mrocks.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., June 12, 1958, page 1
Includes photographs titled:
MAGIC ROCKS SOUGHT FOR MEMORIAL - These two Indian rocks near Roosevelt, part of the ancient lore of the redman of the Columbia river country, will be lost to the John Day dam pool unless they are moved; a permanent site is being sought for the monoliths. In the photo at left are George Untuch, Granger, left, and Geroge Gibson, Pendleton, looking over Old Lady Rock. In the right hand picture, a party of officials studies Coyote Rock; left to right, Deputy Sheriff John Splawn, W.L. (Bud) Reader, Umtuch, Sheriff Ez Kaiser, Gibson and Pete Eneus, White Swan, Indian agency officer. -Sentinel Photo.

PRESERVATION OF MAGICAL ROCKS SOUGHT AS SHRINE OF INDIAN LORE

Interest in preservation of the two famous Indian rocks near the Columbia river above Roosevelt was renewed Monday when a party led by Sheriff Ez Kaiser visited the scene and inspected the rocks. The ancient Indian symbols like close beside the present highway 8 location, in an area scheduled to be flooded by backwater from the John Day dam.
Members of Indian groups of the area have long advocated removal of the rocks to a safe place where they may be seen and studied as examples of the rituals which were a part of the Indian culture.
The principle of the two is "Old Lady Chinook," said to represent in ancient times the person of a woman who, at a later time was turned to stone. In the more modern times, the stone was thought to have magical powers, and bears on the west and east faces a number of hollows about the size of a baseball, formed by hammering at thereon with a smaller stone held in the hand.

Rock's Powers Cited

George Gibson, 74-year-old member of the Yakima tribe, explained the procedure thus:
"Old Lady Chinook had power over the wind. During times of deep snow, or similar need, the Indians would send a young boy, or boys, out to the rock to hammer on the west side of it. Then the Old Lady Chinook would send the west wind (Chinook) to melt the snow. Wind would blow five days - no more snow. Sometimes Indians wanted east wind to blow - Indians hammer on the other side of rock. That's the reason for the holes in rock."
Near the Old Lady rock lies a somewhat larger one, known as Coyote. The coyote was an important figure in Indian mythology, sunning and shrewd, and known to work against the forces of evil toward the Indian people. In later years, Coyote became the mare of Old Lady Chinook and, according to Gibson, though he stayed near, he was wise and lived a little way apart from her.
When asked for a suggestion as to a place suitable for moving the rocks, Gibson agreed with interpreter George Umtuch that Goldendale might be the best spot - possibly the courthouse square.

Party Inspects Site

Members of the party included Gibson, a resident of Pendleton, but who spends much of his time with friends and relatives in the Yakima valley, Umtuch, former Yakima council member, Granger, who acted as interpreter for the older man; Pete Eneus, White Swan, of the Indian police force, driver for the Indian party; W.K. "Bud" Reader, a retired Roosevelt merchant, who pointed out several local landmarks including the petroglyphs on river-shore rocks near Roosevelt; Deputy Sheriff John Splawn, and a representative each from The Sentinel and the Yakima Herald.
Gibson ventured the belief that the Roosevelt petroglyphs were not so much a picture history but rather notes or directions for river-traveling fisherman, giving clues as to fishing methods or other data.
The location of the symbolic rocks, about two miles east of Roosevelt was described as an Indian village location.