The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-10-18
LroiSrE, LAKE SUPERIOR, Aug. 81, 1877.
Interesting Inteiigeaee-Proeress Of Missions-Com.
msrce. 6e

LMoIsrE, LAKE SUPERIOR, Aug. 81, 1917.
Interesting InteiiissHee-Proeress of Mssons- Com
msrce, &C., &c.
This place is on the south extremity Of NADIA
line Island ono of the Apostle group at the head of the
lake. and within the limits of Wisconsin A sojourn |
Of few days In this remote and isolated corner afford
ed opportunity for few observations on the region and
its Inhabitants that may prove interesting to your
readers as In lack Of other excitement they did the
writer
The American Fur Company, at an early day located
trading station or for such establishments are
termed on the south side But within fifteen sixteen
years past, removed to more eligible location some.
thing over mile northwest, bay formed by two
points terminating the island where they have erected
large warehouses at convenient distance from the
teri very substantial enclosed and covered wharf ex
tending full one hundred and fifty feet into he bay to-
gether with other buildings for the accommodation of
their agent clerks sc The general government has an
Indian sub-agency here the Office of which, and the
blacksmith shop, constitute the public buildings of the
place The latter edhce is the conspicuou Of the
and ssrssrs raised ocay during Office hours STRIPES
Tho houDs> of the village generally are one story
high End Suilt Of dressed logs weatherboards, and
boards and covered with shingles The inhabitants are
almost solely half breeds but few full blooded Indians
and less number Of whites to constitute any por
ton of its permanent population: The whole number
of houses q all sorts, from point to point Is about
ninety, ana the population three hundred and nifty.
Two missionary establishments located here
which is conducted under the auspices Of the Ameri
can Boardy the other is Roman Catholic. They each
have comfortable church. with spires and bells; that
of the Board Mission appears to be Frame and stands
the main road the shore, and may
ing quarters for from fifty to hundred persons
possibly more by little crowdng The whole is under
the charge Of Messrs Haland Ely whose New England
origin In strongly marked by manners and dialect This
part of the Enlistment is located about half mile
and new forts at what is dsnominated the Middle VII
sge Middle Fort it being the site the stock
AIDES erected In former time by the original French Voya
geurs, or the Hudson's Bay company. The Catholic
church sa3ds conspcuousy on elevated ground in
Of the Fs Company's establishment and with Its
II built by the Rev MIR Baraga, out Of his private
purse atsan expense Of about $4,000 although
strustsd iny Of dressed logs The interior is deco
nation, and presents marked anomaly with objects for
hundreds Of miles around. The altar piece 80 far
art; but the subject does not strike being the
most hitting representing, as 1t does the Holy Family
her needle and the blessed Saviour yet child amusing
himself on the floor with carpenter chips One picture
ominousy sets forth the murder of Pope while knes
ty, by sort Of geometrcsl figure.
At every place where the missionary is found the fol-
Whsswss your mission sstsSsSedi How do you OBJ
tain the Of the savage! What is your mode Of in
struction, What Is your SUGGEST
successful than any other in the number and devotion
Of their converts but the Pedestrians generally have
succesdsd in mparting to theirs higher degree Of
tai improvement.
The of the Catholics Is not dcult to account
for BY the most ordinary of observers larger number
OF white Catholics have intermarred with the Indians
than have the Protestants The confidence Of the
dian readily secured through that Of inn
ence than any other The issue by such marriages il
certain GAIN and the to reach the Of relatives
rendered easy. Another Ia the appearance the
part of the Catholic missionary of more full and
okedu to he NV
cessant labor for Others his fearless exposure OF his
health in attending on the sick and dying and his
greater readiness to suffer prvation at all times An in
stance ID related on Kewaweua Point of Father Barag
nearly sixty years Of age who devotes the entire
income Of large property in France well his Der
sona services the in which he is engaged and
receives nothing having during the past winter travel
led on snow shoes from Ause to Copper Harbor dis
lance OF htysev miles through uninhs bited
gon for the purpose of bsptzing infant that
learned was likely to die Such evidences of devotion
are not without influence tae observing Indian mind
The Catholic missionary, wherever he u.s. Is home:
neither wife children by his being
benightsd at an Indian Lodge He eats their homely
He shares their mat for his bed and gives thanks
Rsdeemer that he 80 well provided for He does not
absoi full moety Of his available time by INDUCING in
the qualifications Of life; by attending to domestic
duties; in the Of increasing family but by
his simple, sefsacrifcng mode, having reached the
heart the savage submission to the requirements Of
the Ronish Church, not difficult to obtain Doctrines
taught by visible symbols are more readily comprehend
ed, by simple minded people, than ethical
whatever form words may be used. Tho style of
ship also is imposing and effective the unin-
struced mind and infinitely to their own
modes Of worshpping Kee Manifo than the more sim.
siorms protestants have adopted
The Catholics commenced regular operations at this
place after the American Board" had built their estab-
lishment; but have succeeded In obtaining q much
larger number Of adherents through the advert
cd TO- Last Sabbath their church filed to over
flowing, as In our large cl'ies; several members
joining the OCCASION by lighting their candles from
the perpetual fire Of the altar while the Protestant
church was but moderately attended. The difference
between the persons composing the two congregations
strkingthose at the Protestant church appeared
and infinitely more intellectual But not full blooded
Indian was observed among them while quite number
at the Catholic church.
The Protestant Mission established In 1893. At
first, religious instruction primary but the super
stton OF the savages induced them to withhold their
ceive any instruction The plan was then modified
to cvilise first, by teaching the ordinary arts
forts and wants Of life and to read In their Ian
guage well as in English, where IT be done and
during this process to operate their religious feelings
by example without making it portion Of school duty
Recently their has been iattering; by this
means they have been enabled to obtain hs charge of
several sons Of chiefs of various bands During the
present week they have suffered loss in the
death Of young chief about nineteen years Of
had been years under their CHARGE and had become
good English and Latin scholar and Is represented as
of great promise and devoted student The young
chiefs father is here attending THE payment and
he had his removed to the Indian camp where on
the following day. he yielded his spirit in the midst
man the white, his fatal malady As mt most
other establishments in thisths orphan Indian
ways has preference for admission the 10 OBJ
vious and sound, well philanthropc. The num-
Der OF scholars at present ranges from fifty to seventy
From the quantity Of nets hanging on the fences
may be inferred that the postion Of the
in the employ of the fur company, are principally
engaged in fishing this as well all other parts Of the
lake. Astounding with trout Of large size white FISH and
sskoett There appears very little evidence Of agricu
tural inclination hereabout although quite sufficient to
that soil and climate not entirely unfavorabe
to the husbandmsn. The culinary gardens of DR.. b.
rup, the company agent Of Mr.. VIM. Warren, half
breed at the old for and Of the missionaries at the
middle village, sufficiently attest that fact Their pota-
toes cabbage and turnips fully equal to similar
productions in New England, and the oats the
grounds OF ths two former Of these gentlemen
ror la all this region Of country the lands heavily
wooded with bass, MAPLE birch, cedar, pine fr and
tamarack Indigenous shrubs fruits, and medicinal
plants abundant and various the several soils
In which they grow. Among them may be noted fine
red plum, from inch to an inch and half in dame
ter found in t greatest perfection at Bad River about
twelve miles distant from this place; small kind
is growing here Among the medicinal plants sarsapa
ra may be instanced shooting its stems from under
every windfa Nearly all the indigenous berries Of the