The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-06-02

q chatter IN the Indian tongue.
The kettle was boiling slowly and being
uncovered was seen TO contain u piece oi
meat, some potatoes, and some pieces OF
black bread, all boiling together, and
would form a not unsavory meal. When
cooked it would be set out on the ground,
and the group squatted around would DIP
out morsels and eat them from their fin
gers. Then, with blankets drawn around
them, and with heads toward the FIRE,
and with no shelter save the cold, starry
heavens, they would sleep until morning.
Possibly they would partake of the rem
nants of last nights meal, and at early
dawn would he again on the trail, and not
until twenty-five or thirty miles were ac-
complished would they again stop to rest.
Our homes never seem warmer or more
comfortable, or our beds softer or more
downy, than when on some cold, chilly
night we think of a visit to an Indian en-
campment.
Does any one wonder, with all their
suffering and %privation, with wars waged
among them, and with the white mans
'fire-water" dealing ruin and death in
their midst, that he is fast dying out2
Sometimes the savage nature of the
Indians would burst forth, like a prisoned
volcano, and eliminate in deeds of blood
shed and murder 80 horrible as to strike
terror to the ~stoutest hearts. In record
ing these deeds of carnage the blame can
not be said forest wholly upon the savages
They were generally inclined to be friend
ly will the whites when treated with
kindness and justice. Some of their most
atrocious acts of cruelty may rather be
attributed to drunken frenzy, than to
either injustice on the part of the whites,
or savage barbarity on the part of the
Indians. OF this class was one of their
most fiendish murders, known as
THE ~TEA-GARDEN MURDER.
This took place in Northern Iowa, in the
year 1884. Even now, told in the plain,
unvarnished language, and simple pathos
of an old frontiersman, which my pen
may only feebly initiate. it will thrill the
listener with horror. What must it have
been, then, to those who lived in those
times. at the mercy of those fierce and
cruel savages to whom such scenes were
but pastime?
In the year referred to above. there
lived, in one of the northern counties of
Iowa, II Frenchman named ea-Garden.
The country was very wild with only a
few white families scattered through a
wide extent of territory. His family con-
sisted of his wifc-a very estimable wo-
man. and four c~hillren-two boys. aged
respectively eight and eleven years, a
girl of six years of age, and an infant
child. Tea Garden kept n trading post
and dealt with the Indians, who were
much more numerous han the whites.
He soon found that although they coveted
beads and other trinkets, there was one
article which found much more ready
sale than any other. and for which an In
dian would sacrifice almost anything he
possessed. This article was called in the
Indian tongue "Poch-a-uinna," the literal
Specification of which is sire water" in
plain English. whisky. He was not a
man of much principle, and though the
sale of liquor to the Indians was strictly
against the laws of the territory, he soon
came to dispense the fiery fluid with n
freedom that was in accordance with the
Indians capability of paying for it.
But few men can handle fire-brands
without themselves being scorched. But
few can deal out poison without them
selves feeling its direful effects, and Tea
Garden did not prove to be one Of the
few. Having a natural liking for the vile
stuff, with him to handle was to taste,
and he soon came TO drink freely with his
customers, be they either whites or In
dians, and in a short time no became a
drunkard and a sot, with scarcely a spark
of manhood left.
He abused his family, his helpless
children, and his faithful wife. who chung
to what little Of manhood he yet possessed.
There was one Of the hangers-on around
this drinking-place. an Irishman named
Malone, who, although a good and kind
hearted man, had yielded to his appetite
for liquor until he, too, had become a con-
firmed drunkard, and having no family
ties, cared but little for anything save the
qualification Of his appetite for liquor.
One day liquor had flowed more freely
than usual, and as n consequence Tea
Garden had been more abusive han ever.
He had beaten both his wife and his
children, who covered before his drunken
wrath. In the course of their drunken
revelry it was proposed that Malone pur-
chase ea-Garden's wife. This was ac-
coded to, and the price being agreed on,
the money was paid over, and a paper
made out declaring Malone the rightful
owner of the "chattel."
Malone had a genuine respect for the
woman, and being partially sober the
next morning, approached the woman
and frankly stated the bargain. Said he:
according to the customs OF this rough
country, l suppose that l might claim
you and make you trouble, but l wish
nothing but to see you in a happier situa-
ton than you are here. You have friends
to whom you can go and who will gladly
receive you. Go, and / will protect you
in so doing" She was glad to accept the
offer. and taking the youngest child with
her went to her friends, leaving the other
"