Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-13

Wisconsin. This stream presents a
beautiful appearance where the road
crosses, and we are told it is charming
river for sixty miles above. The name,
Namakagon, is Chippewa, and signifies
+" where there is plenty of sturgeon"
Ed. Gordon keeps stopping place.
here that is exceled by none on the road.
Ed. and bis estimable wife entertain all
who choose to stop with them in man
ner that makes one feel at home, and
their table is always furnished with plen-
ty to salty the inner man. From the
Namekagon we pass over q more level
and better tract of country--passing here
and there beautiful lake, the most no
ticeabe of which are Sandy Lake, Is
land Lake, and Round Lake--the latter
@ perfect beauty--almost round in shape
and with its white sandy shores, resem-
bles huge wash bowl set in a bed of
green, and filled with pure crystal water.
From Round Lake the face of the coun-
try changes and becomes rough and bro
ken, especially as we near the Eau Claire
River, which we reach at last, after three
days travel, and are safely housed at
AMIcK STATION.
on the Bayfield, road, 20 miles from
bayfield,, SO miles from Superior City,
Is miles from the brad of st. Croix
Lake, 20 miles from the head waters of
the Brule and 100 miles from st. Croix
Falls. Mr.. ANTOINE GORDON, our host,
gave us warm welcome and the free
dom Of bis home. We spent pleasant
Sabbath with his family and were all
well rested for the long trip to follow.
Amick or Gordon's Station is located on
the Eau Claire, half mile from its june
ton with the st. Croix. Mr. GoRDoH
has opened quite farm and has splen-
did location for business. A new road
is being cut through from Superior City
10 this point and bridge has been built
across the main St. Croix half mile be-
low the confluence of the Eau Claire.
Over this road, several of our heaviest
St. Croix lumbermen propose to haul
supplies for their logging camps on, tho
Tatoeetic and Namekagon. shipping them
to Snperior from Chicago before the
close Of navigation. This will make
Amick the center from which the differ
ent camps will be supplied.
The Eau Claire is quite large stream,
very rapid, deep and clear. There is a
large body ofgood pine timber tributary
TO it, and ere long logging will be done
on its waters. The Indians call the riv-
err Wau-ka-mig, meaning ''cIear water"
The Chippewas have quite village here,
and as many of our readers have never
seen q
wIGwAM OR TEPE
we give description Of one which we
visited. 1t is built by driving long poles
in the ground in circle, which are
drawn over at the top and ted together.
Other poles are then wove in on the
sides, and the frame thus constructed has
the appearance of an inverted cord bas-
ket. The frame is covered with birch
bark tied on with raw hide strings. A
hole is left 10 the top from which the
smoke of the camp fire escapes. The
fire is built on the ground in the centre
of the wigwam, and roEnd it flag mats
are spread which form floor. A piece
of blanket hung over an opening in the
wall answers for a door, and the Indi-
ans home is complete. Cross-legged on
the ground in this ten by twelve room
were seated the family. six in number,
patiently waiting for their supper which
was slowly cooking in a camp kettle sus-
pended on the hook of an old log chain
attached to the frame. work. The meal
consisted of muskrat and duck, stewed
up together, with dumplings made Of
-four aud water. In these frail dwell
ings the Chippewa lives contented and
happy, winter and summer, and troub-
leth himself not whether it rains or
shines, providing game is plenty, and bis
fur traps are successful.
ANTOINE GORDON,
is deserving of particular notice. He is
an educated half breed, of French de-
cent, and has long been prominent
man among the Chippewas. He was
born in 1922 at Sandy Lake, near Crow
Wing, MIMI, and belonged to the Grow
Wing band. He is second cousin of
the celebrated chief Hole in he-day.
His early life was spent in following the
band in their hunting excursions, and as
trapper. He went to La Pointe, Ash
land county, Wisconsin, in 1887, where
be attended school, and soon after open
ed trading house. He made consider
able money in trade there, and was at
one time considered wealthy. He own
ed fine schooner of sixty-fye tons bur-
den, called the -AHgonquine Queen.
She was built at Cleaveland in l845,
was run several years, and finally sold to
Superior City firm. Her hull now lies
in Superior harbor. In 1857 Mr.. Con
DON met with severe losses by the wreck
of lake steamer, which broke him mp
in business. In 1858 he moved from
La Pointe to Amick, and commenced to
open his farm, build his house and begin
life anew. He is a member of the
French Roman Catholic Church, at La
Pointe, and was church interpreter to the
Chippewas there for four years. He
reads, writes and speaks Latin, French
and English like a scholar, and is care
full and correct business man. He is OF
medium height, thick SGT, straight and