The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-10-06
Death Of Buffalo Chief.

One Of the most remarkable Indians of
the Northwest died on the It'll September,
at the great age Of about 100 wears. Few
visitors to the head Of Lake Superior but
have been struck by the venerable and sedate
appearance of CHEVY aish-Ke. or the Baffslo
Chief, the head and the most able chief of
the Chippewa Nation of Indians-aEke noted
for his rare integrity, wisdom in council
power as an orator, and magnanimity as a
warrior. He was confined to his L,odoe onlv
week by sickness, pulmonary disease and
was buried one mile below Middle Fort with
military honors. Two flags were borne in
the procession of half-breeds, who fired VOL
leys at intervals with their rifles. A large
concourse of Indians joined in the rude fl.
neral pageant. Religious service were held
in the Catholic Church, Buffalo having re.
ceived the baptismal rite two DAYS before his
death. Two or three days previous to his
decease, Buffalo made his will in the presence
Of Commissioner Mannypenny and Others.
and short time before his death he present
ed the Commissioner his pipe and tobacco
pouch, desiring him, to take them with him
to Washington styling, 81 have smoked nv
last pipe, and haye no ,tiore use for Them,
The Commissioner told the dying Chief his
wish should be gratiiied.
Buffalo was born on one Of the Apostle
Islands, and when only 10 wears old made
migratory excursion, with the family, to LAKE.
Erie. They remained two years near the
site where the city of Buffalo now is. then
in returning, remained several years at Mack
NAV, before settling down on his native
island. Buffalo had his fifth wife, and nu-
merous family. mostly dressing after the
fashion of the whites, and considerably ad-
vanced in civilization.
During the first visit of he steamer Planet
to La Pointe, Buffalo came on Board and at
acted the notice and favor of the passen-
gers. Judge Wilkins, through an interpre-
ter, addressed the venerable Chief in compli-
mentary terms. The correspondent of the
Detroit Advertiser, to whose obituary notice
of Buffalo we are indebted for the facts of
his death and history, says:
After the Judge had spoken, the Chief
intimated that he desired to eat and smoke
before he replied. After little, he briefly
replied to the Judge THAT he was we'll
pleased with his words, and thanked him for
what he had said; that the visit of the new
steamer was like unto the birth of a child.
1t gave great joy to tbs family; that he was
pleased to l6Qk upon such beautiful child,
and that he liked the faces of the child's fam
ily,-intiTiated that it was usual to christen
children, &c: Hesaid that he had seen many
winters-that as the leaves of the trees fail
from the blighting frost, SO should he soon
fall under the weight of time; 1t would give
him joy to see the Judge at his Lodge, should
he ever come. The Chief, more thoughtful
than some more fnrored than he, asked if his
smoking would be offensive to the ladies.
Their consent being given, he smoked in the
cabin, the ladies, meanwhile, with ribbons,
etc, gave fancy trimming to the chiefs hat,
when it was passed round for contribution
and seven dollars collected, the Chief return
ing thanks, Me groetch, me groetch," for
the gift, saying it was the largest grotuHy he
had ever receiyed.-Cemland Herald.