Fred W. Allsopp’s book “FOLKLORE OF ROMANTIC ARKANSAS”, contains the following interesting legend., on pp. 156-158:
“The famous Diamond cave, one of the wonders of Arkansas, is located in the Boston mountains, three miles southwest of Jasper, Newton County. Its interior has been explored and surveyed for only three miles, but it is supposed to extend into the mountain for more than 21 miles. A dazzling panorama of magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, as well as other natural phenomena, holds the visitor spellbound with wonder.
The legends connected with this great subterranean marvel are very interesting.
According to one of these, communicated to the Commercial-Appeal, by George M. Moreland, the Great Spirit became much displeased with his children who lived there. They were constantly quarreling and fighting, and they refused to live together amicably as brothers should. Angered at the antagonism in his erstwhile happy kingdom, the Great Spirit, decided to destroy these people and lay waste the beautiful mountain land which for ages had been their home.
Only one chief was obedient, and the Great Spirit decided to spare him and his family. The obedient chief was directed to assemble his household and to fill baskets with the seed of all good things, and to enter the great cavern now called Diamond Cave. So with his family, and baskets filled with seeds, the good chief went far back beneath the mountain. The fairies and elves paid homage to the Great Spirit, and importuned him to allow them also to enter the cavern. This appeal was granted. After the elves and fairies, and the good chief and his family were all safely within the cave, the Great Spirit set a huge stone over the entrance, sealed it securely. Then he blew the breath of his mighty wrath over the beautiful mountain lands, causing icebergs to drift down from the northland.
All living things, both animal and vegetable, were destroyed, except those safely within the cave. Years passed, Years became ages, and ages aeons, but the land remained one vast scene of frozen desolation. The once beautiful mountain country was naught but one tremendous glacier.
After countless centuries, the Great Spirit looked upon this desolate scene, and his wrath was appeased. He rolled the stone away from the cavern’s mouth, and bade the good chief and his family come forth and replenish the land…
The Great Spirit was appeased, but the signs of his wrath are a warning to his children of his great power. Some of the rocks he left bare, as a constant reminder of what the land might again become if his children should disobey him.” [map id=”441″]
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