One chose a wing, another a foot, another a tail and another a claw, until all the guests had chosen something. And those who chose a foot or tail became animals and ran off, those who chose a wing or claw became birds and flew away. Algon himself had chosen a white hawk's feather, and his wife and boy had done the same. Immediately they became white hawks, and flew down upon the earth, and from that day, the white hawk became the boldest of birds.

After the advent of unscrupulous white traders, who poisoned the Indian imagination with liquor, there were no more strange and mysterious folk-lore tales, invented or conceived. Before the Taos traders came into the North Platte valley, each new or startling event was crowned with mystery, and some Indian mystic would weave into the mythology of the tribe. A new bird appearing, or a stranger in the animal kingdom, in unfrequented localities, called for an explanation, like that of the Legend, The White Hawk.

Liquor created havoc in other ways :

In November, 1855, there was located on the Chugwater an Indian village of considerable proportions and the band had been quite successful in gathering fur, which was being held for better trades.

The Chugwater came by its name because of a rock along its course, which stands abruptly out of the level valley and resembles a chimney, and "chug" is an Indian name for chimney. Hence Chimney creek, or Chugwater.

The traders at Fort Laramie became impatient for the fur of the Indians and sent over with the complaint a "hollow wood" (keg) of firewater. In the succeeding debauch a drunken fight occurred, and Bull Bear, Yellow Lodge, and six of their personal friends were killed.