Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-11-03
THE MYSTERIOUS LADY.
From the Overland Monthly.


From the Overland Monthly.
The Nisqually, which is one of the
most lovely and picturesque rivers in
the world, empties into Puget Sound a
few miles southeast of Steilacoom.
Formerly, one of the savage tribes of
Indians of the N orthwest claimed the
Nisqually as its hunting ground, but
nor, only few poor, miserable, filthy,
squalid beings remain of the once
powerful tribe, and even they have lost
their native energy, and fallen into
premature decay.
Many years ago, when these Indians
were famous hunters, the traders of the
Hudson Bay Company went into their
country, and finding them rich in furs,
erected a fort, established trading
post, and soon, by means of blandish-
ments-which they knew so we'll how
to use-won the friendship of those
whom they doomed to destruction for
strange as it may appear, the white ira
der has always carried to the homes of
the Indian disease and death, along
with his blankets and trinkets.
When we reached Steilacoom and
commenced making preparations for a
fortnight in the forest, | was deputed to
learn something Of the country and in
answer to my inquiries, nearly every
body would reply:
"Jake Warden can tell you all about
the country and if you want to have a
good time, you had better get Jake to
go with you"
( hunted up Mr.. Warden, and found
him in a liquor.saloon, in the act of
swallowing a quantity of brown or
amber colored spirits. He was a tall,
sunburnt man, drawing very near to
the three-score mark of human life, OF
dull countenance, and listless manner.
His frame appeared loose and flexible,
but it was vast, and, in reality, of pro
digious power. The inferior lineaments
of his countenance were coarse, extend
ed, and vacant; while the superior, of
those nobler parts which are thought
to affect the Intellectual being were,
low, receding, and mean. His dress was
mixture of the coarsest vestments of
husbandman with the leathern gar
ments that are affected by frontiers
men. There was also singular and
wild display of prodigal and illjudged
ornaments blended in his motely attire.
introduced myself Immediately, and
informed the hunter what | desired.
After having explained my wishes to
MIN, awaited his reply. He looked at
me in lazy sort of manner, and drawled
out:
"You fellars ar' from the city, ar'nt t
ye2"
HYes.n
"And ye don't know nothin' about
the woods ?"
sour knowledge is limited"
"And We would like to have some
good huntin' and fishin' ?"
eyes"
car ye goin' fur reg'lar time NV
it ?"
"Yes."
"Goin' to take good supply OF
drinkables along, haint ye ?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll go; and eff yer don't have
lots of fun, Pm Siwash (Indian. J
When do you want to start ?"
"As soon as possible"
"Then I'll just 60 and git my plunder,
and jine ye."
He kept his word, had led us into the
forest, and now, at the end of the first
days hunting and fishing, we were en-
ioying such comfort as rest always
brings after great fatigue.
The conversation was beginning to
| flag and lose its interest, when our guide
said:
"Ef you'll pass along that ar jug OF
pizin, I'll take drop to moisten my
gullet and lie the hinges of my tongue,
and then spin yes a yarn of the 'arly
days of this yere country"
Mr.. Warden raised the demijohn to
his lips, and held it there for something
more than minute, and until two
great lachrymal globules burst from his
eyes and slowly rolled down his cheeks.
| Then, setting the cherished casket be-
tween his legs, and wiping his lips with
the cuff of his coat, he said /:
"Boys, ye are trumps Eff We don't
know nothin' about huntin' bar or
skelpin' redskins, yer has taste that
| can't be denied, and Pm proud to bear
testimony to the fact that yer selection
of ticker can't be beat. In fact, bows,
We possesses a talent for it which al.
most amounts to a genius. I'll drink
yer healths."
:" Now, lemme see,'' said Mr.. Warden
after having paid his respects to the
demijohn second time; "Lemme see
whar I'll begin. Yes, l guess I'll tel
ye about the Mysterious Lady of Ms
qually. That was something | never
could understand, although l was quite
Gurus, and tried to sift the matter to
the bottom. But them old factors was
too close -mouthed, and wouldn't let out
a word.''
It's now nearly forty years since l ar.
rived on the Pacific coast and took EN-.
ployment with the Hudson Bav Com
pany. During my wanderings over this
country, and my tarryings at the various