Gr8 River Road: The Maiden Rock Multi-Cache
Gr8 River Road: The Maiden Rock
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Quick stop at a wayside on the Great River Road, with the bluffs on
one side, and the river on the other, offering great views. This
particular bluff is the Maiden Rock, where legend holds that an
Indian maiden jumped to her death instead of being forced into
marriage to the wrong man.
The Minnesota city of Winona is named for We-no-nah, the maiden
who leaped to her death rather than wed a man she did not love.
This is one of the best known legends of the region and there are
many versions of the story. We-no-nah, meaning first born girl was
the daughter of Chief Ta-te-psin, whose village was at the falls of
St. Anthony. She was very fond of Father Menard, the Catholic
missionary and first white man in the area. We-no-nah cared for him
during his final illness and buried him with her family.
She had many suitors but dreamed of more pale faces to come. The
Dakotah braves proposal of marriage was at nighttime to hold his
'lover's torch' over the head of the maiden he wanted. One man,
Tamdoka, had thus proposed three times to We-no-nah. but each time
she had covered her head, which was the sign of rejection.
One day a French trader and explorer arrived at the Indian village.
He and his group were entertained with a feast and games. He in
turn was generous with gifts. We-no-nah received a deep red shawl,
a necklet and some ribbons. She told DuLuth of Father Menards death
and burial and presented him with the priest's gown and prayer
book.
During the games Tamdoka was an easy winner in the races,
whereupon he was challenged and beaten by DuLuth. Tamdoka became
very angry when he saw We-no-nah's pleasure with DuLuth's win and
the Indian began plotting against the Frenchman. We-no-nah's
elderly father died, leaving the harsh stepmother in charge of the
children. As head of the family she had a right to sell We-no-nah
toTamdoka.
Meanwhile DuLuth was planning to return to France. We-no-nah
pleaded to go with him. DuLuth promised to return in the spring.
We-no-nah warned him of Tomdoka's plot to assassinate DuLuth when
he left the Falls and he successfully avoided an encounter with
Tamdoka.
In celebration of spring, all the Indian bands joined together in
games at Keoya, which was somewhere between Wabasha and Winona. The
stepmother and Tamdoka had arranged for the sale of We-no-nah at
the spring games and she must then go to Tamdoka's tent. We-no-nah
rowed her own canoe to the games, still hoping for DuLuth to
return. She was with the bands camped for the night at the tall
bluff which rose 400 feet above the water. We-no-nah climbed to the
top, stood at the brink and sang her death song. As Tamdoka and
other warriors rushed toward her, she leaped from the rock.
While the women were still searching for her body, the sound of an
oar was heard as DuLuth returned as he had promised.
The posted coordinates take you to the highway historical marker,
which you will need to look at to find the final.
The final is at:
44.30.ABC
92.17.DEF
A = The fourth digit of the year Doty wrote the story in his
journal.
B = The third digit of the year Doty wrote the story in his
journal.
C = The third digit of the year Eastman published her account of
the Maiden Rock.
D = 3.
E = 0.
F = The day of the month that Doty wrote the story in his journal
+ 5.
There is no need to go anywhere near the railway, below the
wayside.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jryy thneqrq