He must have the approval of the father as well as the daughter. He wanted to stand above the rest and be worthy of Manuita's hand.
One day Huraken went out on an exploit against an enemy tribe with a number of fellow braves. The braves returned victorious, all but one that is – Huraken. Huraken, feeling proud and high, on his victory, chose to stay behind and explore the countryside. In actuality, he had a plan to bring back the perfect gifts, one for Manuita, and one for the chief, a gift which would truly turn the tide with her father. In a previous outing Huraken had stumbled upon a vein of shinny ore. This in actuality was a rich silver mine. Huraken knew little of it's worth, although an inner voice urged him to keep its discovery a secret. He did know he could melt the ore down to craft something truly beautiful, something deserving for a princess and sachem. He spent weeks alone camping near rocks and caves, a trait of the landscape in what is now know as Smokey Valley. He laboriously went through the process of refinement of the silver, shaping a peace pipe and tomahawk for the chieftain and several ornaments for Manuita. Huraken became consumed with the perfection of his gifts, losing all sense of time.
In the meantime Manuita was growing more worried by the day. There was talk of Huraken's demise by some accident or from encountering enemy tribesmen or the white men. As each day passed Manuita's sadness grew. She mourned on and found no comfort in the sympathy and condolences bestowed upon her by her father. The chief's suspect views of Huraken only grew stronger as he railed against his independent and proud ways and blamed Huraken for his daughter's grief.
Manuita saw no pleasure in anyone's company. She sat with her tribe one night. While others worked on baskets and blankets and flint and talked, she felt the deepest loneliness. Although the fire blazed high, the fire in the Indian princess's heart and eyes had flickered out. She stole away, as was her custom of doing, to be alone in her grief. The others looked on, shaking their heads to each other, hoping she could ride this out. As Manutia walked along the cliffs she thought about stories of the white men. She had heard that sometimes they took their own life when a heart became so overburdened with sorrow. With this thought, she stood on the edge of a high cliff, letting her body go limp.
Huraken was at this very moment joyously making his way back to his tribe. He carried his prized silver peace pipe, tomahawk and small ornaments wrapped securely in a leather pouch. Mentally, he was planning his life with Manuita. His heart overflowed. As he was coming upon the camp of his people he saw a mangled body, face down beneath a cliff. His thoughts were now turning to an intuitive dread. His worst fears were realized as he turned the figure over to see the beautiful face of his lover. His heart felt heavy with pain as for the first time in this brave warrior's life, tears streamed down his face. In his anguish, he picked up his intended bride, carrying her to a cave where he carefully laid her body to rest. Huraken sat in a dazed silence guarding Manuita's burial place, not wishing to return back to the tribe. For now he would live in solitude and sleep near and keep watch over her grave at night.
When Manuita was discovered missing, warriors were sent out to look for her. Instead of finding the Indian princess they found Huraken, who was obviously in grief and mute on the subject of Manuita. The chief could only surmise foul play, and in his anger sentenced Huraken to death. It is said that the spirit of the princess was watching over her lover. She caused it to rain so heavily as to loosen the buckskin ties that held Huraken's body captive. He escaped but wandered aimlessly in grief for weeks. He finally returned to the chief to surrender asking for the final wish of returning to the cave where he had buried Manuita's body. Warriors accompanied him to cave, but fearing evil spirits only waited at the mouth. Huraken entered. Days passed. Huraken did not reappear. As the anxiety of the accompanying Indians grew they fled in terror, thinking all to be a bad omen.
The legend was told and retold by the Cherokees and eventually reached the ear of the white men. Years later the white men began to explore various caves in the area. In a particular cave which had become to be known as the salt peter cave for it's use in making ammunition two versions of the legend continues. One is that bones of a woman, thought to be those of the Indian princess, were found. Another story says that only an open grave was found. Little heed might be given to such stories with the exception of being haunting ghost stories for children and adults alike sitting around camp fires in the cave area at night. However, years later a resident of Smokey Valley, one of the first settlers here, while out hunting, passed under a rock cliff, and noticed something shiny. His curiosity drew him toward the object. He reached down to dig out an almost buried silver artifact. Using his coat to clean off the grime he found a beautifully made Indian tomahawk made of silver mounted to an equally stunning peace pipe. The story was no longer just for lovers. The find of the hunter, who was one of the founder's of the community that was to grow here, spread far beyond the boundaries of this region. The hunt for the lost silver mine was on.
Note:
In about 1745, Huraken found a rich vein of silver on what is believed to be Smokey Creek in Carter County, Kentucky. The cliff where Manuita jumped to her death is located within Cascade Caves Park, near Carter Caves State Resort Park. A few years ago a bar of silver 7” X 2” X 1” was found on Buffalo Creek in Carter County, Ky.
Before the white men even ventured into what would later be called Kentucky, this region of Smokey Valley was being frequented by tribes of Shawnee, who were said to have been of a friendly nature, and the Cherokee, who were said to be of a not so friendly nature. There is a tale handed down by the Cherokee that was related to the white man in later years. It was a story of unfulfilled love, much like that of Romeo and Juliet. This love story held an interest to more than just those romantic souls, but to treasure hunters as well. For the story also had the intrigue of a lost silver mine. It is this tale, which many say is only legend and has no basis in fact, that I'm about to relate. Nevertheless, it was the reason that some were drawn to settle in this area.
The narrative centered around an Indian princess, named Manuita, and a brave Cherokee warrior named Huraken. Manuita was the daughter of the chief or the sachem. Huraken was a young, fierce warrior, donning feathers and war paint as he participated in raids against enemy tribes and the white men, who he was said to have much hated. Manuita was the only one who was able to break through his barrier of savageness. He fell in love with her; and she also fell in love with him.
Huraken would let his guard down with Manuita, showing a tender side; but, to both his peers and enemies he portrayed a hostile belligerence. His independent nature also set him apart from his fellow warriors, Manuita's father, the chief, also looked upon Huraken with suspicion, as might be the case with any prospective father-in-law. Huraken's ambition was high. He must have the approval of the father as well as the daughter. He wanted to stand above the rest and be worthy of Manuita's hand.
One day Huraken went out on an exploit against an enemy tribe with a number of fellow braves. The braves returned victorious, all but one that is – Huraken. Huraken, feeling proud and high, on his victory, chose to stay behind and explore the countryside. In actuality, he had a plan to bring back the perfect gifts, one for Manuita, and one for the chief, a gift which would truly turn the tide with her father. In a previous outing Huraken had stumbled upon a vein of shinny ore. This in actuality was a rich silver mine. Huraken knew little of it's worth, although an inner voice urged him to keep its discovery a secret. He did know he could melt the ore down to craft something truly beautiful, something deserving for a princess and sachem. He spent weeks alone camping near rocks and caves, a trait of the landscape in what is now know as Smokey Valley. He laboriously went through the process of refinement of the silver, shaping a peace pipe and tomahawk for the chieftain and several ornaments for Manuita. Huraken became consumed with the perfection of his gifts, losing all sense of time.
In the meantime Manuita was growing more worried by the day. There was talk of Huraken's demise by some accident or from encountering enemy tribesmen or the white men. As each day passed Manuita's sadness grew. She mourned on and found no comfort in the sympathy and condolences bestowed upon her by her father. The chief's suspect views of Huraken only grew stronger as he railed against his independent and proud ways and blamed Huraken for his daughter's grief.
Manuita saw no pleasure in anyone's company. She sat with her tribe one night. While others worked on baskets and blankets and flint and talked, she felt the deepest loneliness. Although the fire blazed high, the fire in the Indian princess's heart and eyes had flickered out. She stole away, as was her custom of doing, to be alone in her grief. The others looked on, shaking their heads to each other, hoping she could ride this out. As Manutia walked along the cliffs she thought about stories of the white men. She had heard that sometimes they took their own life when a heart became so overburdened with sorrow. With this thought, she stood on the edge of a high cliff, letting her body go limp.
Huraken was at this very moment joyously making his way back to his tribe. He carried his prized silver peace pipe, tomahawk and small ornaments wrapped securely in a leather pouch. Mentally, he was planning his life with Manuita. His heart overflowed. As he was coming upon the camp of his people he saw a mangled body, face down beneath a cliff. His thoughts were now turning to an intuitive dread. His worst fears were realized as he turned the figure over to see the beautiful face of his lover. His heart felt heavy with pain as for the first time in this brave warrior's life, tears streamed down his face. In his anguish, he picked up his intended bride, carrying her to a cave where he carefully laid her body to rest. Huraken sat in a dazed silence guarding Manuita's burial place, not wishing to return back to the tribe. For now he would live in solitude and sleep near and keep watch over her grave at night.
When Manuita was discovered missing, warriors were sent out to look for her. Instead of finding the Indian princess they found Huraken, who was obviously in grief and mute on the subject of Manuita. The chief could only surmise foul play, and in his anger sentenced Huraken to death. It is said that the spirit of the princess was watching over her lover. She caused it to rain so heavily as to loosen the buckskin ties that held Huraken's body captive. He escaped but wandered aimlessly in grief for weeks. He finally returned to the chief to surrender asking for the final wish of returning to the cave where he had buried Manuita's body. Warriors accompanied him to cave, but fearing evil spirits only waited at the mouth. Huraken entered. Days passed. Huraken did not reappear. As the anxiety of the accompanying Indians grew they fled in terror, thinking all to be a bad omen.
The legend was told and retold by the Cherokees and eventually reached the ear of the white men. Years later the white men began to explore various caves in the area. In a particular cave which had become to be known as the salt peter cave for it's use in making ammunition two versions of the legend continues. One is that bones of a woman, thought to be those of the Indian princess, were found. Another story says that only an open grave was found. Little heed might be given to such stories with the exception of being haunting ghost stories for children and adults alike sitting around camp fires in the cave area at night. However, years later a resident of Smokey Valley, one of the first settlers here, while out hunting, passed under a rock cliff, and noticed something shiny. His curiosity drew him toward the object. He reached down to dig out an almost buried silver artifact. Using his coat to clean off the grime he found a beautifully made Indian tomahawk made of silver mounted to an equally stunning peace pipe. The story was no longer just for lovers. The find of the hunter, who was one of the founder's of the community that was to grow here, spread far beyond the boundaries of this region. The hunt for the lost silver mine was on.
Note:
In about 1745, Huraken found a rich vein of silver on what is believed to be Smokey Creek in Carter County, Kentucky. The cliff where Manuita jumped to her death is located within Cascade Caves Park, near Carter Caves State Resort Park. A few years ago a bar of silver 7” X 2” X 1” was found on Buffalo Creek in Carter County, Ky.
