In the Autumn of 1955, a booklet on the Tri-State Spook Light was produced in Joplin, Missouri by the retired Capt. Bob Loftin, an enthusiast on the light.
An excerpt:
LEGEND
By O. W. Buzzard, Hornet, Mo.
There are several legends about the spook light. The oldest one
is handed down by an Indian tribe who live in this vicinity, the
Quapaws. I have talked to many Indians in the area and the story
that their forefathers handed down to them is no doubt true. It has
of course, by now become a matter of record.
The legend is that a handsome young Indian brave fell in love
with a beautiful Indian maiden of the Quapaw tribe. The young
Indians were desperately in love and it seems that the old Chief,
father of the maiden, tried to take undue advantage of the situation
by asking for an unusually large payment for his daughter's hand.
Being unable to meet the demands of the Indian Chief, the couple
decided to escape and elope. They had scarcely reached the outside
of the camp area when their absence was discovered. The Indian
Chief became very angry and sent out a large group of warriors to
pursue the young brave and his daughter. The young maiden knew
that she would be severely punished and her lover would be killed.
Knowing that they were going to be captured, the young couple de-
cided to commit suicide by leaping from atop a
high rocky cliff over-looking Spring River.
This spot is now known as "Lovers' Leap" or
"Devil's Promenade." It is believed that the
spirits of the young Indian couple return
nightly to form the phenomenon which we view to this day.
A large Indian Pow-wow and stomp dance
are held annually in the Spook Light area
which is attended by thousands from near and
far. The bridge crossing Spring River has
been named Devil's Promenade Bridge.
For over 50 years tourists have stopped at
the store here in Hornet for directions to view the light which per-
forms nightly.
(Mr. Buzzard is operator of the general store at Hornet, Mo.)
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