The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-05-05

placed upon his head IN the excollent por-
trait Of him now in the State Historical
Rooms. The others Of The band we're clad
in the full costume of the tribe, decked in
head gear Of eagles feathers, blankets,
leggins and moccasins, tidily arranged,
and upon their faces ''was paint an inch
thick" They were all young, ranging
from % to 40 years Of age, should judge,
and were large and powerful in build
They were the best specimen Of the Indi-
an race have ever seen. My trouble
with them now began. As many as could
sprung into the wagon box, giving me q
load which Strengthened the tugs of the
horses. Captain Lowe ordered them out,
but they refused to bulge an inch.-
Reaching the foot Of a Hill, stopped the
horses, and tried my powers Of persua-
sion without avail. At length Oshkosh
cameto our relief, and they obeyed his or
ders to leave the wagon. This trick was
repeated several times, and generally at
the foot Of steep hill. We reached our
objective point late in the afternoon, find
ing the venerable Governor at home, who
gave the Captain and ourself quarters in
his house, while the Indians camped on a
hillside near by. He furnished them meat
and meal, and from their camp-fres they
prepared their supper. The next MORN
ing, the council was held. Miss Virginia,
the young daughter of the Governor,
had arranged room in the house for the
party, and placed chairs for each member
Of it. These the Indians discarded, and
the young lady removed them, all the In
dams taking seat on the floor, so as to
bring Governor Dodge and Oshkosh to-
gether, the Chief sitting to the left of the
Governor. The interpreter, half breed,
then produced a pipe, with a stem about
two feet long, and having filed it with
Kinnikinick, handed it, lighted, first to
the Governor, who took one Whit, when
it was passed around in order from hand
to hand, until it reached Oshkosh, who
having taken the legal Whit last, gave
the pipe to have it refilled and in inverse
order it was passed around again, the
Governor taking the final Whit All were
now upon terms of equality. The pipe of
peace, that Indian emblem of harmony
and good will to ALL had been placed to
the lips of all, and those lips were now
sealed to sincerity and truth. Dissem-
bling,lying, hypocricy and treachery were
banished. That presence was dedicated
to the presence of the Great Spirit, who
talked in the thunder and whispered in
the wind. The walls of the white mans
habitation alone disfgured the place OF
assembling, and the primitive wood was
alone wanting to render the picture COM
plete. After moments pause Oshkosh
arose. He no longer looked an old and
shrivelled son of the forest. Straight as
an arrow, his countenance lighted up,
from which sensuality had fed, his eyes
streaming with fire, he turned, full facing
the venerable Dodge, and pouring out in
words of earnestness the complaints of
his people. His sentences were short and
terse, and were translated in the fewest
English words possible. The special
grievances here were trespasses in cut
ting down their pine forests upon their
reservation and upon the banks Of the
Wolf-the invasion of their wigwams
and the alternating of the affections Of their
squaws. 1t was the old story over again.
In turn several of the braves made
speeches. All concluded, the Governor,
in a short speech, informed the Chief and
his braves that he had no power to grant
them any relief, but promised to forward
to the President a statement of their de-
mands, and do what he could to aid them.
at this, Oshkosh was disappointed-he
supposing the Governor could control the
matter. During the council, 1 had taken
full notes Of the conference. These the
Governor compelled me, much against my
will, to surrender up to him, and I was
enjoined not to make public what had
heard. This was demanded of the laws OF
hospitality as was the guest of the Gov
ernor. The conference concluded, the
third day we returned to Madison.
In November following fully costumed
Indian entered the same hotel, and pull
ing from his belt of Wampum a $40 gold
piece placed it in my hand, repeating,
Oshkosh" two OF three times, and after
loading up with provisions disappeared as
mysteriously as he came. He was one of
the braves in the party of the preceding
summer.
AN OLD LAND MARK GONE.
The demolition of the old frame struc-
ture used as Catholic church at Chippe-
wa Falls, for years, calls forth the follow
ing comments and recollections.
"This removes one Of the historic land
marks of our young city. 1t was erected
in the year 1856, by the few Catholics who
made their homes on the land donated to
them. twas built by donations of money
and work, principally work. The shin
giles were handmade, and the whole Frame
work put together with wooden pegs. A
storm had thrown down the first frame
erected, and it would seem by the looks of
the timbers after having already stood for
twenty-four years, that the builders were
determined that a century's storms should
leave it mistaken. Many Of our older
citizens remember what large building
1t seemed, and many Of our now promi-
nent men helped in it's construction.