1 Adventure

Legend of Two Lovers at Enchanted Rock

There is quite a few stories that emanate from this place. To tell them all would take too long. For quite some time this giant rock was highly revered by the Indians who assigned many superstitious beliefs to its rising pink dome. They stood in great awe of this place and there are quite a few tales about brave Indian warriors defending the last of their tribes before being forced to extinction by invading settlers and people.

One such story talks about the exploitation of the Indians superstitious beliefs in order to save two lovers from never seeing each other again. The smart frontiersman of the day who were versed in Indians customs learned to use these wild beliefs to their advantage in the time of great need. Just as Enchanted Rock held great awe and refuge for the Indians, it as was a place of refuge for people fleeing the Indians. The reason lies in that at night, the Indians dared not go to the top of the pink dome unless they wanted to tempt the spirit fires who dance on top and bring bad luck upon the Indian tribes. To dare fate, would not be wise.

One of the earliest stories of Enchanted Rock talks about in the 1830's some young men decided to travel up the Colorado and Brazos River to examine a large rock of metal which for many years had been considered a wonder. It was supposed to be made of platinum. The Indians held it sacred for centuries, and once a year worship it. They would not let any white man approach it. It was impossible apparently to make any impression with hammer or chisel on the surface. If it was stuck by someone it would bring out a ringing sound which could be heard for miles. Apparently the party was successful in finding the rock but could not bring any pieces back with them.

Another story mentions why Enchanted Rock was once thought to be made of platinum, a interesting phenomna that I have actually witnessed my self. During an early morning shower in the hills at Enchanted Rock, the streams of water coursing down the sides of the huge boulder would resemble sheets of molten silver. The gigantic dome would apparently form a rainbow path right on top which as old legend says lead the seeker directly to a mine of gold. According to other stories, the sands around Enchanted Rock attest to the gold bearing properties within the area. One account from one of the oldest settlers in the area at the time would tell of a lost mine of Gold near the rock, with the shaft to the mine been sunk by Spaniards in the eighteenth century.

The legend of lovers of Enchanted Rock is not such a popular one. One which I had not heard until recently. It has existed around that area in German writings of the time in Fredericksburg no less for quite some time.

In the late 1840's companies of Texas Ranger would pass through the hill country near Enchanted Rock. They often liked this area due to the protection the big rock would give them from the Indian if they ever decided to attack. Playing thus on the incredible fears the Comanches had for the rock at night when the spirit fires would dance on top of the big dome. For the Texas Ranger knew if he had too he could get his pony or himself up to the top of the big rock and not fear having arrows shot at him by the Indians who feared the spirts atop and who ever sought protection from the great spirit would have it if it was meant to be.

The Indians having many strange beliefs about the big rock, would in order to appease the great spirit who danced on top would preform sacrifices. Often a pretty young girl from a near by settlement would be kidnapped for this purpose. As long as the great spirit on the rock would shine fortune upon the Indians raids in the river valleys they would not preform a sacrifice.

One time when the Indians were conducting raids in the local valleys they ended up going down too far south near the old Mission San Jose, near San Antonio. The commander of the mission at the time, Jose Navarro, learned of the Indians plans and began quickly preparing the defense of the mission. One Spaniard who had recently arrived from Spain was Don Hesu Navarro who aided quickly in help to get the mission fortified for the impeading attack.

In the mission they often lived Indians, among them lived an Indian chief named Tehuan and his beautiful daughter, with the christened name Rosa by the priests of the mission. The dark Spaniard quickly and desperately fell in love with the beautiful dark skinned Indian girl. He succeed in winning her love in return. As the Indian raiding party approached the mission the two lovers where faced with separation possibly forever if one of them should die. Don Hesu was attacked and got the hit with a tomahawk while Rosa was kidnapped and taken by the Indians. Fortunately for Don Hesu he survived the blow and pulled himself together. When he came to, he discovered that his bride was taken and dragged away by the Indians. Don Hesu quickly found out from an Indian boy where they were taking her and that they intended to make her a sacrifice to the great Spirit of Enchanted Rock.

Don Hesu quickly made efforts to gather a band of people together to help save his love fromt he hands of the savages. He quickly made for Goliad and rounded up a group of early settlers and a daring group of Spaniards. They began on pursuit of the Comanches and arrived to find the camp grounds of the Indians. Don Hesu immediately wanted to attack the Comanches and get Rosa back from them before it was too late. The other settlers and people in the group more knowledgeable about the Indians had a better plan. They convinced Don Hesu that a better way to get her back was to play on the Indians superstitious beliefs about the rock. All night the groups with Don Hesu harassed the Indians by running their horses and attacking guards at the camp in the pitch black of the night. The Indians thinking that the great spirit of the rock was enraged by the Indians recent attack on the mission quickly mounted their mustangs and rode off with their captive to preform the sacrifice.

The band of people pursuing the Comanches tried to catch up to the Indians as much as they could. When they reach the canyon between Enchanted Rock and the peak next to it (Echo Canyon possibly) they saw Rosa already bound to a stake and piles of wood situated high around her. The rescue party divided into two groups. One groups skirted the edge of the peak in order to catch the Indians camped north while the remaining group with Don Hesu rush the guards which stood in the canyon. Crazied by the sight of his beloved Rosa fastened to a stake, Don Hesu fought like a mad man and succeeded in freeing the captive Rosa and escaping with her beyond the reach of the Indians. That time was perhaps at least, one of the times the Spirit of Enchanted Rock was deprived of its human sacrifice.