The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-12
A CLERICAL ConiSSl0a AMONG THE INDIANS IN THE MOTH
WEST.
bishop MattOck's Inspection Tonr and Adven.
lures in the Chippewa Country.

bishop Mattoclk's Inspection Tonr and Adven-
lures in the Chippewa Country.
From the ST. Paul Press, Nov. 81
The Clerical Commission appointed by the Presi-
dent OF the States to attend and sanction the annual
payments to the Chippewa Indians OF Minnesota,
has returned safely from the Wilderness beyond
Grow Wing. In the division Of their labors
took the Western Riding visiting the chip.
pewa convocatlons at White Earth Lake and at the
Of the lea Of North %e Rev. john
tocks has traversed what he calls our Minnesota
Adirondacks attending the payments to the Indians
near the junction of Leech Lake river with the MIS-
sissippi The latter has just returned home, his
socate inspectors or commissioners having preceded
Bishop Mattock's nrst experience was at Crow
Wing. On the night before his arrival an Indian
killed In drunken ARRAY, but as both parties slayer
and slain, were Chippewas no other notice was
marx That the Victim Was the one hundreS and
eleventh Indian killed at Grow Wing in that
wod only
Hole in the Day. Taking leave Of Gle.
ment Beauer the party passed &C Gun Lake
Mr.. Breck's missionary venturesl; encampod success
sively at Lake Cullen and Pine river, and halted for
The largest body Of Ckppewas are or VIII be gain.
cred in this vicinity. Measures are In progress to
the Indian settlement at Red Lake. Mr. Mattacks
90 e ooo o' ho % oo hr tha na
River valley, near Pembina. The distribution made
to the Leech Lakers, the indian officials embarked in
O rude steamer for the western shore, whence the
journey by wagons was resumed In general north
west direction crossing the Mississippi on raft
near the western extremity OF Cass Lake. day or
two's Journey brought the party to the Of
Turtle river, and they crossed over imperceptbe
followed the Red Lake river to the banks OF Red
Lakemiis lower sxpansion-wiere che government
agency . e''''0''SN9 THE COUNTRY.
We'll MT. Mattocks. on your route from Crow
Lake what did you think Of the chances Of future
settlementr'
"AbOq, the same as in the AaiTonaacks Of New
growth OF pine and maple, where few farms
might be opened, but these spots win be ten or
try is sterile aud inhospitable-a thin sur
face resting on q cold, imoervious subso
scrubby pine Marshy lakes spread in all direc-
tons. The whole area OF Cass county, fully equal TO
ben proS
ably by sudden rupture ut Pokegoma Falls and the
land cannot be said to be settled. A dam at Poke
Coma, twenty feet high, would lood the whole coun-
try again. The streams have scarcely perceptblc
currents and are without definite banks; the
mineral intrusions; it Is q region OF innumerable
and sinuous streams twarrantlng the name 'Mssis-
sippi' which, properly trans aed, is River OF Many
watersD, and viii serve its best use as an indian
reservation
able accounts Of that vicinity ~
A good country and the Red Lake Indians are
good people have never seen batter corn and po-
tatOeS than at their village southeast Of the lake,
which. BY the way, is as large as Lake Champlain.
The Indians who have not been exposed to the vices
OF frontier are certainly superior TO any we ac
cusi0med to meet. Their old chief was noble
specimen OF manhood-tall, straight digni1ed and
even Intellectual
ANY mission theren
1T ias been rclinquished, as have all IN the Chip
pewa disificts-the American missionary station at
Red Lake, Breck's at Gull Lake and the sandy Lake
mission, which, beic;e. was established by 4. u.
G. r. NJ. There is some faint show OF instruction for
Indian children under the neagre provisions Of trea
ties; but nothing very eiIectivev
"wil the sources OF the Mississippi add greatly to
our timber supplyir
al do not tlnS 1t. One great difficulty will be the
inaccessible character OF the country The sluggish
current OF al the streams makes drive OF logs i'm
possible. Near Red Lake are pine forests, which
may be available for the future settlements I'm the
Red River valley, and have specimens of superior
building material quarried near the Red Lake
agency IL Is a compact primitive limestone, q good
marble resembles tie Joliet stonc bu; even winter,
and y the same 10 geological age US the Rutland
"of course you attended some Indian councils.
How about aboriginal oratory~
..he union OF church and state In this business OF
INDIAN inspection mas certainly agreed with you.
Was the trip to the Red Lake the extent OF your ex
mo. Returning to Leech Lake we followed Its
Oak Point, not far from Pokegoma Falls, threading
fields Of Wild rice and great nocKs OF wild fowl one
tent.n
At the Red Lake agency the only white woman he
who proved to BE- the daughter Of Homer H. s,epSr
OF New YORK clty-a college classmate OF Mr.. Mat.
tocks. The society Of Dr: and Mrs. Weeks was an
interesting episode. Dr. Weeks was surgeon on the
celebrated Monitor at the time OF the struggle with
the Merrmac, and afterwards until the famous iron.
CLAD foundered AT sea; In making his escape from
the sinking vessel an arm was crushed and
although he remained IN the service OF bis country
having been transferred TO the army and assisting
the wounded at Geftysburg-yet Dr. Weeks health,
az the close Of the war. Constrained him to resign
his active labors az surgeon.
Being at Minneapolis the position OF physician to
rbe Chippewa agency at Red Laxe was teniered 10y
Major Bassets and accepted. HIS wife has equal
claims to favorable notice She lie Helen G. Weeks,
q successful writer whose contributions 10 the
Yosi,ag Folks OF Ticknor Fieda, and Riverside Of
Hurd 4 Houghton. are familiar TO many OF our read
ers Her pen s far from Inactive In Der present &C.
qucstsred retreat and aided by her husbands pen.
ell will PROBABLY nd I'm the scenery and Indian life
OF our Northern wilderness many fruitful sugges
lions for jnture publications.