Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-09-28
Correspondence of the Democracy

1t was very interesting 10 watch couple of deer
which the engines whistle had started. As they
SKINNED along the eastern slope of the rolling prai
rie they swept away in the distance like couple of
prairie hens, and awakened many reminiscence of
the olden time But praries, herds, and hens, form
not the only interesting features of the route Be
tween La Sale and Chicago there is much to crafty
the eye and ear, the usual features OF prairie
country. Near Joliet is a curious mound called Mt
Joliet rising from the dead level of the prairie more
than fifty feet, and occupying an of ground ri
is somewhat oval in shape, and is supposed by Ysssy
to be an alluval deposit, while others believe it u be
an artificial tumuus, built in remote ages by halfcv-
lized tribes, as means of defence in times off"ar
and still others believe il to be sepulchre. Bween
Belleville and ST. Louis there a great hany OF
these mounds, Of which is said ia be nbety ieet
high, and six hundred yards in circumference al the
base Mount Joliet is an object of interest to every
traveller whether fashioned by the handiSork Of the
Great Architect or the puny arm of MAJ. Beween
Getaway and La Sale the scenery is isely diversified
by the high bluffs of the Illinois river and the mar
BILE quarries.
History, too, finds ample material for its flscina-
ting stories of bygones; and the Illinois and Pota-
wattome Indians have immortazed bold and start
ling precipice island in the Illinois r,er by
savage warfare
Of the road, as the site of the last terrible encounter
between the belligerent tribes. suppose al your
readers are familiar with the story, but it is repeat
ed to the traveller often, that it will safely lass the
ordeal of a short version. In the numerous Indian
wars the Illinois and PottawaOmies came to te dead
y foes and the latter being stronger in numbtrs and
prowess, frequently encroached upon the luntlng
grounds of the former, and eXuted in their stperlor-
ty using the most taunng and insulting language.
On one occasion, the Illinois, by dint of dip omac
strategy known only to the red men, had Obtained a
signal victory, which SO reused the revenge oe tho
Pottawatomies that they determined TO exerninate
them by signal attack upon their principal village.
This plan was frustrated by friendly chief Of the
Foxes who informed the Illinois of the premeiitaed
attack and while the Pottawattomes Counting
upon certain victory, Ona- VAGUE the young chief of
the Illinois, conceived the bold plan of passing the
enemy's camp and taking refuge upon the summit of
this rock, inaccessible upon all sides but one
BY almost superhuman energy, the old men,
men and children were removed this rock and plen
tiully supplied with provisions they hoped to sustain
a siege which should exhaust the vigilance Of their
foe Terrible was the wrath of the Poawattomes
when they learned the spoils they to enjoy
beyond their reach They attempted 10 scale the
walls of the mpregnable fortress, but huge stones
were hurled from the summit of the rock by the willy
lIllnuS, ana all WHO attempted 10 reach inc Toe per-
shed Thus the siege was carried on ; but amight-
Ter foe attacked the i'll iated Illinois. There was no
water upon the rock their supply exhausted and the
only means of salvation descend into The jaws
of the enemy and procure it. Ropes were let down
in the stiffness of night but the wary foe them of
and killed all who attempted to descend Day after
day the old men, and children died, till only
a handful remained. These ,.Spartan-like, headed by
the brave Onawaque, pushed to the last extremity by
aa----:--l------l- -
They fought like tigers, and the triumph of the
foe but poor return for the long warfare. Some
say that, awed by the unearthly appearance of Ona
waque the Pottawattomies left him to depart in peace
fearing the dspeasure of the Great Spirit should they
scalp him; but this is hardly in accordance with thu
savage ferceness of this warlike race
At La Sale, the merest apology of water craft
with an asthmatc old engine transports passenger
and luggage down the river mile and a half, TO thu
opposite side where, after scrambling over boxes
bales piles of lumber, and what not, sort of hug
platform, on car wheels, awaits them. bluff o
near hundred feet is to be scaled reach the cars
This is drawn up by horse power, by means of hug
rope attached to the car and, should this same rop
happen break, there is a righu chance of escape
among the motley assemblage the narrow wharf
The rope was new one, and by dint of persuasion
the passengers finally all seated their trunks
and the car moved slowly up, though not withou
some whitened faces. Only trip or two before,
freight loaded with merchandise and the conduc
tor by break in the rope, thrown into the mid
die of the river, the sustaining injury but thu
loss of his hat and stunning plunge bath. But tn
, bridge will be in successful operation after year o
so. The beautiful expanse of country stretching ia
away, the river rolling slowly on, and Peru and l.
Sale, near neighbors, its northern Shore all
the most apathetc 10 something like enthusiasm
The passenger train reaches Bloomington at 81,
O'Clock, p. NJ Our route home was now by stag
coach, some twenty-five miles. ! suppose journe
of that distance in ten years from this date will
be great rarity, But now, it is trte affair O
sues, jolts, and woe-begOne faces, and funny smiles
and hopes, &C., that will not trouble you or you
patient readers with further details
Peaches are just getting ripe, and abundan
that they are scarcely saleable. Two "bits' ii. G
25 celts) bushel is high price here, though som
Of the enterprsing farmers take them in cover
ed wagons to the nearest market towns. Apples, too
and melons, of the most desirable qualities are plen
ty need be. Corn crops promise richly, and VIII
so Independent as the farmer nowadays!
But must close with good bye.
Mt Pleasant, Sept. sth, 1853. c.. E. B. l..
COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH CnNA.-The Britis
Government. on learning that our Government had ap
pointed Mr.. Robert ]. Walker as Minister to China
with full authority to make commercial treaty wit
+ the new ruling powers of China immediately insttu
ted special embassy TO China for the sane purpose
1t was probably supposed by the British Government
that MIR. Walker would reach the of his diplo
matte action before their efforts would be made
and that their success would depend upon the