I remember laughing at “Lake Gitchy goo me” as a kid.
A lot of people thought this gomer was a little over the top, maybe smoking some loco weed in his peace pipe.
Here is a short extract from the real “Song of Hiawatha:”
He had mittens, Minjekahwun,
Magic mittens made of deer-skin;
When upon his hands he wore them,
He could smite the rocks asunder,
He could grind them into powder.
He had moccasins enchanted,
Magic moccasins of deer-skin;
When he bound them round his ankles,
When upon his feet he tied them,
At each stride a mile he measured!
Gitchee Goomi water must have been powerful stuff.
Of course this has nothing to do with the boat sinking.