. Picturesque Legend Regarding Pipe of Manitou, Now at the State Historical Museum, Refuted By Indian....

What is the truth about the Pipe of the Manitou, an ax-shaped granite rock now in the State Historical Museum? Is it or is it not a Spirit Stone?

The rock formerly stood on an elevated point at the head of Lake Chetac, Sawyer County, and a trail worn by mocassined feet led up to it.  There many an Indian climbed to sit and smoke in contemplation after placing a handful of tobacco upon the stone as an offering to the Great Spirit.  It was customary to paint it during ceremonials.

The legend runs among the Lahcootahrae Chippewa Band that, many years ago at a time of war and great trouble, they prayed to the Manitou to come to their assistance. For many moons they prayed, until at last he appeared to among them and gathered the tribesmen around the hill.  There they presented their petition, while he smoked his great pipe and listened.  When they had finished and he had granted their requests, he left his pipe on the hill as a memorial of the meeting.

But did the Indians really consider it a Spirit Stone?

Thomas Bracklin, an Indian who has lived in the Lake Chetac, region for more than 60 years, denies that it was or that the Indians held it in high regard.  He maintains that the story was probably started by Chin-nin-nie, an old Indian who once painted a rock near his camping place as he was preparing for religious ritual, since the rock was located on a convenient stopping place in the trail, passing Indians rested and smoked there and, on leaving, left a handful of tobacco on the rock for the next traveler - the tobacco which the white men thought was offered to the Manitou.

Which story do you believe?

Facts show that spirit stones were common among the Indians, for many have been found along trails or on Indian Village sites in Wisconsin.  There is a record somewhere that, in the early days of Wisconsin history, Jesuits missionaries threw a Spirit Stone into the Fox River because they considered it an Indian idol.  All the stones have curious legends attached to them, legends which, the superstitious Indians believed implicitly.  They place offerings of tobacco, maple sugar and other articles on some and painted them red on particular occasions..

--Transcribed from The Madison Democrat (Sunday Morning Edition) November 21, 1920.