The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-21
From Me Rock Island Advertiser, of 1851.
Leaves from the History Of Rock
Island,
No. 3.
lConcluded.l
BIZ ALBERT G. BRACKET.

(Concluded)
In the mecntime the troops left at Chi |
ca0o. under command OF Col. Eustis, had |
crossed the prairie TO Rock Island, and !
portion of Atkinson's troops returned toI
Fort Armstrong. Eustis's command was |
sent 10 the Iowa side of the river and ev
ery effort was made to keep them apart, |
lest Atkiuson's men should become infect |
ed with the cholera.
All orders were disobeyed, and about
the middle Of August this terrible scourge
broke out among them, and within eight
days $50 men, including DR.. Coleman and
Eeutenants Gale and Torrance, died.
They were buried in rows on the east side
of the island, and many gallant soldier
sank to rest, the murmurlnR waves OF the
Mississippi chanting his funeral requiem.
About the middle of September, this pes
thence disappeared. On the 2lst of Sept,
1888, General Scott aud Governor Rey-
holds made treaty, at Fort Armstrong,
with the Sauks and Foxes of Keokuk's
party, who, in consideration of $780, 900 per
aunum for thirty years, coded to the
United States about six million acres of
land lying west of the Mississippi.
This was called the BLACK Hawk pur-
chase" A number of tribes we're present
when this treaty was made. Among them,
besides the Sauks and Foxes. were the
Sioux, Menomonies and Winnebagoes.
Mansfield, in his life of Scott, says:
"Of these tribes, the Sauks and Foxes, kindred
and confederate clans, were the dandies and
sometimes the Mamelukes OF the forest Though
not very numerous, they arc the first In wa, the
nrst in the chase, and the first in all that constr
tutes Indian wealth-cattle, horses and clothing.
aaf4T fNN AMIR hR
brated Keokuk, Sank, then in the prime OF life,
tall robust, manly, and who eXcelled all the sur
rounding red-men in wisdom and eloquence in
council In the majestic graces OF the Indian dance,
and I'm bold adventure against the buffalo, the bear
and the hostile Sioux and Menominie. Yet this per-
son not by birth chief, and therefore held no
hereditary power. He rose TO be head man Of the
nation, simply by his superior abilities. Becoming
Jealous OF him, however, the tribe at one time de-
posed him. From this degradation, which he
bore with great patience and equanimity, he was
not altogether restored at the time OF the treaty Of
Rock Island. He was at that time a kind OF treas
urer and keeper Of the records for the nation In
consequence OF his great merit and talent, General
Scott prevailed upon the principal persons of the
nation again TO elevate him 70 the chieftancy,
from which he was not again removed
1.-THE scenes exhibited during these conferences,
OF the deepest interest and the most picturesque
kind They were adapted rather TO the pencil OF Il
poet or painter than TO the grave records OF his
tory. The wild son OF nature, scarcely more
Darbarious than those old Greek warriors whose
name the song OF Homer has borne from age 10 age
on the wings OF fame here confronted the of
and civilization face to face,in wsrike array and in
peaceful amusement The song, the dance, the
chace, the rolling drum and the whoOping shout,
the white soldier and the tawny maiden, were
mingled together in this conference between the
retreating representatives OF barbarism and the
advancing children of improvement,
~ hen the chiefs and warriors of the cOnfederacy
on extraordinary occasions approached head
quarters 1t was always with the loud tramp and
shout, which seemed to be rather the clangor Of
war than the forms OF ceremony. When "a council
was to meet, they came at furious charge
thpVna IN nrdar
and ten, between lines of soldiers, entered the
pavilion withthe rmness of vctors, but with all the
deep solemnity OF funeral. Arayed in scarlet
hues, their national color sometimes on foot and
sometimes mounted, nothing could be more
striking than the figures, sarms, and costumes OF
the men. Their wives, aud daughters too, were
even better looking, better clothed and ornamened
than other Indian women and generally sustained
the reputation OF virtue and modesty
I'm the afternoon the scene was frequently en-
liyened by Indian dances at headquarters. These
dances generally pantOmimes, remarkably
descriptive OF the achievements. events and history
OF the individual OF tribe. They are exhibited by
large number Of young warriors at the same time,
TO the music Of rude instruments, and accompanied
by occasional whOopings. The dancers are
strictly attentive to time and order; rendering
their movements according to the meditation oil
the hand. The dances are principally either the
war. buffalo, or corn dances.
1.-THE Sank chief Keokuk executed q pas seul
presenting ssplrited account OF a expedition
which he had himself conducted against the Sioux
The spectator having only a slight intimation OF
the subject had yet presented distinctly to his
mind the whole story in ts vivid details. He saw
the distance overcome, the mountains and stream:
passed. the scouts of tire enemy slam, the crooked
Htealthy approach, the ambush laid, the terrible
whoOp and onslaught and the victory which fol
lowed rs The browning triumph of the warrior
sometimes these dances were followed by cOtil-
Ions to the music Of militar- band, in which
the American officers mixed as partners and in
structOrs Of the Indians. In these amusements
the Indian ladies were loo modest To engage, bu
graced the scene with their presence, and testified
their enjoyment by cheers and laughter. Mean
q nj rod xtrftI
quiet delight; a band of martial music sent fortl
its melody; fireworks sent up their red light anC
CLEANED against the evening sky; shells and rock
cts burst in the air, the distant hills returned TIT
echo and these were mingled with the shril
shreHs of Indian applause. Refreshments wer
handed around nearly In the manner of our citi
zens. Thus the white and the red man, the son 0
the forest and the pupil of cities, the aborigina
and the Anglo Saxon were mingled in socia
amusements with strong and singular contrast"
After the conclusion of the treaty Gen
era Scott returned to the east, and For
Armstrong was left under command o
Lieut.. Col, William Davenport AS be
fore stated Black Hawk was liberated a
this place on the 2nd of August 1888
As the boat. which carried Black Hawk
neared the Island, the old man, bowed
down by the weight of years, coulC
scarcely repress his emotion. A thous
and recollectiOns rushed to his mind al
he beheld again the scenes of his earlie
and brighter days, aud bitter were hi
feelings towards the whites when ht
thought they were the cause of his re-
moval forever from this beloved and beau
tiful scene. He went to the Iowa side
Of the mississippi and died near the De!
Moines river on the Bird of October 1888
In his last hours he maintained the SANE
spirit that had characterized him through
life. Feeling that his end was approach
ing the old chief folded his arms upon hi
breast and speaking of himself, said
He is getting old-he must die-Tht
Great Spirit calls him to his blue home.
Thus ended Black Hawk, man of stronf
natural mind, brave warrior, and ont
who had the good of his nation honestIyIa
heart,
In the year 1888 Rock Island county
was formed from a part of 10. Davies
On the lst of March 1888, the legislature
of Illinois appointed three commissioner.
TO locate permanent seat Of justice fol
Rock Island county; these commissioner,
do not appear to have done their duty, fol-
on the 18th OF February 1885 three Others
were appointed. to meet at Farnamsburg
(which by the way was a very small burl
at that time in Rock Island county fol-
the same purpose. The county seat wal
located on the site of the present city
of Rock Island and was called Stephen
son" On the 9th of February, 184I
the legislature changed the name from
Stephenson to Rock Island. In 1886
many new towns were laid out 10 thi.
county bearing very imposing names
Rock Island City on Rock river wa,
planned, and it's fame and advan, ages
trumpeted to the world. To this day il
retains its reputation for eligible sites
and offers one advantage at least to build
ers, which is, there is no fear of tressnass