The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-02-13
SENATOR SHIELDS, ADVENTURES.

SENATOR SHIELDS ADVENTURES.
What He Saw of the Red Men in the Early
Days Of Minnesota.
The literary reception at Hon. Horatio
Kings residence on Saturday was even
: better attended than usual, the attraction
of the evening being sketch of his early
experience in the Indian country by the
recently elected Senator from Missouri,
Gen. Shields. Some sweet singing by
Middle. Erni, q young debutante in the
musical world, and recitations by the
well-known elocutionist, Mr.. John Twee-
dale, preceded and followed Senator
Shields address. The veteran gave his
scrap of biography In modest way that
almost hid from view the principal char
acter in the moving scenes he related.
In the spring of 1856, while travelling
in Minnesota, near the Big Woods, about
forty miles from st. Paul, he came to a
lake of such picturesques surroundings
as to tempt the traveller to explore it.
Fastening his horse to tree, be strolled
on through the country, and on trying to
retrace his steps, he found that he had
lost his way. Night was falling when he
deserted q Sioux village of fifty tepees or
wigwams. Entering the large tepee he
saw some forty Indian warriors. They
took no notice of the travellers entrance,
and he approached a young and intelli-
gent looking Indian, took hold of string
of beads which he wore round his neck,
and pulled triAe too hard, for the next
moment the beads strewed the floor.
The young man rose, seized his rifle, and,
pointing to the beads, ordereda squaw to
pick them up. He then motioned the
visitor TO precede lin, and they marched
out of the village, to point opposite to
where he had entered, and either by &C.
cideut or design on the part of the In
dian, made bee.line for his lost horse,
| which they found still securely fastened
to tree.
After making his guide happy by Civ.
ing him q FIVE dollar gold piece, the trav-
eler made his way without difficulty to
st. Paul. Delighted with the fertile
spot he had discovered, he purchased the
tract, including the lake and village, and
returned there after a few months with a
party of ten, and formed the nucleus OF 9
| settlement, which is now large and
prosperous city. They got on friendly
terms with their Indian neighbors, who
had frequent battles with the neighbor-
ing Chippewas, with, whom they were at
war and whose scalps would frequently
adorn their spears on their return. One
night the white settlers were startled by a
horrible uproar in the Indian village,
and Gen. Shields started thitber with a
half.breed interpreter. He found the
squaws dancing round large fire, utter
ing most unearthly yells and poking long
sticks into the flames at two Chippewa
captives, who were bound to trees close
by, whom they were prepared to put to
death. Gen. Shields told them he could
not permit this to be done on his land,
and threatened to obtain soldiers from
Fort Smelling and burn the village if
they did not release the captives. This
produced no impression either, aud he
was about to return to the settlement for
help to attempt rescue, when the half
breed suggested buying the captives.
The offer Of ten dollars apiece was glad
" accepted by the chief, who gave orders
for the liberation of the intended victems.
They appeared to feel no pleasure or graf
itude at their deliverance, and quietly
accompanied Gen. Shields to his house,
where food was set before them. Though
they had tasted for three days they ate
but moderately, and departed the next
morning. They were set down as I'M
grateful wretches and soon forgotten.
Some time after, when started on q
Journey to Se]kirk settlement, he applied
to the Chippewa chief for guides. Eng
| lish.speaking men were asked for, but the
chief said that though he had some who
had been educated at mission schools
and converted to Christianity, they would
lie and steal on every opportunity. He
had two whom he could depend on, and
| who worshipped white man, and these
he sent. On seeing Gen. Shields they
threw down their guns and fell at his
feet, making the widest gestures of graf
itude and pleasure. He recognized them
as his two proteges, and soon had reason
to recall the hard opinion he had found
ed on their former behavior. While
making the journey they were startled by
a loud Sioux war whoop. The guides
wanted to fight the strangers alone, be-
| ing unwilling, as they said, to bring their
white brothers into their war. They
were restrained, and flag of truce sent,
when il was discovered that the supposed
Sioux were halfbreed Scotchmen from q
settlement near by. Their leader, Andy
Mckay, who was besides a deacon in the
Presbyterian Church, said his men thought
the others to be Sioux, and intended to
have scalped them all after leading
them into an ambush By the false war
whoop. They passed the night round
the campfire, the Scotch Indians singing
Burns songs and speaking English with
an accent that would not have disgraced
a native of Ayrshire. The general re.
mained for three years in the wilds OF
Minnesota, and the recollections of the
period were among the most pleasant in
| his life. He was warmly applauded
throughout his relation, his racy style
adding to the interest of his narrative
Washington Post.
| EXAMINE THE CoMBs.-It is the easi-
est thing in the world when you know
how tits done-to tell when your fowls
are in i'll health, even in the incipient