The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-12-19


past two centuries.
As many fights, Surprises, massacre
{ and single exploits, can be told of thi
6 endless feud as would ili book; al
through the country, from Seikirk's set
Element to Wisconsin river south, an,
from Lake Superior to the Mississippi
, spots are shown where the blood Of thes,
| two tribes has been freely split Ever
at this day, in spite of the white man !
interference, it is no strange thing t.
hear of surprises and murders on either
side, and to see warrior with his head
stuck full Of eagles plumes, danoting the
number Of enemies he has killed in his
time.
One hundred years ago, the Ojibways
were hemmed in along the shores of Lake
Superior; the war path Of their enemies
terminated at many of their lake shore
villages. But now they are masters OF
al! the country to the Mississippi; and
had 1t not been for the PARTITION of lands
among the Indian tribes, by TIE United
States. Hole "a the day, their late noted
war chief, used often to confidently af-
firm that he would have made his village
at st. Peters, and the hunting grounds
OF his young men would have extended
far into the western plains Of Sioux.
All this proves much for their proves in
war; but they lay the main cause of
their success, to their first intercourse
with whites; they became possessed of
! fire arms long before their enemies, and
made good use Of them
The first regular trader Of whom they
speak, was a Erenchman, in the tine of
the old French domination. This mans
name was Joseph - he built his trad
ing post at a small creek, between the
present Mission House and Fur compa-
ny's establishment, on the island Of La
ponte; and surrounded his post with
cedar pickets. Mounds are still visible.
pointed out as the remains OF this old
French post
A tragedy happened here, which is
infinitely related by the Indians; the
trader, whose name have mentioned,
was murdered with his wife and three
children, by his hired Frenchman in cold
blood.
The cause of this deed is given as fol-
lows: the man had been discovered in
pilfcring goods from his master, and be-
ing afraid of being denounced in the
spring to the chief factors Of the trade,
he committed the bloody act 1t is also
said, that he entertained criminal pas
sion for the traders wife, and after he
had murdered the husband, attempted
his evil designs on her. she defended
herself with an Indian spear, and nearly
succeeded in killing the murderer, who
was at last obliged to shoot her dead !;
the poor children he kept alive, till be-
coming weary of their continual cries
for their parents, he ended their lives.
The dead bodies he buried in heap of
shavings and rubbish within the posi-
To the Indians, who happened to be all
away to their sugar camps, being the
spring of the year; he told the plausible
story, that his master had startcdto visit
them with his family on dog train, and
the ice being bad and rotten, he sup
posed that they had broken in and drogn-
ed. When the ice left the lake, the Ia
dams hunted along the lake shores for
the body of their trader. None was
found, and by the actions Of the man,
they were led to suspect the. murder.
! Soon after, a light canoe; came from
Montreal, in which was factor Of the
trading post. Drops of bloods were dis
Frcnchman was Immediately tied The
bodies were discovered, and he was TAX
en- to Montreal TO take his trial. On the
way he made his escape, and finding his
way to an Indian tribe he remained
with them some TING; fate soon however,
awarded the murderer deserved death
AS the braves OF the tribe were recount
ing their exploits at the war pole. he
stepped forth, and striking the pole, re-
counted his deed of blood; thinking to
be respected by the red men thereby.
The news of the murder had reached
this tribe, in all its aggravating details
and war chicf, stepping up to him,
buried his tomahawk deep in the MUIR
derer's brain; thus he met his death at
the hands of the untutored savage.
The post at Lapointc was ;dismantIed,
and the canon and iron works thrown
into the creek, which has deep muddy
bottom, where nothing can be discovered.
The only trader that remained after
the old French war, when the English
came in possession of the country, was a
Frenchman, named John Eattiste Ca
dotte. He was married to an Indian
woman belonging TO one of the princi-
pal families in the nation: and was in
the vicinity, at the taking Of Fort .Nccki-
mar, under Pontiacs coalition. 1t was
this mans wife, that saved the life of
Alexander Henry, a survivor of that
bloody event. Henry remained with
this family, and became partner of NJ
Cadotte in the Indian trade. He is said
!. to have spent two winters at Lapointe
and to have worked the copper mines at
! Ontonagon also for two years
In his latter days, J. b. Cado,te re-
sided at ST. Maries, where he died, much
beloved by the Indians. He was the frs,
settler of that now Furnishing town.
His son. Michel Cadotte. traded after.