Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-19
Anecdote OF JaIIsu Dubuque-How He
Friahtened the Indians

only sixty or seventy years old, there is one
we do not remember of seeing in print. AS
a Canadian Frenchmon, Julien Dubuque, was
full blooded white man, and probably the
only one in the colony. His followers and
employees in the mines we're half. breeds and
Indians. During the whole time Of the oc.
cupancy Of his mining claim, the mines Of
Spain" as he called them, from 1888 TO 1870
the Sac and Fox Indians had a village at the
mouth Of Catfish Creek, about two miles be
low the city that now bears the name of the
first white man settled in the wilderness that
has since become the State of Iowa.
Dubuque's prosperity, resulting from his
lead trade carried on with st. Louis in his
annual visits to that city, then the only trad
ing point of any consequence above New
Orleans, occasionally excited the jealousy Of
the Indians to such degree that they sought
some pretext of ejectiug him from the coun-
try by annulling the permit which had been
executed in writing in l778 by six of the
Chiefs, and which was to continue during his
lifetime. But Dubuque was one of those
shrewd, ingenious men, who evidently un-
derstood human nature well and made
correct estimate of Indian character. He
accordingly managed to carry on prosper
GUS trade with them, and by business strata
gem and an occasional display Of tricks that
appeared to them to be evidence of super
human power, he wrought upon their fears,
excited their wonder, appealed to their cupid
ity and necessities to such an extent that all
their regard or dislike toward him at any
time was generally mingled with awe, and
hence his power over them was of that
mixed character that required him to be ever
on the alert to maintain his position and pre-
vent them from violating the terms of the
mining grant they had made to him. +
The incident alluded to was said to have
occurred before the year l800 at time when,
from some real or imaginary cause, the In
dians resolved not to allow him to encroach
further on what they considered their native
and inherent privileges Dubuque had his
residence and other buildings near the viii
lsge and Council House of the Indians, the
only remains of any of which now to be
seen are a few low banks of earth covered
with sod and bushes, short distance from
Messrs. Lumberts sawmill. A controversy
had arisen between Dubuque and the Indians
on account of some demand that Dubuque
had made on them for labor, game or some
article of trade. The Indians wero turbulent
and threatening. Dubuque adjourned the
parley with them from time to time in order
to devise new. eEpedients to coax or frighten
them into compliance with his wishes.
He resorted to the plan OF operating on
their strongest emotions, those Of fear and
reverence for manifestations of supernatural
agency. He happened to have q barrel of
turpentine among his goods, and sought a
chance to pour it out, unseen, Just after
dark, on the still water of the creak, a few
rods above its mouth, the current being
scarcely perceptible. He then built large
council fire on the bank where the s9wmill
now stands, and called the Indians suddenly
from their lodges for consultation. They as
sembled in surprise, and wondering at the
strange manner he assumed When all were
seated, he commenced harapgue, recapitu.
lating all that he had done for them how he
had furnished and administered medicine to
save their lives; how he had driven away
the evil spirits that haunted the lead caves
he named the blessings they had received
| through him, in keeping away other white
men. He promised to do world of won
| ders, in the course of time, for the tribe, i
they would grant the single favor thet
| asked. But the council of chiefs sat un,
| moved as he expected and after dogged
| silence for a short time, the chiefs replied
| that they would never yield another point
in his favor, and warned him to beware
| OF their vengeance if hepersisted any Longer
| in hisdemands.
| Dubuque Instantly assumed a defiant ali
and threatened to execute the vengeance o
| the Great Spirit upon them for their ingrati
tude. He raved out his anathemss upor
them in all the opprobrious epithets thei
language afforded. They still sat unmoved
He seized a flaming FIRE brand and told then
| the last hour had come for them to assent to hi
| wishes. His gesticulations and gyrations witt
the flaming brand were new sight to them
and had more Of the demon than they h4C
ever seen in their own war dances. Thougl
awed they were yet unmoved as to the CLAIM
! he wished TO have conceded. Assuming
still wilder manner, such as they had neve
seen in any other medicine man" or thei
prophets, he told them he would burn up tn
creek as a proof that he was the agent of tn
Great Spirit. 1t was but ten steps to tn
water-he went but half way and threw tn
flaming brand into the stream. A sheet G
flame arose instantly and a sudden terro
brought every Indian to his feet. As tn
flames spread over the water, they lighte
up the rocks and trees on the opposite shor
with an unearthly glare. The council mr.
paled before flame that lighted up th
darkly flowing river. Dubuque had seize
another brand, and the Indians, struck wit
horror, seemed impressed with the belief tbs
their destiny was sealed. He pointed to thei
canoes, moored a few rods up the creeb
They understood the meaning-that the
were to be burned. An Indian appeare
about to start to save them. One yell froI
Dubuque and menace with the brand fixe
the Sac brave to the spot, motionless wit
fear.
"Now," said Dubuque, with all the majest
he could assume, and with every eye IKE
on hisglowinR face, 'now if you do not yiel
l will burn your creek, your canoes, yor
wigwams, yourselves. will, with tn
brand, set FIRE to the Mississippi, your ow
great river, and burn it up, win burn =
all the timber and the game, and let all Il
. rest of your tribes starVe." He took one ste
, toward the river, but paused as If in merc
and exclaimed; "But- I loved you till yc
hated me, and would yet forgive you if Il
Great MsNitou will let me. Twill give yC
4 the time of only one breath to yield to n
request; if not the river will burn"
{ The Indians fell before him prostrate
: alteration. Even the head chief could utt
but two words one to thank him for the
/. | lives, and the other to grant all he asked
| ever would ask. 1'.nH5 .--al.
! Dabuaue then, with a manner that ind
l Gated that his mighty wrath was appease
/ told them that as an evidence that he hi
i forgiven them, IL they would be obedient
I him and refuse no more of his demands,
would let the fire of the burning water
4 slowly out. He directed them to look upt
s it until the last Pickering flame left &
h shores Of the creek in darkness.
a Then turning to the members Of the Cou
ell, as they stood in their places, he sal
"We will live in peace, but beware OF n
f power. You, chiefs and braves, tell 20
a hunters to bring me game, and your won
: to bring me more corn and more OF the hea
lead ore from the mines and tell all 20
v people that Dubuque, the Little knight,
next TO the Great Spirit, and yet he lv
d with you here only for your good. I
d them to fear and obey hin"
| he az "A nuhuunala atrQtQOf