Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1869-11-20
THE WHITE wAR-CHIEF.
BY DIR. s. COMPTON SMITH.

u x
Paul Boursejolie, or as his name is more
familiarIy anglicized by his American
neighbors,- -old JeIly.purse,- ,--is an eceen-
tric ex mountain man. who some years ago
settled down upon the right bank Of the
Mississippi, in the vicinity Of St. Louis.
Paul's earliest recollections were OF the
old trading past Of Mackinaw, which was
bis native place. His father was yoy-
ageur in the employ Of the fur company.
OF which this place was an important de-
pot and being but rarely with his family,
the care OF Paul. and his only brother,
Jean, devolved entirely upon his mother,
half breed Chippewa woman. But when
Paul had arrived at the age Of twelve, and
his brother at ten. their good mother. died
leaving the young lads to shit Tor them,
selves as hest they could.
OF course, being thus early forced upon
the world. they naturally sought the only
occupation that offered, by which to OBJ
tain livelihood and in few years they
had become expert trappers and hunters
upon the wild rivers Of the west.
Together they propelled the same canoe !;
and together set their traps, and shared
the same blanket; while the profits OF
their labors we're mutually divided and
nothing was undertaken by one brother
without consultation with the other.
But at length, strong as was the cord Of
brotherly love that bound them together,
separation took place; and this circum.
stance forms one Of the stories that the
old trapper most delights to narrate.
at is now about fifty years., the old
Frenchman would begin, " since Jean and
/, who were stout young men, and could
carry pack with the best OF the Com
pany's men. left our last post on the Mis-
souri,, in company with eight other trap,
pers, and started with our two canoes Tor
the head Of MIX River. iM
1--WE had heard that among the noun
tains, far in the Northwest, was a large
lake, upon the shores Of which much game
abounded and that its outlet into Minx
River was the resort Of immense numbers
Of beavers. This region. at that time, had
never been visited by any white man and
it was through the Blackfeet we obtained
all the knowledge we had Of tho region.
"A band q these Indians had visited
the post and had agreed to permit US to
trap on the lake. and the stream in it's vi
cinity, ip consideration Of dozen rifles,
and small lot of ammunition, which we
we're carrying with US. =.
"Well, after journey Of two months
snd half. during which time we stopped
occasionally TO trap, we eyreaehed the lake
the Blackfeet had told us about, and set
OF work establishing our camp and prepar-
ing for seasons hunt. ir 49, asi
"1'he Indians had not deceived Us about
the beavers, for there was plenty OF signs !;
but we had not been settled more than
week. when we were attacked by party
OF BIackfeet and lost two OF our men in
the Fight. But we wereitoo strong for the
Indians. being well fortified. and soon
drove them of. These Indians were not
OF the band with whom we had made the
agreement to deliver the rifles bat the
next day the latter made their Appearance,
and, pretending that the attack had been
the result Of a mistake. demanded the ful
filtmeit Of the contract. sr a Is
No sooner, however, had they obtain.
ed possession Of the much coveted arms,
than with their characteristic treachery,
they began to molest Us, BY robbing our
traps. as'' b L
= We knew that during the fight with
these fellows We had wiped out number
OF their bravest warriors, and weIe satig
fed that they would not rest content TN
they had foil revenge. We, therefore. |
gathered up our remaining traps as Sc
cretly as possible. with the intention Of
leaving the lake on the morrow, aud trying
our lack farther down the river. at a point
where We had halted awhile on our up.
ward voyage. n.s,,sssss = i
But in the night, those Of US whose