Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-06-23

A Trip Into the turtle mountain n
Country-Fort Totten Taken in by
the Way A Big Talk With the Chief
oil the CIaimsn mt ChippeWa-Irifie OF
the sioux on the Totten Reservation
A splendid Mission school.
Grand Forks Herald
Wednesday morning bright and early
the Herald Mouse river expedition
pulled out of the bustling little city OF
Larimore and took its place among the
procession of settlers teams which
lined the road to the west even that
early in the morning. This travel per
hans strikes the traveller more forcibly
than any one thing. 1t is enormous.
Every train brings in load of emf
grants.
BETWEEN LARIsloRE AND THE LAKE
the country is comparatively we'll
known. There is gell-beaten thor
oughfare on which trains are always
in view. The shacks of settlers. all
erected within Inc past sixty days,
eve, ywhere come IN sight. The rapid
ty with which this country has been
settled up is amazing. A few weeks
ago there was scarcely a house in the
tnirty-fve miles between Larimore and
Shrimp lake. Now no one need fear
losing his way or getting cut
of sight or accommodation. The
country which has thus rapidly
been settled up is the finest kind of
rolling prairie. The soil is good, being
rich, mellow and warm. The hills and
meadows will at no late day be the
home of vast and valuable herds. The
country presents many of the topo-
graphical features which are found
where mixed stock, grain and fruit farms
prevail. Undoubtedly the exclusive cul-
ture of wheat will be abandoned, crops
will be diversified and dairy farms will
be started. The nature of the country
will bring about this change of itself.
the country beyond Stump lake and
between that and the east end of Devils
lake is undulating, and presents many
attrative features. The soil is fair, and
squatters' shanties dot the country far
and wide. As soon as surveyed there
will be great rush for this section. Fort
Totten was reached by the Herald party
Thursday evening, after most delight
| full drive, and Accommodations were
secured at Mr.. Peck's, the post traders
fort. Gov. Ordway had already arrived
and was the guest of Col. Conrad, the
commandant. Friday morning salute
of seventeen guns was fred IN his honor,
after which one Of the most interesting
events of the trip transpired.
AHEAP BIG TALK.
Learning that Governor Ordway was
at the fort last Thursday, K Khishph, head
chief of the Turtle Mountain band of
Chippewas, expressed desire to see
him, and through Mai. Cramsie an
interview was arranged at the majors
house. After the party had gathered
an interpreter procured, the chief pre-
sented, among other documents, his
credentials, showing that he had been
duly elected chief, and was therefore
the accredited representative of his
people. He stated that he had So
hcited an interview with the governor
for the purpose of appealing to him to
do something for his people. The
white men were daily encroaching on
their land, and unless the great father
at Washington look speedy action his
whole band would be driven from their
land and would have no place to call
home. The governor questioned the
chief relative to the Indian title,
whether any portion of the Turtle
Mountain country had been ceded to
the government or not, and was an
swered that no part of the territory in
dispute had been ceded. He said that
In 1876 he visited Washington, together
with other members of the band, and
presented memorial to congress, ask
Ing the government TO purchase the
land at oO cents per acre. The mem
orlal was printed and submitted to
congress, but nothing further came Oft.
lie said the authorities recognized the
validity oftheir claim, at that time, and
gave them to understand that negotia-
tons you'd soon be opened for the ces-
sion of the land in question In an
swer as to whether the Sioux had any
claim upon the Turtle mountain coun-
try, the chief said they had not. The
Sioux had always conceded that coun-
try as the property of the Chippewas.
/ lIhls statement was afterwards con-
tirmed by Iron Heart, Sioux chief
living on the reservation After many
! questions were asked and answered, the
chief arose formally addressed the
governor, the following being the sub
stance of his remarks, as interpreted
by a Chippewa half breed:
GREAT FATHER-I am much embarrassed and
can scarcely find words to express my pleasure at
| seeing you, for believe ycu are great and good
enough to do something for my people. am in
! trouble; my heart is sore. NY people are poor
and cannot afford to lose their land 1t is theirs
by right, and the great father at Washington
should pay them for it before allowing the white
people to settle upon it. l like the white people
but 1t troubles me to them come into our
country and take possession of it before they have
a right to- My people do not like the great
father at Washington, but We hope he will be jIst
to us and pay us for our land Ii is all we have
got, and II the white man wants it we are willing
| to sell il very cheap. | hope the great father of
Dakota will advise US what to do and interest
himself IN our behalf. We are all poor and have
| trouble to support our families and if the gov
ernment will give something for our land we
will do all we can for the whites with whom we
wish to be on friendly terms. This is all have
| to say.
After making his little speech, the
chief grunted once or twice and then
passed around the room and shook
each one present by the hand. Gov.
Ordwav promised to lay the matter be-
fore the secretary of the interior, and
made brief minutes of the documents
IN possession of the chief. The DOW
WOW then broke up, Khishph seeking
solace in his pipe, and the gubernatorl-
al party starting for The mission school.
situated about five miles from Fort
Totten, on the south side of the lake.
The country along the route is un-
doubtedly the most attractive, and the
scenery the most diversified of any in
north Dakota, of a bluffy character,
and full view of the numerous little
lakes that form the lake proper, it is
indeed a relief to the traveller after a
weary ride over the monotonous
prairie, to enter the reservation and
gaze upon the lakes and groves and
the comfortable log house of the Indi-
ans, and their small but well cultured
! farms. For a distance Of over twenty
miles along the south shore of the lake
are settled Sioux Indians and their
families to the number of 1900. who
are making rapid advance towards q
civilized state. All dress like the
whites, live IN good log houses, cult
! vate the soil, and are upeIceIled as
bull-whakers. The Heroi2 man saw a
large number during bis drive through
the reservation making fences, plow-
ing, gardening and otherwise couduct-
ing themselves as frst-class yeom en-