Many
years ago, a giant fish lived in McCrossen Lake. The
Indians that lived near there called this monster Ma-sheno-mak.
Often fishermen and swimmers who were not careful were
caught by the monster. It dragged them to the bottom
of the lake and ate them. Many of the Indians were disappearing,
and their families wanted to stop this. Ma-nabush, a
brave man, was asked by his people to try to destroy
the monster. He knew the only way to do this was to
be captured by Ma-sheno-mak and allow himself to be
swallowed.
The
monster caught Ma-nabush and swallowed him. Once he
was inside the large fish he saw many familiar creatures.
He saw bear, deer, porcupine, raven and pine squirrels.
They were happy to see Ma-nabush. They began to sing
a war song and danced all around inside the body of
the monster. The monster felt this and wondered what
was happening. While dancing, Ma-nabush came near the
monster's heart. He stuck his knife into it three times.
The monster began to shake and began to feel pain. Ma-nabush
yelled, "Ma-sheno-mak, take me to my wigwam!" Soon the
monster stopped moving and slowly died. Ma-nabush cut
a big hole in the side of the fish and everyone trapped
inside was finally free. The great fish monster Ma-sheno-mak
was never seen again and the people near McCrossen Lake
could safely fish and swim again. Source Brown, C.,
Waupaca Chain O'Lakes Indian History Survey. The Chain
O'Lakes Protective Assoc. 1931, pamphlet.
