The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-04-21

~ came to Fort Winnehago in 1885, and
remained till 1910, when i was appointed
conductor by Gov. Dodge for the removal
Of the winnebagoes, and started from
Portage with fleet Of 100 canoes and
nine hundred Indians-warriors, braves,
men, women and children-two Macki-
nav boats, and fifty soldiers Of the United
States Fifth Infantry. We arrived in
Prairie du Chen in seven or eight days,
after various delays, such as the stray
Cling Of the Indians. We had to have
them all counted in their canoes each
morning before starting. On the third
morning one of the chiefs came to me and
reported the illness OF one of the squaws,
and begged for delay. Our party would
number one more when we resumed our
Journey. let the whole party remain
another hour, at which time the chief
came to me and begged for further delay,
but refused to grant it until went to
ascertain the facts" says our informant,
1.-THE woman gave birth to three chill
dren," and he further adds, "this delayed
US until afternoon(D
"These Indians were all put on the west
side Of the Mississippi river"
NJ went by steamboat to La Crosse,
which found to he covered with knobs
and sand bars. The banks of the river
were about forty feet high,and sloped back
about one hundred feet from the water
There were here five or six Indian graves,
made in the usual manner. At the head
OF one was a cross Of red cedar hewn out,
about six feet high. At the crossing q
small niche had been cut or carved out,
and piece Of window glass had been in
serted, behind which a wooden image Of
Our Savior had been inserted. This was
rough hewn cross, very old, to all APP
pearance.
"When / went to La Crosse in 1910, I
found the United States troops there,
While the boat remained at the landing
we all visited the camp. They were in
tents, and the officers dined on board our
boat. We collected at North La Crosse
about eight hundred or nine hundred In
dams. We issued salt provisions to them
which caused much sickness, the Indi-
ans being wholly unused TO any thing salt.
"Mr. Joseph Rolette, the head Of the
Fur Co. at Praire du Chen, offered me, il
would 60 to La Crosse in the Indian trade,
= stock OF ten thousand dollars worth Of
Indian goods, what engage wanted
(which were men engaged in Canada for
three years at eight dollars q month for
work, and an allowance Of pint of,corn
and tallow candle day for rations,
with northwest gun for killing game,)
to inclose land and plant corn. 1 told
him that the black-birds would not leave
him kernel Of corn.
"Pierre Parquette, an Indian trader at
Beele Fountain in 1886 put in one hundred
and sixty acres of oats. When they were
in milk in the month of June, he sent
Indians and boys through, and with
sickles cut swathes through them, gave
them guns, key of powder and bags of
shot, and had them shoot all day. The
birds came from off the rice on Lake Puck
away which was not yet ripe. They gath
cred up Mt night by going through the
swathes alone. twenty-three bushels Of
birds. will further state that the next
year, 1887. put in ten acres of oats, and
did not get back the seed, and in blowing,
observing that the ground looked whitish,
L
black birds skulls scattered all over it."
wISSEBAGo INDIANS. u.s.,
The Winnebagos, spoken of in the pre-
vious article. were removed to the west
side of the Mississippi river; but they
were restless and discontinued, and large
bodies of United States troops had TO be
stationed at different points TO keep them
in good behavior. In spite Of all this oc-
casional bands would stray back and
cause trouble among the white settlers
They felt that they had been dispossessed
of their homes and hunting grounds, and
that, uniustly. by the whites, and spirit
of retaliation caused them to regard the
settlers as their enemies. - a
In the history Of the Northwest, as in
all other parts of America, this crowding
out Of the Indians, and subsequent
troubles with them, forms a sad chapter,
which can only be looked back upon with
sorrow, and almost with shame. 1t can
only be excused on the Dawson theory of
"the survival of the fttest" Tho lands
belonged to them by the right Of posses
sion, yet they made no use Of them cave
for hunting and fishing, and the cultiva-
ton Of an occasional patch Of corn, tended
by the squaws. Grand possibilities lay
undeveloped in these broad acres, and
there were beautiful homes in waiting for
thousands of industrious men and women.
But enough of speculation. The ground
has all been gone over long ago by older
philosophers without solving the prom
lem whether it was right or wrong, or
whether the end justified the means.
After their removal the Indians receiv-
ed annual payments from the Govern
ment. They were averse to receiving
anything but silver coin, and 1 have
heard old pioneers relate how the Govern
ment would send in four-borse wagons
loaded with kegs of silver, heavily guard
ed by United States soldiery. When it
was distributed, then came lively times
for the Indian traders. The too free sale
of the Indians destroyer-pac-a nina
/whiskvl vas a. fruifful causa IF N, opx